Circle U.

🗣️ CUSU in Belgrade: Shaping the Future of Student Representation

From May 27th to 29th, the Circle U. Student Union (CUSU) representatives gathered at the University of Belgrade to align student priorities with the alliance's next strategic chapters. 🇷🇸✨

Over three productive days, student leaders from across Europe worked on:
🎯 Enhancing the impact of student voices within core Circle U. decision-making boards.
✍️ Finalising an official position paper on Freedom of Expression.
🔄 Designing a smoother workflow to ensure continuity for future student representatives.

Of course, it wasn't all work! The team also explored the historic city where the Sava and Danube meet, exchanging perspectives on the unique realities of European student life. 🏛️🦅

📖 What's next on CUSU's agenda? Read the full recap and their plans for new student-focused initiatives on our website 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/news/cusu-belgrade-student-voices-along-danube

🌱 Launch Your Idea with Circle U. Seed Funding!

Do you have an idea for a collaborative project? Are you looking to connect with peers across Europe and turn your initiative into reality? The Circle U. Seed Funding Scheme is now open for applications, ready to support innovative, bottom-up projects across the alliance. Whether you’re a student, academic, or staff member, this is your opportunity to connect, create and innovate with Circle U.

We are offering up to €10,000 for academic, research, or administrative projects and up to €5,000 for student-led initiatives.

💡 The key?
To be eligible, projects should bring together participants from at least three Circle U. member universities and contribute to Circle U.'s mission by promoting innovation in education, research, or student engagement.

ℹ️ Need guidance?
We’ll be hosting info sessions soon, where you can learn more about the call, the application process, and how to strengthen your proposal. Stay tuned for dates and registration details!
📅 Call deadline: 23 October 2026

🚀 Ready to take the first step?
Discover the full call and application details 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/projects-and-calls/seed-funding

A New Chapter: UCLouvain & University of Belgrade Launch Joint Master's Track!

We are proud to share a major milestone for cross-border education within our alliance! UCLouvain 🇧🇪 and the University of Belgrade 🇷🇸 have officially signed a new cooperation agreement, creating a Joint Master's programme in Quantitative Finance. 📈

Starting in the 2026/27 academic year, this programme brings together economics, mathematics, and data science to prepare graduates for high-demand roles in international institutions and central banks.

💡 The Pathways:
🇷🇸 Belgrade Students: Follow a full double-degree track, spending Year 1 in Belgrade and Year 2 at UCLouvain (with tuition fees waived in Belgium!).
🇧🇪 UCLouvain Students: Spend a full academic year immersed in Belgrade’s accredited exchange track, returning with a certificate from the Faculty of Economics and Business.

This partnership is a tangible example of the deep trust and patient collaboration fostered by the Circle U. framework. It also serves as a strong reminder that European university cooperation is most meaningful when it is sustained through solidarity and shared academic values. 🤝🇪🇺

📖 Read the full story on our website 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/news/new-chapter-uclouvain-and-university-belgrade

🌍 Student Leadership in European Higher Education

What happens when you put the academic and organisational management of an international summer school entirely into the hands of students? 🎓

Manuel Klein, a student at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, did just that. As an organiser for the "Circle U.nited for Sustainability" programme, supported by Circle U. and the CENTRAL Network, Manuel, as part of the student-led sustainability office at Humboldt, coordinated everything from thematic design and speaker recruitment to cross-border logistics.

Reflecting on the success of the initiative, which drew over 200 online participants and brought 30 students to Berlin, Manuel emphasises that European higher education networks are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful, long-term change. However, to maximise this impact, these structural supports cannot be treated as temporary, one-off initiatives; they must be embedded deeply and sustainably within our universities.

When institutions truly back student-led initiatives, the potential for cross-border transformation is immense. 🤝🏛️

📖 Read Manuel’s full article to explore his strategic recommendations for universities and his insights on building effective European networks 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/news/what-i-learned-organising-summer-school-student

🎂 Humboldt-Universität Celebrates 5 years of Circle U.!

The anniversary festivities continue! Following the celebrations at Universität Wien, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin officially opened the Circle U. 5th anniversary poster exhibition in the university’s main lobby. 🏛️

The event was a wonderful moment to reflect on HU Berlin’s incredible achievements over the last half-decade, including:
🌱 Coordinating the Knowledge Hub on Climate and hosting 5 summer schools.
🎓 Appointing 9 Academic Chairs and 1 Academic Director.
💻 Launching 16 joint COIL courses and the Master’s in European Public Governance.

The afternoon wrapped up with inspiring cross-alliance conversations over a slice of Circle U.'s birthday cake. 🍰 The exhibition will be on display at HU Berlin until 10 July, a perfect spot to discover new ideas and connection points for future European collaboration. 🌍🤝

📖 Want to see highlights from the celebration? Read the full recap and check out the gallery on our website 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/news/exhibition-opening-and-celebration-humboldt-marks-5-years-circle-u

💼 Sustainable Business, Finance & Circular Economy

How is the European Union working to integrate sustainability into the core of the economy? 🇪🇺🌱

Applications are now open for this Bachelor-level course hosted by the University of Oslo! Designed for students eager to understand the intersection of law, policy, and environmental action, this programme offers a deep dive into the multilevel frameworks regulating international and domestic markets.

💡 What You Will Explore:
🏢 Sustainable Business: Analyse the overarching objectives of EU Treaties and case law regarding corporate responsibility.
💶 Sustainable Finance: Examine the financial frameworks driving green investments across Europe.
🔄 The Circular Economy: Study the regulations and policy shifts aimed at reducing waste and fostering resource efficiency.

Key Details:
📅 When: 22 September – 23 November 2026
📍 Where: Fully Online for Circle U. students (via live Zoom lectures from Oslo 🇳🇴)
📜 Credits: 10 ECTS
🎓 Level: Bachelor students currently enrolled at a Circle U. partner university
⏳ Application Deadline: 1 July 2026

✨ Unique Opportunity:
All participants will write a short, blog-style essay on a course topic. Exceptional essays will be selected for professional guidance to be published on the official Blogging for Sustainability platform! 📝✍️

More info and registration 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/open-campus/sustainable-business-finance-circular-economy-0

🌍 Circle U. Summer School on Democracy and Development returns to Belgrade!

From June 1st to 5th, the University of Belgrade hosted 40 Master’s students from across our alliance for an urgent exploration of "Democracy and Development in a Fragmenting World: Geopolitics, Power Shifts, and the Fate of the Liberal Order."

Students from Germany, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Austria, the UK, and Serbia came together to move beyond standard textbooks. Guided by experts from across Europe, they tackled the deep geopolitical forces, trade shifts, and democratic challenges reshaping our international order.

A major highlight was the "Matrix Serious Game" simulation, immersing students in strategic, real-world policy analysis, alongside interdisciplinary group work and cultural visits around Belgrade.

This program is a proud example of how our Circle U. Knowledge Hub on Democracy co-creates genuinely European educational experiences. Thank you to all the brilliant students and lecturers who made this week such a success! 👏

📖 Want to see what our students got up to? Read the full recap article on our website 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/news/circle-u-summer-school-democracy-and-development-returns-belgrade

📬 Stay in the loop: Missed out on this year's summer schools? Subscribe to our newsletter to keep informed of upcoming opportunities! 👉 https://bit.ly/newsletter-circle-u

🧪 Two Degrees, Two Countries: Apply for the Double Degree Master’s in Chemistry!

Are you a Bachelor's student in Chemistry looking to expand your international horizons and multiply your career opportunities? 🌍🎓

Applications are now open for this elite Double Degree Master’s Programme in Chemistry, allowing you to split your studies between two world-class institutions: Université Paris Cité 🇫🇷 and the University of Pisa 🇮🇹!

No matter which track you choose, you will spend your first year in Pisa and your second year in Paris, gaining an unshakeable foundation in organic, molecular, biomolecular, and medicinal chemistry. The two tracks simply offer slight variations in the program structure; for instance, choosing the Paris application track includes an internship during your first year or choosing the Pisa application track includes more electives during your first year!

💡 Why Choose this Double Degree?
🧪 Advanced Hands-On Research: Gain extensive laboratory practice and secure internships in leading research institutions and private companies.
🧠 Future-Ready Skills: Develop independent research capacity alongside crucial transferable skills like project management and teamwork.
💼 Diverse Career Pathways: Prepare for high-impact roles as an R&D research executive, step straight into a PhD programme, or pivot into science management and entrepreneurship.

📅 Key Details:
📍 Where: Year 1 at University of Pisa (Italy) | Year 2 at Université Paris Cité (France)
🗣️ Language: First year in Italian and second year in English
📜 Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry (or equivalent), B2 English, and B2 Italian.
⏳ Application Deadline: 30 June 2026

📝 How to Apply:
Review the programme differences to see which track fits you best, and have your transcripts, CV, motivation letter, and language certificates ready!

🇫🇷 First Track (Apply via Université Paris Cité): Register through the 'MonMaster' platform
🇮🇹 Second Track (Apply via University of Pisa): Apply directly via email to the University of Pisa.

More info and application 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/double-degree-masters-programme-chemistry

On 27, 28 and 29 May, UCLouvain hosted the Sandpits and welcomed 17 researchers from Circle U. universities and from a broad range of disciplines.

During the workshop, the researchers developed interdisciplinary research projects and strengthened their skills in research management, interdisciplinary research and project pitching. Four interdisciplinary research projects were developed, and strong links were forged.

A big thank you to Martin Nera and Oxana Rogozina, the facilitators at Mind&Market, for their professionalism and creativity!

🗣️ "Sandpits 2026 at UCLouvain was much more than sharing ideas and pitching research projects! It was about building interdisciplinary collaboration, expanding networks, and creating memories! It was also about good mood, cosy vibes, friendship, and lovely surroundings.
Over three inspiring days, researchers from across the Circle U. came together to co-create innovative project ideas around sustainability and climate change, while exchanging academic perspectives across disciplines." - Rashmi Upadhyay (Postdoc Researcher, Aarhus University)

See you on 30 June for the second session, during which the researchers will pitch their research projects!

🏆 Circle U. Academic Chair Marius Mjaaland Wins the University of Oslo’s Education Award!

We are thrilled to share that Professor Marius Timmann Mjaaland, Academic Chair at the University of Oslo, has been honoured with this year’s prestigious UiO Education Award! 🎓

Professor Mjaaland is being recognised for his outstanding work on educational quality and his innovative, interdisciplinary teaching addressing the climate and nature crisis. 🌍🌱

The prize committee specifically highlighted his brilliant Circle U. course, "The Anthropocene: Ecology and Democracy Across the Disciplines." This programme brought students from across our entire alliance together in Oslo for an intensive week of cross-border collaboration, excursions, and deep academic immersion.

Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Anders Runesson, praised the course as a shining example of successful internationalisation and interdisciplinary collaboration, key pillars of the Circle U. vision. 🤝🏛️

Please join us in sending our huge congratulations to Marius for this well-deserved recognition! He will be officially presented with the award during UiO’s annual celebration on 2 September.

Read the full story here 👉 https://www.circle-u.eu/news/academic-chair-marius-mjaaland-receives-university-oslos-education-award