E³UDRES² Voices

Michael Macher

Nov. 2025 | #lecturer

Michael Macher, Junior Professor in the Creative Computing program and alumnus of our university, participated in this year’s E³UDRES² International Engagement Circus at UC Leuven-Limburg (UCLL) in Belgium. He returned with fresh insights, new connections, and renewed enthusiasm for international collaboration. In this interview, Michael shares what makes the format unique and why he encourages other lecturers to join.

Vivian Cherono

Oct. 2025 | #student

Vivian Cherono, PhD student in Supply Chain Management at MATE University, proves that dreams have no boundaries. Coming from Chemnoet, a small village in Kenya’s Rift Valley, she transitioned from teaching in Kenya to pursuing her PhD in Europe. Her research focuses on sustainable food supply chains and food waste management in hospitality. Vivian’s journey with E³UDRES² began at the Bootcamp in Belgium, opening doors to international experiences and opportunities.

Adrian-Mihai Popescu

Oct. 2025 | #student

Adrian-Mihai Popescu, Vice-Chair of the E³UDRES² Student Executive Board and Computer Engineering student at Politehnica University Timișoara, is passionate about innovation and digital transformation. Alongside his studies, Mihai engages in civic initiatives and manages Erasmus+ projects. Through E³UDRES², he connects students to global opportunities and fosters collaboration across cultures, driving change in higher education.

Sjors Groeneveld

Jul. 2025 | #researcher

Sjors Groeneveld, winner of the E³UDRES² Award of Excellence 2025 for Innovative Science Outreach, created an immersive film experience that sparked public dialogue on the future of personal data. By blending storytelling with guided conversations, Sjors makes complex topics like privacy and bias accessible, fostering trust in science through creative and inclusive formats.

Ben van Veen

Jul. 2025 | #researcher

Ben van Veen, winner of the E³UDRES² Award of Excellence 2025 for Innovative Teaching Methods, transforms mentor classes into high-performing teams by applying sports psychology and rituals. His approach fosters student engagement and ownership, creating dynamic learning environments. Ben advocates for sharing practical teaching innovations to build a connected community of educators across Europe.

Najia Jalal

Jul. 2025 | #student

Najia Jalal, winner of the 2025 E³UDRES² Award of Excellence for Student Innovation, is leading change through education in one of the world’s most challenging environments. She shares her story of resilience, underground schooling, and the global impact of local action. Discover how her bold initiative is empowering Afghan girls and inspiring international collaboration.

Abiodun Adefusi

Jul. 2025 | #student

Abiodun Adefusi is no stranger to E³UDRES². The Creative Computing student has taken part in various formats of the European University Alliance – from Living Labs and Hackathons to international events across Europe. In this interview, he shares what inspires his involvement and why student collaboration is essential.

Klaas Vansteenhuyse

May 2025 | #staff

Klaas Vansteenhuyse has been appointed as the first Director of Learning for the E³UDRES² Alliance. In this strategic role, he will foster collaboration across partner institutions, support educational innovation, and strengthen the integration of joint learning initiatives.

Milan Wolf

Mar. 2025 | #student

Milan Wolf, a Public Administration student at Saxion University, is the new Chair of the E³UDRES² Student Executive Board for 2025. He shares his motivations, goals, and vision for student collaboration across Europe. Learn more about his journey and future plans.

Birgit Zimola

Nov. 2024 | #staff

Birgit Zimola, member of the E³UDRES² team at USTP, highlights the E³UDRES² Bootcamp, where students tackle real-world challenges with regional stakeholders. Birgit also highlights the role of Educational Entrepreneurs in supporting students' entrepreneurial growth throughout the process.

Oskars Java

Jul. 2024 | #researcher #lecturer

Oskars Java, an expert in simulation modeling, uses technology to address social challenges. Specializing in sustainability and digital agriculture, he leads research at ViA and directs the Socio-technical Systems Engineering Institute. He plays a key role in the E³UDRES² initiative, fostering international research collaboration.

Paul-Alexandru Stiegelbauer

June 2024 | #student

Meet Paul, a Master's student in Software Engineering at Politehnica University of Timișoara. As Vice-Chair of the E³UDRES² Board of Student Representatives till 2024, he was committed to enhancing student experiences and promoting international collaboration.

Kathi Korn

September 2024 | #student

Meet Kathi Korn, recipient of the 2023 Gender and Diversity Award, who presents her Master’s research on women involved in substance use and sex work in Vienna. She reflects on her key findings and offers recommendations for designing needs-based services to better support this often-overlooked group.

Karina, Paul, Vivian

September 2024 | #student

Get to know Karina, Paul, and Vivian, who represented students in the E³UDRES² Board of Student Representatives until 2024. In this episode, they share what drew them to the alliance, reflect on their personal motivations, and describe how E³UDRES² has shaped their academic experiences across Europe — from Timișoara to Hungary and Latvia.

Emily Kristofics-Binder

June 2025 | #student

Introducing Emily, one of the 2023 Gender & Diversity Award recipients, who discusses her unique bachelor thesis - a fairy tale that reimagines traditional gender roles in childhood. A Social Work graduate from St. Pölten UAS and trained actor from Paris, Emily blends creative storytelling with academic research to explore identity, non-binary representation, and the freedom for children to grow beyond stereotypes.

Pamela Nolz

June 2025 | #researcher #lecturer

Hear from Dr. Pamela Nolz, Senior Researcher at St. Pölten UAS, as she explores her passion for sustainable mobility. From engaging schoolchildren in the CLEA project to collaborating with companies, Pamela discusses how awareness, cross-border cooperation, and small behavioral changes can help build more sustainable cities through the E³UDRES² framework.