Discover the latest stories and updates from the EUt+ alliance. Learn how UNICAS is contributing to shaping a shared European university through innovation, collaboration, and mobility.
Last Update: 19 June 2026
News from 2026
📅 Tuesday, 30 June 2026 · 16:45 CEST
Looking Past the Collingridge Dilemma: Interventions for Responsible Digital Societies
The Digital Transformation group of EUt+’s ACCELERATE project is pleased to announce an open hybrid seminar and panel discussion gathering multidisciplinary experts from across the European University of Technology alliance. Hosted physically at the TU Dublin Grangegorman campus and streamed online, the session tackles the critical ethical, economic, and ecological ramifications of runaway digital transformation.
Abstract: The Collingridge Dilemma poses a double-bind problem; that the impacts of technology elude prediction and often only become apparent upon widespread adoption in society, and that once its risks are known it becomes too late to alter the course of the technology’s development. Many technological breakthroughs--especially in recent years where we are witnessing acute and accelerated digital transformation--would seem to evidence a “runaway train” thesis that once new technologies have developed a certain momentum, their progress cannot be stopped or altered, and with potentially disastrous or unknowable societal results--including ethical, economic, political, and ecological ramifications (such as socio-ecological rebound effects).
The concept and framework of Prospective Technology Assessment (ProTA), and the variety of tools of responsible innovation, oppose such a dilemma and thesis, and argue instead that reflexive, inclusive, anticipatory and responsive technological development can help identify and avert the wide-ranging risks and impacts of novel technologies. The university is a centre of development and experimentation with novel digital technologies and also a key site for deploying the methodologies of responsible innovation, including methods of technology and technological impact assessment (e.g., ethical impact assessment, environmental impact assessment, and Prospective Technology Assessment). This event will foreground the role of ProTA as an introduction to technology assessment.
The university is also a place of learning for students who need to be equipped with the skills to critically engage in methods of responsible innovation and critical thinking about technology, to be empowered to contribute to the development of technologies that serve rather than undermine human values, including those of ecological flourishing.
This event will provide a critical background to overcoming the Collingridge Dilemma with a focus on the role of technology assessment, socio-ecological rebound effects, as well as critical interdisciplinary discussion on the impacts of digital technology and the role the university has in pioneering pedagogical and research interventions for responsible innovation for sustainable digital societies..
Event Structure and Agenda:
- Seminar (1 hour): Introduction to Technology Assessment – and the Challenge of the Collingridge Dilemma for an Early Shaping of Technology
Presented by Professor Jan C. Schmidt (Hochschule Darmstadt - h_da). - Panel Discussion (1 hour): Interventions for Responsible Digital Societies
- Assoc. Prof. Raffaele Giammetti (UNICAS)
- Prof. Shannon Chance (TU Dublin)
- Dr. Mael Jambou (UTT)
- Prof. Jan C. Schmidt (h_da).
Chaired by Dr. Jye O’ Sullivan (NCAD).
The event will be of interest to staff, students, and academics deeply engaged in science and technology studies, sustainability, economic structures, and engineering ethics.
Certificates of attendance will be issued upon request.
Important Access Information: Registration is mandatory to receive venue specifications and the secure Zoom connection link prior to the event date.
Date and time: 30/06/2026 - 16:45 CET (Berlin, Rome).
Format: Hybrid (TU Dublin Grangegorman campus/Zoom).
📋 Register for the Event (required)
📅 12 June 2026 · Online (Microsoft Teams)
EUt+ Data and Stats Seminar: What are the Outliers?
On Thursday, 12 June 2026 at 14:00 CEST, the EUt+ Research Group in Data Science welcomes Prof. Dr Christian Hennig, Full Professor in Statistics at the University of Bologna, for a seminar on "What are the Outliers?" as part of the EUt+ Data and Stats Seminar Series 2026.
Seminar abstract
Outlier identification is an important task in data analysis, and there are many methods for doing so. The rationale behind these methods is, however, often not clear. What qualifies an observation to be an outlier, and how can we know whether a method is good at correctly identifying the outliers in the data?
This presentation addresses how to define outliers statistically in order to clarify the identification problem and to provide a basis for constructing and assessing outlier identifiers. It turns out that such a definition cannot be unique and requires a number of decisions by users that may depend on background knowledge and on what should be done with detected outliers. Without such input, the data on their own cannot decide what an outlier is.
Prof. Hennig will start from the simplest situation of one-dimensional data, discussing the boxplot and other approaches, particularly the role of statistical models for the non-outliers. If time allows, he will then move on to more complex problems such as outliers in cluster analysis.
About the speaker
Prof. Dr Christian Hennig is a Full Professor in Statistics at the University of Bologna. His research interests cover cluster analysis, multivariate data analysis (including classification and data visualisation), robust statistics, foundations and philosophy of statistics, and statistical modelling with applications. Previously, he was Senior Lecturer in Statistics at UCL London (2005–2018). He studied Mathematics in Hamburg and Statistics in Dortmund. After obtaining his PhD, he worked as a research assistant and lecturer at the University of Hamburg and ETH Zurich. He is an elected member of the International Statistical Institute.
The seminar is open to researchers and academics working on cluster analysis and multivariate data analysis, PhD students and Master's students in Data Science and Statistics, practitioners interested in robust statistical methods and outlier detection and anyone engaged with the foundations and philosophy of statistics.
Date and time: 12/06/2026 - 12:00 CET (Berlin, Rome).
Format: online webinar (MS Teams).
📅 18 June 2026 · 10:00–12:00 CET · Online
EUt+ Training with APRE: From Stakeholder Engagement to Citizen Science
UNICAS, as a partner of the European University of Technology (EUt+), is getting ready to host the second online seminar of our training series delivered in collaboration with APRE (Italian Agency for the Promotion of European Research), whose key topics will be stakeholder mapping and analysis, co-creation methodologies, gamified engagement formats, and Citizen Science as a participatory research practice .
Speaker: Giorgio Vingiani (APRE) works as a Project Manager with a background in marine biotechnology and European research projects. He holds a PhD in Marine Biotechnology from the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples. From 2022 to 2024, he worked as a Project Manager on several EU-funded projects, including the management of the Italian node of the EMBRC research infrastructure. Since May 2024, he has been working at APRE, supporting the Competence Team for Cluster 1 (Health) and contributing to the management of HNN3.0, the European network of National Contact Points for the Health cluster. He also serves as Project Manager for the IRIS project, focused on the internationalisation of IRCCS (Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare), on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Health. In parallel, since 2018, he has developed as a LARP and RPG game designer, using storytelling and a gamification approach for training and education, fostering experiential learning through role-playing games and improvisational theatre.
The seminar is open to researchers, PhD students, postdocs, academic and admin staff across the EUt+ Alliance interested in learning about stakeholder mapping, co-creation, and gamified engagement formats for European projects.
Date and time: 18/06/2026 - 10:00 to 12.00 CET (Berlin, Rome).
Format: online webinar (Google Meet).
📅 9 June 2026 · 13.00 CET · Online
EUt+ Digital Transformation and Society Webinar: The Coloniality of Innovation - Toward Just Digital Futures
On 9 June 2026 at 13:00 CET, the European Culture and Technology Lab (ECTLab) hosts a new appointment of its Digital Transformation and Society webinar series, with a talk titled "The Coloniality of Innovation: Toward Just Digital Futures" and hosted by Dr. Andrea Jiménez Cisneros, Senior Lecturer in International Business at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow.
About the talk
Dominant narratives of digital innovation treat technology as an autonomous, progressive force, a universal solution to development challenges now intensified by the arrival of AI. This talk argues that such narratives are not neutral but carry a colonial inheritance. Drawing on the history of science and technology, I show how technological advancement has long functioned as a marker of civilisational superiority and a justification for domination, a logic that persists in contemporary "innovation speak" and its faith in technological fixes.
Both innovation and the digital remain embedded in a capitalist pursuit of endless growth, one that too often advances at the expense of people and planet. Yet that same history reveals another current: creative resistance, local adaptation, and forms of innovation oriented toward collective wellbeing rather than profit. Building on participatory research with communities in Peru and on relational frameworks such as Buen Vivir, conviviality, and the pluriverse, the talk argues that a decolonial approach does not require us to reject innovation, but rather to centre the alternatives that already exist. For the digital, this means moving beyond solutionism toward humility, accountability, and a commitment to justice as the precondition, not the by-product, of meaningful innovation.
About the speaker
Dr. Andrea Jiménez Cisneros is Senior Lecturer in International Business at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. Her research examines innovation and digital development through critical, decolonial, and post-growth lenses, asking how dominant ideas of innovation both reproduce and challenge structures of power and inequality. Drawing on participatory and community-based research, her work engages relational and Indigenous frameworks such as Buen Vivir, conviviality, and the pluriverse to reimagine what just and meaningful innovation might look like. Her recent publications appear in World Development, Information Systems Journal, Science, Technology & Society, and The Journal of Development Studies, addressing innovation, decolonial information systems, and post-growth futures.
This webinar will be of interest to staff, students, and academics interested in digital policy, science and technology studies, and decoloniality.
Registration: attendance is free; registration is required. After you register, a Zoom joining link will be sent to you closer to the date of the webinar, likely on the morning of June 9th.
Speaker: Dr. Andrea Jiménez Cisneros, Senior Lecturer in International Business at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow
Date and Time: 09/06/26 – 13:00 CET
Format: Online (Zoom)
📅 14 May 2026 · 12.00-13.00 CET · Live on LinkedIn
EUt+ Innovation Talks – Season Two | Talk #2: Deep-Tech Photonics
EUt+ and EUt+ Entrepreneurship School are excited to invite students, researchers, and aspiring entrepreneurs to the next session of the EUt+ Innovation Talks, an initiative aimed at bringing real-world deep-tech entrepreneurship closer to our academic community.
About the Talk
The upcoming session will feature Dr. Antreas Theodosiou, Founder & Director of Lumoscribe Ltd, with a presentation titled “From Day One: The Lumoscribe Journey in Deep-Tech Photonics”. Participants will discover the journey of building a deep-tech startup from the ground up, exploring the challenges, milestones, and valuable insights drawn directly from the world of photonics innovation.
About Lumoscribe Ltd
Lumoscribe is a cutting-edge photonics R&D company developing advanced optical fiber technologies for sensing, imaging, and laser systems. With deep expertise in fiber Bragg gratings, multimode fiber sensing, and mid-infrared photonics, the company delivers high-performance solutions designed for demanding industrial and scientific applications.
This session represents an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in deep-tech, innovation ecosystems, and startup development to learn directly from successful industry pioneers.
Date and time: 14/05/2026 - 12:00 to 13:00 CET
Format: Online (Live on LinkedIn)
📅 19 May 2026 · 10:00–12:00 CET · Online
EUt+ Training with APRE: About Open Science
UNICAS, as a partner of the European University of Technology (EUt+), hosts the first session of a two-seminar online training series delivered in collaboration with APRE (Italian Agency for the Promotion of European Research). This first appointment provides participants with the knowledge and tools needed to integrate Open Science principles into their research activities.
Speaker: Diego Coglitore (APRE) holds a Master's in Biomedical Engineering from Sapienza University of Rome and a PhD in Nanoscience from the University of Liverpool. After working in industry as production manager for biomedical devices, he pursued a research career in the UK (University of Liverpool), France (Institut Européen des Membranes, Montpellier) and Italy (CNR Nanotec, Lecce). He later worked as a consultant on national and European R&D projects before joining APRE in 2022, where he supports activities related to Cluster 4 and manages the NCP4Industry project, the network of National Contact Points for Cluster 4. Throughout his career he has contributed to several Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, LIFE, UIA, CEF and EIC projects.
The seminar is open to researchers, PhD students, postdocs, academic and admin staff across the EUt+ Alliance interested in strengthening their Open Science practice in European research projects.
Date and time: 19/05/2026 - 10:00 to 12.00 CET (Berlin, Rome).
Format: online webinar (Google Meet).
📅 11 May 2026 · 12:30 CET · Online
ESSLab+ Monthly Seminar: TU Dublin – Climate Action Roadmap Overview
The European Sustainability Science Lab (ESSLab+), the EUt+ Alliance's research hub on sustainability, hosts its Monthly Seminar series with a session dedicated to climate governance and decarbonisation in higher education titled "TU Dublin – Climate Action Roadmap Overview".
As part of Ireland's national Climate Action Plan, TU Dublin has committed to ambitious targets, including a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 50% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030. The seminar will examine the challenges of pursuing these goals while the university continues to grow in terms of student numbers, staff and infrastructure.
The seminar offers a concrete reference framework for any partner university addressing campus decarbonisation, climate reporting and the integration of sustainability into research and teaching missions. It is especially relevant for academic staff, technical and administrative personnel, PhD students and researchers involved in sustainability, energy management, climate policy and Green Deal-related projects.
The ESSLab+ Monthly Seminar is open to the entire EUt+ Alliance community. No registration is required: participants can join directly via the link below.
Speaker: Rosie Webb, Head of Decarbonisation on the Sustainability Team at Technological University Dublin
Date and time: 11/05/2026 - 12:30 CET.
Format: Online.
UNICAS at the EUt+ Cartagena Week 2026
UNICAS participated in the EUt+ Cartagena Week 2026, hosted by Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena from 20 to 24 April 2026. A delegation of 15, led by the Rector Prof. Marco Dell'Isola and the Director General Dr. Alessandro Quarta, took part in the proceedings gathering representatives from the nine EUt+ universities to work on advanced curriculum convergence, student involvement, and cross-campus collaboration.
📅 12 May 2026 · Online
EUt+ ECTLab Webinar — Imagining AI: How the world sees intelligent machines
On May 12, 2026, the European Culture and Technology Lab (EUt+ ECTLab) hosts a new appointment of its Digital Transformation and Society webinar series, with a talk titled "Imagining AI: How the world sees intelligent machines" and hosted by Dr. Kanta Dihal, Associate Professor in Science Communication at Imperial College London and Associate Fellow of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (University of Cambridge).
About the talk:
How societies imagine intelligent machines profoundly shapes how such technologies are designed, governed, and integrated into everyday life. This talk explores the cultural narratives through which AI has been imagined across different historical and geographical contexts, and how these imaginaries influence contemporary debates on ethics, bias, and responsibility in AI.
Drawing on cross-cultural research and the volume "Imagining AI: How the World Sees Intelligent Machines" which she co-edited, Kanta Dihal examines how dominant Western narratives of AI as a threat or dystopian force have spread globally, often overshadowing or displacing local traditions of imagining intelligent machines. She contrasts these narratives with alternative imaginaries where, for example, intelligent machines have more often been portrayed as cooperative or benign. By making visible the power of narrative in shaping technological futures, this webinar argues that imagining AI differently is a crucial step toward developing more just and culturally grounded approaches to artificial intelligence.
About the speaker: Dr. Kanta Dihal is Course Director of the MSc in Science Communication at Imperial College London. Her research focuses on the stories we tell about science and technology across cultures, and on how those stories help us think about ethics and bias in new technologies. She is co-editor of AI Narratives (2020) and Imagining AI (2023) and has advised international governmental organisations and NGOs. She holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford on the communication of quantum physics.
The event is open to open to staff, students and academics of the EUt+ alliance and beyond.
Date and time: 12/05/2026 - 13:00 CET
Format: online webinar, Registration is required.
📅 5–7 May 2026 · Online · Free participation
UTT Virtual Job & Internship Fair 2026: a concrete opportunity to start your career in France
The Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT), partner university within the European University of Technology (EUt+) alliance, is hosting its annual Virtual Job & Internship Fair from 5 to 7 May 2026. The event is fully online, free of charge, and open to all UNICAS students interested in a working experience in France.
The fair brings together 24 international companies — among them Louis Vuitton, Capgemini, Forvia, Bouygues Telecom and Lacoste — with more than 60 internship offers and 58 job offers already published on the platform. Please note that apprenticeship offers are reserved exclusively for UTT students, as this type of contract is only available through a French university.
How to take part:
- Register on the online platform and upload your CV
- Browse the participating companies and their vacancies
- Book interview slots in advance during the time windows offered by each company
- Use the 1-to-1 chat option during the event to network, even with companies that do not have offers in your specific field
Registrations close on 4 May 2026 at 5:00 PM (French time). For any question about the fair or the registration process, the organiser can be contacted at marion.quillery@utt.fr (in English, please).
UNICAS students are warmly invited to take advantage of this opportunity to engage with EUt+ partner companies in a professional and respectful manner, and to take a concrete step towards an international career.
📅 Submission Deadline: 18 May 2026
Ideas Competition: Energy Saving Poster Campaign
The EUt+ Sustainability Office invites students from all member universities to take part in a creative Ideas Competition focused on energy savings on campus. The initiative aims to raise awareness and inspire practical, innovative solutions that contribute to reducing energy consumption across the EUt+ Alliance.
Who Can Participate:
The competition is open to all registered students of EUt+ partner universities (including UNICAS). Entries can be submitted individually or in groups. Collaborative work is particularly welcomed, allowing participants to combine creative and technical expertise. Each participant or group may submit one poster only.
Prizes:
The top three designs will be awarded and featured on EUt+ platforms and campuses:
- 1st Prize: Voucher worth 250 €
- 2nd Prize: Voucher worth 150 €
- 3rd Prize: Voucher worth 100 €
Design & Content Requirements:
The poster must be in English and sized DIN A3 (submitted as a high-resolution PDF or PNG). Designs should include a short title, a clear main message, visuals (graphics/icons), applicable facts/data, and a motivating call to action. Please leave a blank space for the EUt+ logo, which will be added prior to display.
Submission Details:
Submit your entry from your official university email account to sustainability.office@univ-tech.eu by 18 May 2026. Please include the names and university affiliation of all creators in small text at the bottom right corner. Clearly state if you have used AI tools in the creation process (this is an ethical transparency step and not a grading criterion).
📅 28 April 2026 - Online - 13:00 CET
EUt+ Webinar: "Malign Transformations: Accelerationism, Embracing the Digital, and the Problem of Control."
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, EUt+ ECTLab invites the academic community to this webinar exploring Accelerationism, a cultural movement emerging in the 2010s that embraced the potentials of digital transformation to move us beyond existing capitalism and beyond the human. The webinar will be delivered by Prof. Benjamin Noys, Professor of Critical Theory at the University of Chichester.
Accelerationism celebrates the rapid change brought about by AI and ICT technologies as the means to achieve a radically new future. This suggests a compelling parallel with the early twentieth-century cultural movement of Italian Futurism. Futurists embraced the technologies of speed of their moment, notably the car and the aeroplane, and explored new forms of cultural expression and transmission, while turning to myths and fictions to promote the transformative power of technology.
Contemporary accelerationism, while politically diverse, provides a digital upgrade to Italian Futurism, creating a cyberpunk Futurism. Todat, the technologies of speed are digital and AI-driven, while the Internet provides cultural reach. Once again, the movement turns to fiction and cultural myths, especially of the cyborg, to invent a new future of human and machine integration. However, while Italian Futurism was also politically diverse, many of its exponents saw Fascism as the embodiment of the new myths of the future. This turn to Fascism suggests the risks being run by contemporary accelerationism in embracing myth and abandoning the limits of the human. The radical vision of human integration in the digital raises disturbing questions about how far we should embrace digital transformation and how we control those processes.
About the Speaker: Prof. Benjamin Noys is Professor of Critical Theory at the University of Chichester. His most recent books include The Matter of Language (2023), Crisis and Criticism (2024), Envisioning the Good Life (2026), and a new edition of Malign Velocities: Accelerationism and Capitalism (2026). He is currently researching issues of realism and reality, the relation between thought and labour, and the epistemological foundations of psychoanalysis.
This event is highly recommended for staff, students, and academics interested in media; critical theory; history and the arts; digital technology, AI, and its governance.
Speakers: Professor Benjamin Noys (University of Chichester)
Date and Time: 28/04/26 – 13:00 CET
Format: Online
📅 22 April 2026 · Cartagena & Online (Hybrid)
From Erasmus to Horizon: Setting the pathway for ERG/ERIs
A dedicated training session titled “From Erasmus to Horizon: Setting the pathway for ERG/ERIs” will be held on Wednesday, 22 April (09:00–13:00 CET) during the upcoming meeting of the EUt+ alliance partners scheduled in Cartagena from 20 to 24 April 2026.
The hybrid workshop, conducted by David Alcántara (SACSIS), will focus on the best practices required for the preparation of successful proposals within the Horizon Europe framework. The session aims to bridge the gap between educational mobility projects and high-level European research funding.
The workshop is specifically designed for researchers currently involved in the European Research Institutes and Groups (ERI/ERG) of the EUt+ alliance, as well as participants who already have experience in Erasmus+ projects.
Registration is mandatory for both in-person attendance in Cartagena and online participation. Interested academic and research staff must complete the official survey form by Friday, 3 April 2026.
Date and Time: 22/04/2026 – 09:00–13:00 CET
Format: Hybrid
Link: TBD
📅 16 April 2026 · Online (Webex)
Horizon Europe Info Day: 2026 Research Funding for Social Science & Humanities (SSH)
Are you interested in research and innovation funding opportunities under Horizon Europe Cluster 2 “Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society”? Join the dedicated online info day on April 16, 2026, to explore the upcoming calls for the 2026-2027 Work Programme. Please note that these sessions will not be recorded for rewatching.
Session 1: Migration Research Call (13:30 - 15:00 CET)
This session aims to inform applicants about the topic “Strengthened implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and a focus on inclusion, integration, and health”. The main objectives are to improve migration governance through evidence-based insights and to advance migrant health equity and long-term inclusion policies.
Session 2: SSH-STEM Cooperation (15:30 - 16:30 CET)
This session will cover the topic “Fostering cooperation and integration between SSH and STEM research and innovation in the EU”. The objectives include monitoring, facilitating, and promoting collaboration between Social Sciences/Humanities and STEM fields, as well as providing feedback to policymakers on how this cooperation can drive robust, innovative solutions.
Date and Time: 16/04/26
Format: Online
🔗 General Info & Portal News
🔗 Registration: Migration Research (13:30)
🔗 Registration: SSH-STEM Cooperation (15:30)
📅 19 March 2026 · UNICAS Campus
Unicas Orienta 2026: EUt+ Alliance and International Mobility for Prospective Students
On 19 March, the University of Cassino and Southern Lazio welcomed secondary school attendees for "Unicas Orienta", an event designed to introduce prospective students to its academic offer and strong international outlook.
During the "International@UNICAS" panel, a key moment was the presentation of international mobility opportunities, highlighting how the European University of Technology Alliance (EUt+) can broaden educational paths and future prospects.
In this context, Prof. Heiko Rochholz, currently in Cassino as a visiting professor from h_da (Darmstadt University of Applied Science), provided a concrete example of European academic cooperation in practice, demonstrating how international mobility is already a reality within the Alliance.
📅 25 March 2026 - Online - 13:00 CET
EUt+ Webinar: "Technological regimentation: Artificial intelligence, fascism, aggression, and democratic society"
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, EUt+ ECTLab invites the academic community to an essential reflection on the intersection of digital technology, ethics, and political structures. Prof. Pompeu Casanovas, Research Professor on Artificial Intelligence, Law and Ethics at the Spanish National Research Council (IIIA-CSIC) and adjunct Professor at La Trobe University, will deliver a compelling webinar titled: “Technological regimentation: Artificial intelligence, fascism, aggression, and democratic society”.
The Shadow of Tomorrow in the AI Era: Drawing inspiration from Johan Huizinga’s 1935 work In the Shadow of Tomorrow, the seminar questions whether the shadow of totalitarianism is too dense to avoid contaminating today's technological innovation. As artificially intelligent systems learn, decide, and act independently in our hybrid world, the webinar explores the profound relationship between AI and political forms.
In the webinar, Prof. Casanovas will examine the thesis that digital means could pave the way for a return to authoritarianism, identifying critical elements to consider, such as:
- Modern warfare and technological applications.
- The strategic behavior and mindset of large technological corporations.
- The practical political philosophy developed by tech CEOs ("CEOs as philosophers") underlying current governance models.
About the Speaker: Prof. Pompeu Casanovas is a leading expert in Law and Technology, having authored or edited over 30 books and 200 scientific articles. His broad research encompasses AI, cyber-security, socio-legal studies, and regulatory models for Industry 4.0. He has served extensively in European and international academic boards, bringing a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge to the discussion.
This event is highly recommended for staff, students, and academics interested in the governance of and with AI, digital policy, science and technology studies, politics, and responsible innovation.
Speakers: Prof. Pompeu Casanovas (IIIA-CSIC / La Trobe University)
Date and Time: 25/03/26 – 13:00 CET
Format: Online (Zoom)
📅 25 March 2026 - Online - 13:00 CET
EUt+ Webinar: "Technological regimentation: Artificial intelligence, fascism, aggression, and democratic society"
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, EUt+ ECTLab invites the academic community to an essential reflection on the intersection of digital technology, ethics, and political structures. Prof. Pompeu Casanovas, Research Professor on Artificial Intelligence, Law and Ethics at the Spanish National Research Council (IIIA-CSIC) and adjunct Professor at La Trobe University, will deliver a compelling webinar titled: “Technological regimentation: Artificial intelligence, fascism, aggression, and democratic society”.
The Shadow of Tomorrow in the AI Era: Drawing inspiration from Johan Huizinga’s 1935 work In the Shadow of Tomorrow, the seminar questions whether the shadow of totalitarianism is too dense to avoid contaminating today's technological innovation. As artificially intelligent systems learn, decide, and act independently in our hybrid world, the webinar explores the profound relationship between AI and political forms.
In the webinar, Prof. Casanovas will examine the thesis that digital means could pave the way for a return to authoritarianism, identifying critical elements to consider, such as:
- Modern warfare and technological applications.
- The strategic behavior and mindset of large technological corporations.
- The practical political philosophy developed by tech CEOs ("CEOs as philosophers") underlying current governance models.
About the Speaker: Prof. Pompeu Casanovas is a leading expert in Law and Technology, having authored or edited over 30 books and 200 scientific articles. His broad research encompasses AI, cyber-security, socio-legal studies, and regulatory models for Industry 4.0. He has served extensively in European and international academic boards, bringing a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge to the discussion.
This event is highly recommended for staff, students, and academics interested in the governance of and with AI, digital policy, science and technology studies, politics, and responsible innovation.
Speakers: Prof. Pompeu Casanovas (IIIA-CSIC / La Trobe University)
Date and Time: 25/03/26 – 13:00 CET
Format: Online (Zoom)
📅 4 March 2026 · Online - 13:00 CET
EUt+ Webinar: Inclusiveness across disciplines – good educator practices
The EUt+ online montlhy webinar in March 2026 will bdedicated to disciplinary approaches to inclusiveness in higher education. The session will be delivered by Stelios Yiatros, Assistant Professor in Structural Engineering at the Cyprus University of Technology, and Valerie Hascoet, Lecturer in Language Studies at the Technological University Dublin.
The webinar will explore how inclusiveness can be approached differently across academic disciplines, presenting examples of inclusive teaching strategies and good educator practices. Participants will gain insights into how disciplinary perspectives shape teaching approaches and how cross-disciplinary dialogue can foster more inclusive learning environments within EUt+ institutions.
Speakers: Stelios Yiatros (CUT) and Valerie Hascoet (TU Dublin)
Date and Time: 04/03/26 – 13:00 CET
Format: Online (Zoom)
The session is particularly relevant for academic staff, educational developers, researchers and teaching professionals interested in inclusive pedagogy, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation in higher education.
📅 2 March 2026 · Online
8th ESSLab Seminar: The DonUTT – A New Approach to Measure Sustainability
EUt+ ESSLab invites the academic community to the eighth edition of the ESSLab Seminar, with a new meeting taking place on the first Monday of each month.
For the second meeting online on Monday, 2 March 2026, at 12:00 CET the ESSLab will welcome Maël Jambou from UTT Troyes, who will present “The DonUTT: A new approach to measure sustainability.”
Rethinking Sustainability Metrics: Do sustainability indicators describe reality, or do they quietly shape what we consider worth caring about? The presentation will introduce the DonUTT, a context-specific adaptation of Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics developed at the University of Technology of Troyes (UTT). This model challenges dominant, universalist frameworks (such as the SDGs) for measuring sustainability in higher education.
Key highlights of the DonUTT approach include:
- Focusing on orders of magnitude to make complex macro-phenomena (e.g., climate change, well-being) tangible, avoiding the chase for illusory precision.
- Grounding indicators and thresholds in participatory processes to collectively define what a "just" and "safe" space means.
- Explicitly integrating psychological well-being and the quality of social relationships into the social foundation—dimensions often absent from mainstream frameworks.
The talk will conclude by exploring the replication of this pluralistic approach at the European scale within the European University of Technology (EUt+) alliance, demonstrating how multiple "doughnuts" can coexist, each shaped by its specific cultural, social, and institutional context.
Speakers: Maël Jambou (UTT Troyes)
Date and Time: 02/03/26 – 12:00 CET
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)
27 February 2026 · Online (Microsoft Teams)
EUt+ Incubation Programme #2 – Masterclass no.4: Marketing in Business and Market Dynamics
The EUt+ Incubation Programme #2 continues its entrepreneurial journey with Masterclass no.4, dedicated to one of the most crucial aspects of startup development: understanding market dynamics and sales strategies.
On Friday, February 27 at 12:00 CET, Roberto Bruni, PhD, UNICAS Associate Professor of Business Management, will lead the session titled “Marketing in business and market dynamics: A focus on sales.” The masterclass will explore how startups can position their solutions effectively, identify target markets, and transform innovative ideas into viable business opportunities.
The programme is part of the EUt+ Entrepreneurship School certification framework, awarding participants a recognised certificate that enhances their CV and professional profile.
The session will be held online via Microsoft Teams and is open to all registered participants of the Incubation Programme.
🔗 Join the Masterclass
🔗 Incubation Programme Registration Form
📅 Spring 2026 · Online
EUt+ Languages for Staff – Spring 2026 Edition
The Spring 2026 edition of EUt+ Languages for Staff is ready to start: the joint initiative is organised by the EUt+ Language Departments, Disciplines and Centres in collaboration with the Multilingualism and Interculturality Office (WA2.4) and aims at promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism within the EUt+ community and strengthening cooperation and collaboration among staff members across the alliance. Classes will be formed with participants from different EUt+ universities, fostering intercultural exchange and shared learning experiences.
Courses will run online from March to June 2026, with weekly 90-minute sessions. Each participant may register for one course only.
Places are limited (minimum 8 – maximum 20 participants per course) and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
NEW! A pilot course organised by h_da – Diverse Classrooms: Intercultural Communication and Competence for EUt+ Lecturers – will also be offered starting on 14 April 2026.
Registration period:
21 February 2026 – 09:00 CET to 25 February 2026 – 09:00 CET
Please note: Missing the first two weeks of classes will result in unenrollment to allow another colleague to participate. Successful applicants will receive confirmation via email after the registration deadline.
📅 13 February 2026 · Online (Microsoft Teams)
EUt+ EUTINN Research Seminar: Detection and Filtration of Mercury Traces Using DNA-Based Biosensors
Within the activities of EUTINN – European Research Institute of the European University of Technology alliance (EUt+), UNICAS academic staff and researchers are invited to attend the first research seminar of 2026, to be delivered by Antoine Elie, PhD candidate at the L2n – Lights, Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies Laboratory of the Université de Technologie de Troyes (UTT).
The presentation, entitled “Detection and Filtration of Mercury Traces Using DNA-Based Biosensors”, will explore innovative approaches for detecting highly toxic mercury species using DNA-based biosensing technologies. Mercury represents a major environmental and public health challenge, and the research presented aims to develop continuous, real-time monitoring strategies capable of identifying trace concentrations.
The seminar will illustrate the use of Surface Plasmon Resonance and fluorescence-based microfluidic systems for mercury detection, as well as experimental approaches employing DNA as a molecular filter for contaminated water. These strategies offer promising perspectives for environmental monitoring, nanotechnology applications and interdisciplinary scientific collaboration within the EUt+ research ecosystem.
The initiative represents an opportunity for scientific exchange within the EUt+ community and is particularly relevant for researchers, doctoral candidates and academic staff interested in biosensors, nanomaterials, environmental monitoring and innovative detection technologies.
Date and Time: 13/02/26 – 11:00 CET
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams - Meeting ID: 366 638 843 398 06 | Passcode: ix64uu3R
📅 11 February 2026 · Online — 13:30 EET | 12:30 CET
EUt+ EXTRAS Analytical Tools – Online Seminar
The EUt+ Research Office at Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) is organizing the online seminar “EUt+ EXTRAS Analytical Tools”.
The session will be delivered by Dr Costantinos Tziouvas, Assistant Professor at the Department of Communication and Internet Studies at CUT and co-developer of the EUt+ EXTRAS Analytical Tools.
During the webinar, participants will be introduced to the analytical dashboards and their practical applications, gaining insights into how these tools can support research development, research intelligence and strategic planning at both institutional and alliance level.
Target audience: Academic staff, researchers, research support staff and all colleagues interested in research intelligence, strategic planning and collaboration opportunities within EUt+.
Date & time: 11/02/26 – 12:30 CET, 13:30 EET
Format: Online (Microsoft Teams)
📅 11 February 2026 — 13:00 CET
Webinar: “Social Media Drives Polarization, But Can Be Leveraged to Bridge Divides”
The EUt+ Alliance invites students, academic and professional staff to attend an online webinar by Dr. Emily Kubin (University of Oxford), focusing on the dual role of social media in fueling political polarization and in offering new opportunities to bridge political and social divides.
Speaker: Dr. Emily Kubin
Title: Social Media Drives Polarization, But Can Be Leveraged to Bridge Divides
Date & Time: 11/02/26 – 13:00 CET
Registration: Required via the link below.
Abstract: Political polarization and conflict are increasing worldwide, with social media often identified as a key driver. Drawing on a systematic review of 94 studies, this webinar examines how exposure to like-minded content intensifies ideological and affective polarization. At the same time, it presents emerging evidence on how social media can be leveraged to reduce intolerance and dehumanization through interventions such as victimhood narratives and polarizing-content warnings. The talk will also briefly discuss the role of AI in both reinforcing and counteracting political polarization.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Emily Kubin is a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford and a research affiliate at the Center for Conflict and Cooperation at New York University. Her research focuses on the interaction between moral judgments, media (news and social media), political polarization and conflict, using primarily experimental and quantitative methods. She also studies the role of AI in shaping political attitudes and developing interventions to bridge societal divides.
📅 2 February 2026 — 12:30 CET · Online
Webinar: “Technology and Virtues in the Digital Age: The Path to a New Identity”
The European University of Technology (EUt+) alliance invites students, academic and professional staff to attend the seventh edition of the ESSLab Monthly Seminar, and the first seminar of 2026, featuring Prof. Bilian Marinov (Technical University of Sofia).
Speaker: Prof. Bilian Marinov
Title: Technology and Virtues in the Digital Age: The Path to a New Identity
Date & Time: 02/02/26 – 12:30 CET
Format: Online seminar
Abstract: The digital age has profoundly reshaped how individuals construct and experience their identities. While classical philosophical traditions grounded identity in enduring values such as Truth, Goodness and Beauty, today’s techno-sphere introduces both new challenges and opportunities. Algorithmic cultures, social media dynamics and fragmented digital personas can undermine coherence and foster forms of “techno-narcissism”. At the same time, drawing on human virtues offers a responsible pathway to cultivating authentic, resilient and sustainable digital identities grounded in empathy, responsibility and ecological awareness.
In line with the EUt+ ethical framework, the seminar promotes a form of techno-optimism that views technology not as an end in itself, but as a tool for human flourishing guided by universal values.
📅 22 January 2026 · Online
WIDERA Info Day: Widening Calls 2026–2027
Following the adoption of the new WIDERA Work Programme 2026-2027 on December 11, 2025, the European Commission is hosting a dedicated online Info Day on January 22, 2026, organized in cooperation with the Research Executive Agency (REA), the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). The event aims to provide interested applicants with detailed insights about the calls under the Destination “Widening participation and spreading excellence” of this Work Programme.
This destination is designed to bridge the R&I gap and foster a cohesive Research and Innovation ecosystem within the EU. With the first calls opening in January 2026, the program will cover key topics including:
- Teaming Synergies & Twinning
- Hop-on Facility & Excellence Hubs
- ERA Fellowships & ERA Chairs
- Research Management Facility, Research Managers, & EIC Pre-Accelerator
Strategic Focus for UNICAS & EUt+: A key moment of the event will be the focus session at 13:30 CET regarding Twinning calls. These initiatives focus on strengthening research capacities through strategic partnerships. For UNICAS, being a member of the European University of Technology (EUt+) alliance provides a significant advantage, as the alliance includes several member universities in "widening" countries, offering valuable opportunities for international research collaboration.
Interaction and Q&A: Speakers from the European Commission and Executive Agencies will present the novelties of the 2026-27 program and address specific questions from the audience. Participants will have the opportunity to interact in real-time via Slido using the event code #WIDERA.
All UNICAS academic staff interested in exploring funding opportunities under the WIDERA Programme and in receiving practical guidance for participation in upcoming calls are invited to attend.
📅 16 January 2026 · Brussels
EUt+ Alliance: a strong model for the future of European higher education
The European University of Technology (EUt+) alliance is increasingly confirming itself as a successful model for the future of European higher education. Thanks to the close collaboration of its nine European partner universities, including UNICAS, EUt+ is steadily progressing towards the ambitious goal of evolving into a fully-fledged European University with its own legal status..
This strategic vision was strongly endorsed during a high-level international conference held in Brussels on January 16, organised by the EUt+ member Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) on the initiative of the State of Hessen. Representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament highlighted the pivotal role of European University Alliances in strengthening cooperation across higher education, research and innovation in Europe.
UNICAS, as a EUt+ proud member, shares the mission and goals of the EUt+ alliance, which actively promotes joint research activities, academic mobility, shared educational structures and a stronger European identity, offering concrete opportunities for students, researchers and academic staff, as also underlined by h_da President Prof. Armin Steinmetz in Brussels. This represents a key strategic asset for UNICAS, which benefits directly from European integration through tools already in place, such as the Common Affiliation, the Mobility Maps Database, and structured research and teaching collaborations across EUt+ partner universities.
The discussions also stressed the importance of ensuring stable and long-term funding beyond 2027, enabling alliances such as EUt+ to consolidate their governance structures and move closer to the vision of a truly integrated European university.
🔗 Read the full article on h_da website
📷 View the photos of the event on LinkedIn
News from 2025
📅 1-5 December 2025
UNICAS at the EUt+ Riga Week 2025
UNICAS participated in the EUt+ Riga Week 2025, hosted by Riga Technical University, where representatives from the nine EUt+ universities advanced curriculum convergence, student involvement, and cross-campus collaboration. The event also marked the two-year anniversary of UNICAS within EUt+ Accelerate.
📅 18-20 November 2025
Online Career Fair meet@h_da 2025: your gateway to internships and jobs in Germany
Would you like to learn more about job opportunities in Germany and connect with potential employers? As part of the EUt+ network, UNICAS students are invited to participate in the annual career event organized by Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences. The initiative is completely free and includes:
📌 “How to apply successfully in English for jobs in Germany” — November 4, 2025 (3 p.m.–5:30 p.m. CET)
A free preparatory session offered by h_da covering rules for internships/working in Germany, how to create your CV and Cover Letter, and how to prepare for a Job Interview.
👉 Register here
📌 Career Fair meet@h_da — 18 to 20 November 2025 (10 a.m.–4 p.m. CET, last day online only)
Meet employers, explore job and internship opportunities, and network with companies operating in Germany. Join online via the Talentefinder platform.
📅 11 November 2025 — 12:00 WEST | 13:00 CEST | 14:00 EEST
Webinar: “Not the digital transformation you planned for: AI accelerationism versus decomputing”
The EUt+ alliance invites all students, academic and professional staff to attend a thought-provoking online seminar by Dr. Dan McQuillan (Goldsmiths, University of London), who will explore the critical tensions between AI accelerationism and decomputing as alternative visions of digital transformation.
Speaker: Dr. Dan McQuillan
Title: Not the digital transformation you planned for: AI accelerationism versus decomputing
Date & Time: 11/11/25 – 12:00 WEST (Dublin), 13:00 CEST (Paris), 14:00 EEST (Sofia)
Registration: Required via the link below.
Abstract: The EU’s dubious vision of economic growth that could be digitally decoupled from carbon emissions has resulted in a deeply reactionary technopolitics. Massive institutional and financial buy-in is failing to conceal AI’s character as an already-broken technology trying to fix a broken system. This talk will propose decomputing as an alternative form of digital transformation; one that centres social justice, aligns with degrowth and applies people-powered conviviality to the governance of tech for the common good.
Speaker Bio: Dr. Dan McQuillan is a Senior Lecturer in Critical AI at Goldsmiths, University of London. With a background in Experimental Particle Physics, he has worked in community technology, human rights, and social innovation. He is the author of “Resisting AI – An Anti-fascist Approach to Artificial Intelligence.”
📅 October 2025
EUt+ Staff Week in Darmstadt: that is how EUt+ sounds like
"We truly ‘lived’ being European, in a simple and meaningful way": staff from the University of Cassino took part in the EUt+ Staff Week hosted by Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, dedicated to “Multilingual & multicultural learning – that is how EUt+ sounds like”. The initiative, held from September 29th to October 2nd, 2025, used music and singing to strengthen intercultural understanding and collaboration among EUt+ university staff.
UNICAS staff described the experience as both inspiring and joyful, sharing insights about their Erasmus+ mobility within the EUt+ Alliance: “Singing together with colleagues from other European universities made differences disappear — we discovered and shared what unites us. Now we all feel ready to work with colleagues from our partner universities as if they were part of our own. We thank EUt+ for offering us a new perspective on our work, and we will soon apply for a true job-shadowing experience.”
📅 October–November 2025
Read, Resist, Reflect: Antiracist Dialogues
Within the EUt+ alliance, an engaging initiative on “Antiracist Dialogues” will take place online via Teams every Friday, from October 10 to November 14 2025, 12:30 to 13:30 (CET). The sessions are open to all students, regardless of their study level or field, and no prior knowledge is required. These sessions are hosted by TU Dublin and are part of the EUt+ initiative to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. Students can register by scanning the QR code on the leaflet attached or clicking on the link below.
📅 June 2025
European Fireworks of Ideas
The first EUt+ Incubation Program began in January 2025 with a clear vision: to transform students’ and researchers’ ideas into real, applicable solutions. The UNICAS student team secured third place at the EUT+ incubation program finals.
Their "Graphene Breathe" idea aims to reduce livestock greenhouse gas emissions — a remarkable achievement in this European competition of innovation and creativity.
📅 2-6 June 2025
📌 EUt+ Darmstadt Week – Advancing Europe: participants from nine countries working towards a common goal – the establishment of a European University
The European University of Technology (EUT+) alliance met in Darmstadt from 2–6 June 2025 to advance the establishment of a unified European University. The week fostered cooperation, innovation, and dialogue among representatives from nine partner countries, all working together toward a common goal of strengthening the European higher education landscape.
March 2025
UNICAS at APAIE 2025: promoting EUt+ collaboration on an international stage
UNICAS participated in the APAIE 2025 International Education Conference together with its EUt+ Alliance partners, presenting a shared stand fully designed by UNICAS. The event, held in March 2025 in Asia, showcased the potential of coordinated international strategies within the EUt+ network and highlighted UNICAS as a fully active member of the Alliance since November 2023. Representing UNICAS were Monica Fragnoli, Project Manager for EUt+, and Laura Morone, Head of the International Welcome Service.
News from 2023
November 2023
UNICAS joins the EUt+ Alliance
As of 1 November 2023, UNICAS officially joined the European University of Technology (EUt+) as its ninth member, contributing to the creation of an inclusive, sustainable, and human-centred European model of technological education and research.
September 2023
Cartagena Week – Final review of the first phase of the EUt+ project
EUt+ concluded its pilot phase with a final review in Cartagena (26–28 September 2023), marking a key milestone in its journey. UNICAS joined as the 9th partner, setting the stage for the next strategic phase through the EUt+ Accelerate project.
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