PIONEER alliance

Iuav International Staff Week 2025
2025-12-15 - 2025-12-18 | IUAV, Venice, Italy
European universities: opportunities and challenges
Iuav International Staff Week will be dedicated to the evolving role of European universities, in the frame of both educational and research activities. Throughout the 4-day event, participants will experience workshops, networking opportunities and on-site visits to discover Università Iuav di Venezia and the city.
Up to 25 participants will be admitted.
Priority will be given to Pioneer partner universities.
PROGRAMME:
https://www.iuav.it/it/eventi/iuav-international-staff-week
Contacts
Global Learning Office
global.learning@iuav.it
+390412571756

Laurea International Week 2026 & PIONEER Festival
2026-01-26 - 2026-01-30 | LAUREA, Finland
📅 26–30 January 2026📍 Laurea University of Applied Sciences, FinlandCampuses: Tikkurila (26–27 Jan) & Leppävaara (28–30 Jan)
Event highlights:
Joint event with JobFest 2026 and the PIONEER Alliance Festival
Theme: Together towards a hope-centred future working life
Organised as Laurea begins its chairmanship of the PIONEER Alliance (2026)
Open to staff from partner institutions, students, and employers
Focus on international competence development, career prospects, and the role of hope and resilience in future working life
Networking opportunities between students, companies, and PIONEER partners
Presentations from partner universities at JobFest
Key speakers:
Dr. Mika Launikari – Laurea Local Coordinator for PIONEER
Mrs. Saara Suominen – Specialist, Company Cooperation
Mrs. Sini Aalto-Friman – Senior Specialist, International Services
Mrs. Riikka Lindholm – Head of International Services

🗓️ Registration deadline: 14 November 2025

PROGRAMME:
https://www.laurea.fi/en/current-topics/events/international-week/

Contacts
Sini Aalto-Friman
Specialist, International affairs
sini.aalto-friman@laurea.fi
Tel 09 8868 7622

How Do I Teach a COIL?
2026-03-30 09:00 - 12:00 (Europe/Bratislava)
Date: 30 March, 2026Format: Online workshopAudience: Faculty members of the PIONEER Alliance
Description:On 30 March 2026, Prof. Jacqueline Bürki from Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) and Susanne Glaeser from the Center for Academic Development (ZLE) at TH Köln will deliver an online workshop titled “How do I teach a COIL?”.
The workshop is designed for faculty members interested in integrating Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) into their teaching and developing the skills needed to foster meaningful global collaboration in higher education.
Sign up by 30 January 2026!
Registration:👉 https://www.th-koeln.de/hochschule/pioneer-alliance-coil-workshop-online-develop-the-skills-to-bring-meaningful-global-collaboration-into-your-teaching_132040.php

2026-05-18 - 2026-05-22 | University of Zilina, Univerzitná 8215/1, Žilina, 01026, Slovakia (Slovak Republic)
UNIZA International Week 202618–22 May 2026 | University of Žilina, Slovakia
The University of Žilina invites colleagues from partner institutions to join the International Week 2026, taking place on the UNIZA campus from 18 to 22 May 2026. The event will focus on international and interdisciplinary exchange, new ideas, and strengthening cooperation across institutions.
Please note that the number of participants is limited, and registration does not automatically guarantee acceptance.
Registration link: 6. International Week at the University of Žilina
Registration deadline: 30 March 2026
Contact:
International Office, University of Žilina
staffweek@uniza.sk

PIONEER BIP – Transformative Engagement: Universities Catalyzing Vulnerable Neighborhood Regeneration
2026-06-15 - 2026-06-19
📅 Physical Activity: 15–19 June 2026📍 Venue: Paris – Champs-sur-Marne, France
⏰ Application Deadline:6 April 2026, 13:00
🎯 Objectives:The programme aims to strengthen collaboration among students, PhD candidates, faculty members, researchers, and local stakeholders involved in community regeneration processes.
📚 Subject Area:Human and Social Sciences
💻 Virtual Activity:

8 June 2026

29 June 2026

👥 Eligibility:Staff and students (final-year Master’s and PhD candidates)
🎓 Recognition:Certificate equivalent to 3 ECTS
📩 Contacts:

Thematic & Programme Information:Cathy Veil (cathy.veil@univ-eiffel.fr)Sylvie Mercier (sylvie.mercier@univ-eiffel.fr)

Application Process:Julien Boucly (julien.boucly2@univ-eiffel.fr)

Human-Centered Leadership for Sustainable Cities
2026-09-03
Date
3 September + 29 September – 2 October, 2026

Location
Avans University of Applied Sciences, Breda, The Netherlands

Organizer
Avans University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with LAUREA and TH Köln

Short Description
This professional development programme explores how human-centered leadership can contribute to addressing complex societal challenges in cities. Through interactive sessions, dialogue, and collaboration, participants will reflect on leadership approaches that emphasize empathy, inclusion, and innovation.

The programme is organized within the context of the PIONEER Alliance, a European university alliance working together on education, research, and innovation for sustainable and resilient cities.

Target Audience
Professionals in leadership roles within educational settings. The programme is also open to individuals with significant leadership experience or those who take on informal leadership roles in education or related fields.

Registration Info
Registration and programme details:
https://human-centered-leadership2026.avans-evenementen.nl/

Contact Person
Contact | Human centered leadership 2026

Website or More Info Link
https://human-centered-leadership2026.avans-evenementen.nl/

PIONEER Early Career Researchers Training School 2026
2026-09-28 - 2026-10-02 | Avans University in ‘s-Hertogenbosch
📅 28 September – 2 October 2026📍 ’s-Hertogenbosch, The NetherlandsFormat: Hybrid (8 hours online + 4 days on site)Host: Avans University of Applied Sciences, in collaboration with ISTCE

Event highlights:
Annual PIONEER Training School for Early Career Researchers (ECRs)
Hybrid format to encourage international participation and mobility
Focus on practice-based (applied) research aligned with SDG 11 – safe, resilient and sustainable cities and regions
Strong emphasis on transdisciplinary and impact-driven research
Critical reflection on opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence in research
Exploration of human–AI collaboration, research ethics, bias, transparency and integrity
International networking and research collaboration within the PIONEER Alliance
Engagement with regional ecosystem partners and real-life co-creation projects in North Brabant

Training objectives:

Develop an understanding and skills of practice-based (applied) research methodologies, driving SDG 11 impact-driven research
Critically reflect on opportunities and threats of AI in Research
Foster international networking & research collaboration

🗓️ Application deadline: 15 April 2026
Registration form PIONEER Training School – Fill out form

For a broad outline of the BIP PIONEER ECR Training School programme and schedule please click on the link below.
Programme and schedule
For further background information of the Pioneer ECR Training School click here
Participants are invited to contact their university to apply for Erasmus+ Mobility funding for this BIP training school (Staff mobility or Student Mobility for Studies).
Overview hotels ‘s-Hertogenbosch
How to get to Avans – ‘s-Hertogenbosch
Practical info
Contact:
Robin Pereboom

Human-Centered Leadership for Sustainable Cities
2026-09-29 - 2026-10-02 | Avans University in ‘s-Hertogenbosch

XII Aesop Sustainable Food Planning Conference
2026-10-21 - 2026-10-24 | IUAV, Venice, Italy
Iuav is pleased to announce the upcoming XII Aesop Sustainable Food Planning Conference, to be held in Venice, Italy, from 21 to 24 October 2026. As in previous editions, the conference aims to serve as a reference point for scholars, doctoral students and practitioners who observe urban and territorial issues and dynamics related to food systems.
The theme of this edition will be Strengthening the values of food in times and spaces of fragility, inspired by the unique geographical and socio-ecological context hosting the conference, namely the Venice Lagoon.
The conference will be hosted at the IUAV University of Venice by Food Lab – food system and urban-territorial impacts lab, a Iuav research group.
The call has just been published and will close on the 30 April 2026
The call for papers and further details on the sessions will be available at the link: https://aesopsfp.wordpress.com/call-for-papers-and-submission-2/.
Please spread the word about this save the date and we look forward to seeing you in Venice!
Venice 2026 AESOP SFP organizing team
