Indicative Scientific Agenda - Topics for Discussion
Student and Youth Engagement in Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions
Date/Time: Thursday, September 18, 2025
15:00 (CET) / 14:00 (WET) / 16:00 (EET)
Format: online event, followed by Q&A and discussion.
By fostering critical thinking, creativity, and intercultural dialogue, Science Cafés aim to raise awareness and encourage collaborative action toward sustainable lifestyles and social justice—whether on campuses, in neighborhoods, communities, societies, or entire regions. It is vital to continually update and expand our knowledge of the pressing challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and social justice, while also finding innovative ways to embed sustainability into education and everyday practice. Many universities and communities emphasize sustainability in their strategic visions, yet often fall short when it comes to accelerating youth engagement, developing green skills, advancing cultural intelligence and inclusion, and supporting well-being and mental health. Science Cafés are designed to address these gaps, connecting international efforts to co-create climate-resilient and just societies.
Speakers - Panelists:
- Isabel Toman, Senior Programme Officer for Sustainable Development at the International Association of Universities (ERUA associated partner)
- Student and Youth Engagement in Sustainability – a task for the whole institution
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file - Ieva Budraitė, Director Green Policy Institute (Lithuania, ERUA associated partner)
- Kinga Sawera, Center for Climate Action and Social Transformation, SWPS University
- Student Engagement in Sustainability at SWPS University
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file - Vangelis Zaftis, PhD Student, ERUA Blue Commission
- Student and Youth Engagement in Sustainability
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file - Professor Nikolaos Zouros, Director Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest (Greece, ERUA associated partner)
Moderator:
- Dr. Nomeda Gudelienė, Mykolas Romeris University, Advisor to Deputy Rector on Sustainable Development, HR Management Centre
Find out more about our Panelists
Why participate?
This event offers opportunities for personal growth and learning, building connections with ERUA peers, and forming international, cross-disciplinary partnerships. It provides a platform to contribute ideas and projects that generate real-world impact—supporting long-term transformation for the future that todays youth will inherit. Dont miss the chance to learn, connect, contribute, and lead meaningful change.
Who Can Attend?
- ERUA & Associated partners
- Local government representatives
- Business and industry leaders
- NGOs and civil society organizations
- Researchers & students
- Community members interested in sustainability from across all regions
Keywords: Youth Engagement, Sustainability Education, Green Skills, Climate Resilience, Social Justice, Cultural Intelligence
Related to SDG4:
Quality Education, Youth Development, Skills Development, Lifelong Learning, Educational Innovation
Related to SDG13:
Environmental Transition, Climate Literacy, Mitigation and Adaptation, Community Resilience, Climate Justice, Collective Action
Please make a cup coffee, relax and enjoy the talk! Everyone is welcome.
You can later watch the event via YouTube (The event will be recorded providing the opportunity for every interested party to access the content at any given time)
Fill the Post-Event Survey!
We highly value your feedback! Please take a moment to complete our short survey to help us improve future events
Date/Time: Thursday, September 18, 2025
15:00 (CET) / 14:00 (WET) / 16:00 (EET)
Interested in attending this event?
Collaborative Research for Regional Sustainability
Date/Time: Monday, March 10, 2025
13:00 (CET) / 12:00 (WET) / 14:00 (EET)
Format: online event, followed by Q&A and discussion.
The ERUA Community, invites researchers, policymakers, local stakeholders and community leaders to join in a collaborative dialogue to drive sustainable development across multiple regions. This event aims to bridge the gap between research and societal needs by fostering cooperation between researchers and regional communities. Our aim is to gather perspectives from local stakeholders on sustainability needs within their respective regions and define priority areas for future research initiatives within the ERUA Science Shop.
Speakers - Panelists:
- Ioannis Katsounis, University of the Aegean, Dr and Researcher
- Insights into regional progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by presenting key research findings on relevant indicators studied by ERUA
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file - Dr. Vilma Popovienė, Lithuanian Social Innovation Cluster, Managing Director
- The Role of Social Innovations in Lithuania Societal Development.
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file - Dr. Jolanta Bieliauskaitė, MRU Head of ERUA Strategic Partnership
- Introduce participatory research tools such as ERUA research clusters to engage stakeholders in co-creating solutions.
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file - George Strogylopoulos, Innovation Policy Expert
- Pressing environmental sustainability challenges and potential solutions tailored to diverse regional contexts identified by ERUA.
- Ruby van der Wekken, RIPESS
- Solidarity Economy Building / RIPESS – The intercontinental network for the promotion of social solidarity economy, its members, values, and actions.
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file
Moderator:
- Dr. Nomeda Gudelienė, Mykolas Romeris University, Advisor to Deputy Rector on Sustainable Development, HR Management Centre
Find out more about our Panelists
Why participate?
This event acts as a learning platform and participants simultaneously learn from ERUA and shape ERUA's future research agenda, by ensuring that key regional sustainability challenges are addressed accompanied with feasible solutions. Through the discussion, attendees can exchange ideas alongside researchers, policymakers, local stakeholders and community leaders to co-develop innovative ideas tackling pressing environmental and social issues. Insights gathered will enrich future ERUA initiatives, affecting long-term impact and regional transformation.
Who Can Attend?
- ERUA & Associated partners
- Local government representatives
- Business and industry leaders
- NGOs and civil society organizations
- Researchers & students
- Community members interested in sustainability from across all regions
Keywords: Sustainable Development, Societal Development, Regional Communities, Sustainable Development Goals (Sdgs), Environmental Sustainability Challenges, Regional Development, Regional Indicators
Related to SDG10:
Culture, Countries, Policy, Ethnicity, Society, Nations, Economic Inclusion, Equality, Human Rights, Reduce Inequalities, Social Inclusion, Social Support
Please make a cup coffee, relax and enjoy the talk! Everyone is welcome.
You can later watch the event via YouTube (The event will be recorded providing the opportunity for every interested party to access the content at any given time)
Fill the Post-Event Survey!
We highly value your feedback! Please take a moment to complete our short survey to help us improve future events
Date/Time: Monday, March 10, 2025
13:00 (CET) / 12:00 (WET) / 14:00 (EET)
Interested in attending this event?
ERUA’s regional impact - The Role of Universities in Integrating Migrants into Local Communities
Format: online event, 5 minutes of experience sharing from each university (presentation - case study), followed by Q&A and discussion.
Please make a cup coffee, relax and enjoy the talk! Everyone is welcome.
Speakers:
- Prof. Anastasia Chourmouziadi, University of the Aegean, Director of the Museolab Laboratory of the Department of Cultural Technology and Communication
- Ms Konstantina Leivaditi, University of the Aegean, PhD Candidate, Ethnography Laboratory of the Department of Social Anthropology and History
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file
- Susan Cranfield McKay, ULPGC, Lecturer, Faculty of Translation and Interpreting
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file
- Dr. Marija Grujić, EUV, Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences (Chair of Comparative Cultural and Social Anthropology)
- M.A. Somaiya Meer, EUV, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences (Chair of Language Use and Migration)
- M.A. Katarzyna Ksenicz, SWPS, Deputy Director of the Center of Communication and Customer Services
Moderator:
- Dr. Nomeda Gudelienė, MRU, Advisor to Deputy Rector on Sustainable Development, HR Management Centre
PresentationYou can view or download the presentation file
Key words: Sustainable development goals, sustainability, Aeiforia
Related to SDG5:
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, Empowering women, Female Entrepreneurship, Gender discrimination, Gender equality, Gender Equity
Related to SDG10:
Reduce inequality within and among countries, Social Responsibility, Diversity, Culture, Human Rights, Migration Policies, Social Discrimination, Social Inclusion, Social Equality
You can watch below or click here (via YouTube) for the recording of the Event
Fill the Post-Event Survey!
We highly value your feedback! Please take a moment to complete our short survey to help us improve future events
Date/Time: Monday, September 30, 2024 | 15:00 (CEST) / 16:00 (EET/Athens time)
Interested in attending this session?
Join Event
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