European universities are operating in an increasingly complex geopolitical and geostrategic environment marked by intensified global competition, technological transformation, climate challenges, and shifting international partnerships. In this context, higher education institutions play a critical role not only as centres of education and research, but also as strategic actors contributing...
In a world marked by geopolitical uncertainty, societal polarization, and complex global challenges, universities are increasingly recognized as influential actors of soft power. Through education, research, and international collaboration, they foster trust, intercultural understanding, and long-term relationships that extend beyond national borders and political cycles.
This presentation...
European University Alliances are increasingly evolving from cooperation platforms into strategic systems that connect education, research, innovation, skills development, and societal engagement across borders. This contribution examines how alliances move beyond project-based collaboration toward more durable forms of institutional transformation through governance structures, coordination...
Background. European University Alliances (EUAs) are positioned as strategic instruments to transform higher education and strengthen the European Education and Research Areas. Despite strong political support and ambitious integration agendas, many alliances remain structurally dependent on temporary, project-based funding and fragmented governance arrangements. This creates a sustainability...
The growing urgency of biodiversity loss calls for new mechanisms capable of transforming scientific knowledge into scalable solutions with environmental, social, and economic impact. While European universities produce significant biodiversity-related research, the pathways through which scientific discoveries evolve into entrepreneurial initiatives remain fragmented and underdeveloped....
The growing integration of generative artificial intelligence into higher education is reshaping not only pedagogical practices, but also the institutional conditions through which knowledge is evaluated and legitimised. While AI is often framed in terms of efficiency and innovation, less attention has been paid to how computational systems may transform the epistemic role of universities as...
Global food systems face growing pressure from population growth, climate change, resource degradation, geopolitical instability, and rapid digital transformation. At the same time, there is increasing demand for sustainable, transparent, and socially responsible food production. In response, the EU Farm-to-Fork strategy promotes resilient and environmentally friendly food systems through...
This study considers lifelong learning infrastructure as a key enabler for building a skills-driven Europe. It examines how AI literacy, microskills and adaptive upskilling can help individuals, organisations and education systems respond to rapidly changing labour markets. The study is based on the European context, where digital transformation, the green transition, demographic shifts and...
Since taking his oath of office on 20 January 2025, President Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented campaign to reshape parts of the United States scientific infrastructure. The dismantling of research-funding agencies, the dismissal of thousands of federal employees, and the termination of contracts and grants highlight the vulnerability of scientific systems to shifting political...
Open Science (OS) infrastructures are commonly discussed in terms of access, interoperability, and the technical exchange of research outputs. Less attention is paid to how these infrastructures reshape the distribution of visibility, trust, and epistemic authority within the scholarly communication ecosystem.
Drawing on the experience of integrating the University of Opole Knowledge Base...
The rapid adoption of generative AI fundamentally changes how we search for and evaluate information. As conversational AI systems replace traditional search engines, the need for independent source analysis diminishes, raising critical questions about epistemic authority and trust. This presentation analyzes generative AI as a new epistemic authority. Drawing on Miranda Fricker’s framework of...
Sustainable aquaculture is increasingly recognised as an important component of the blue economy, food security and climate resilience policies in Europe and worldwide. However, inland aquaculture development in the Baltic States remains limited despite the region’s potential for traditional pond aquaculture and recirculating aquaculture systems. The interdisciplinary project “Potential of...
As in many other countries, a significant proportion of the population in Germany consists of people whose first language is not German. In addition to recognised linguistic minorities such as the Sorbs and Danes, Germany is home to sizeable language communities speaking languages such as Russian, Turkish, Polish and Arabic, a result of the country’s history of migration. The group of people...
The use of chatbots in higher education has gained significant popularity, and research shows that the number of students consulting chatbots is increasing rapidly. It is well known that chatbots can be a valuable learning aids, however, they also rise ethical concerns. Therefore, it is very important is to understand how accurate these chatbots are [1].
The aim of the current study was to...
The current paper provides a critical overview of current trends in child bilingualism research, with particular emphasis on psycholinguistic testing methods and standardised language proficiency assessments. It highlights the use of experimental psycholinguistic measures, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of standardised proficiency tests. Finally, several methodological and theoretical...
Global English functions not only as a practical instrument of communication but also as a force that shapes individuals’ language choices in everyday interaction. The aim of this paper is to compare the role of English in multilingual contexts in the European Union and the Republic of India by identifying the sociolinguistic domains in which English occurs most frequently and examining how...
This study examines art consumers’ perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in art creation and art management through a comparative analysis of Poland and Turkey. As AI becomes increasingly present in the arts, it challenges traditional ideas of creativity, authenticity, and artistic value while also transforming the management of cultural institutions.
Drawing on Hofstede’s cultural...
My presentation examines how Ukrainian refugees are represented in Polish media discourse following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Its aim is to identify the dominant evaluative frameworks shaping these representations and to explore how they interact within broader narratives of social inclusion, economic participation, and institutional governance. The study employs a corpus-assisted...
Street names are powerful instruments in the linguistic production of symbolic space, encoding hierarchies of recognition, authority, and belonging into the urban landscape. Previous research has shown that commemorative toponymy overwhelmingly privileges male historical figures, yet most studies rely on single-city analyses and limited descriptive evidence. This paper provides a nationwide,...
This presentation examines how digital publics negotiate identity, memory and legitimacy around the Israeli–Palestinian conflict through YouTube commentary on Vice News coverage from 2014 to 2023. Using the concept of imagefare, the study treats online comment spaces as arenas where spectators and self-identified stakeholders participate in conflict dialogue beyond the battlefield. The...
The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift toward continuous digital connectivity in secondary education, profoundly impacting Generation Z learners. This quantitative study (n=526) examines the relationship between in-class digital dependency, non-academic multitasking, school engagement, and subjective well-being among Romanian high school students during emergency remote teaching. Findings...
Mathematical anxiety is becoming an increasingly important challenge in education. For many children, mathematics is connected not only with learning, but also with stress, fear of making mistakes, and loss of confidence. Negative experiences with mathematics appear already in the first years of school and influence students motivation, self-esteem, and future educational choices.
This...
The employment of university students is progressively becoming a widespread occurrence. Especially in business-related education students experience during the study process is often defined as a very important part of their development. The goal of the pilot study was to investigate the relationship between student employment characteristics and the perceived development of professional...
Foreign language learning increasingly requires learners to navigate uncertainty, emotional challenges, and complex communicative situations. This presentation examines emotional intelligence and ambiguity tolerance as future-oriented competences that support successful language learning in contemporary educational contexts. Emotional intelligence enables learners to recognize, understand, and...
The increasing use of amplification technologies, wireless microphones, digital sound processing and artificial intelligence is reshaping contemporary theatre practice and actor training. As technological systems become capable of enhancing, modifying, and even simulating vocal performance, questions arise regarding the continuing relevance of traditional vocal technique.
This paper examines...
Framed within the Education for Sustainable Development context adopted by UNESCO, the aim of this contribution is to present an interdisciplinary mentoring program implemented at the University of Valencia. And in parallel, to show how this experience can contribute to sustainable teaching and learning. In general, results suggested that this educational activity might improve diverse...
The talk demonstrates that some of the fundamental moral-political categories we use in Europe today – such as humanitarianism – have been developed through historical conversations between the so-called West, the East, and the South. Drawing from her book “Realigning Humanitarianism in the Balkans: From Cold-War Politics to Neoliberal Ethics” (Indiana University Press 2026), Brković explores...
Urban growth, restructuring since the late twentieth century have produced new forms of socio-spatial inequality in Southern European cities. Traditional urban policies have mainly addressed historic centres or peripheral neighbourhoods, while intermediate areas of the consolidated city have often remained overlooked. This study explores the concept of Middle Land as an analytical framework...
This presentation seeks to explore the ways in which resilience and survival are represented in the testimonies collected in the edited volume 100 Days of War: Through the Eyes of the Ukrainian Academia (2023), focusing especially on the ethical and emotional dilemmas surrounding migration, staying, and leaving. Using qualitative research methods and the analysis of social-autobiographical...
Antimicrobial resistance is a biological process by which microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites adapt to and withstand treatment with drugs. Its reason is inappropriate use of antibiotics, making them difficult or no longer effective in curing routine infections. Despite institutional efforts to raise awareness of AMR, persistent gaps remain in access to knowledge, trust in...
This presentation examines how Ukrainian refugee youth in Latvia navigate educational transitions, belonging, and integration under conditions of war-related displacement and polycrisis. Based on ongoing doctoral research at the University of Latvia, the study focuses on post-9th grade educational pathways, language adaptation, institutional support, and future educational choices of displaced...
The definition of the term "refugee" is one of the most debated issues in international politics and the social sciences. Before the Second World War, there was no specific or general definition of a refugee, and the refugee protection system was established under the League of Nations. The first treaties on the protection of refugees emerged in the 1920s under the auspices of the League of...
This paper examines how Romanian immigrant women in Spain negotiate belonging, social mobility, and knowledge production within contemporary European migration regimes. Focusing on the provinces of Barcelona, Lleida, Valencia, and Castellón, the study analyses how women’s labour trajectories are shaped not only by structural inequalities but also by the coexistence of diverse knowledge...
Inspired by an extensive AI writing experiment in a seminar, I will try to build the bridge from the publishing value chain and the fascinating abilities of AI systems to support or take over publishing tasks like copy-editing or even gatekeeping to desirable future working set-ups in the book business; obviously, such set-ups will not least tie up on the limitations of AI systems. Finally, I...
Spectral comparison is central to many analytical decisions, including material identification, library searching, batch comparability, forensic screening, process monitoring and waste sorting. However, the apparently simple question of whether two spectra are similar can be answered in mathematically different ways. This presentation introduces the fundamentals of chemometric spectral...
Hybrid warfare campaigns have become a significant challenge to contemporary national and international security environments, combining conventional military actions with cyberattacks, disinformation, economic pressure, political manipulation, and psychological operations. This research examines the multidimensional nature of hybrid threats and analyses the mechanisms through which state and...
The advent of AI in healthcare is rewriting the coordinates of the therapeutic relationship, challenging the dogmas of civil and constitutional law.
The current European regulatory framework — even in light of the new AI Act — proves structurally inadequate. Traditional civil liability models fail to properly allocate the risks of "algorithmic errors" and reject the fiction of "electronic...
Background. The analysed issue holds significant importance because the rapid development of medical technologies is one of the most important transformations of modern societies.These innovations have contributed to increasing life expectancy, early diagnosis of diseases and improving the quality of life for millions of people.
Aim. The aim of the current study is to analyze how the...
This presentation explores emotionally adaptive dialogue frameworks for Human–AI interaction in educational environments. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into higher education, learning systems are beginning to influence cognition, interpretation, communication and meaning-making processes. The research develops an interdisciplinary, human-centered framework that combines cognitive...
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in healthcare for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, improving precision and efficiency in patient care. However, the growing autonomy of AI systems raises important legal issues concerning civil liability for damages caused by medical robots and intelligent technologies.
This study analyses the challenges posed by AI opacity and autonomy,...
Background. The retail sector is being transformed by the rapid development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and the growing demand for sustainable business models. In this context, Sustainability-Oriented Service Innovation (SOSI) has emerged as an approach integrating innovation and sustainability in service activities [1].
Aim. This study analyses the influence of ICT...
Environmental communicators today are under pressure to overcome issue displacement and a sense of fatigue with sustainability-related messages. This presentation reviews selected scholarship that explores environmental discourses produced by media, popularisers and activists to identify effective discursive strategies and dominant patterns used in environmental advocacy. It also reports on a...
In multilevel democracies, regional authorities have increasingly engaged in establishing science advisory systems for environmental governance through institutional arrangements. Concurrently, pressures in coastal regions have spurred the emergence of analogous bodies dedicated to the land–sea interface. While a growing body of scholarship has examined science advice, far less attention has...
Roblox is currently one of the world’s largest multiplayer gaming platforms, bringing together millions of active users and creating complex digital environments in which young people interact, cooperate and build social relationships. Although online games are often perceived primarily as a source of distraction and a threat to education, this presentation explores their potential from a...
In an age of polycrisis, the interaction between sustainability and innovation has become a central challenge for organisations, governments, and society. In environmentally conscious markets, service firms are expected not only to remain competitive but also to contribute to social and environmental well-being. Therefore, this study examines the role of value co-creation with external...
We examine HEIs can move from carbon neutrality towards contributing to the global Nature Positive goal. While carbon footprinting has become widespread, carbon neutrality claims often lack consistency and do not fully follow international standards. Biodiversity footprinting is an emerging field, and many HEIs are still developing approaches to measuring and addressing their impacts on...
Labor exploitation in agri-food supply chains persists across Mediterranean Europe as a structural governance failure, not a criminal exception. In Italy, the caporalato system — illicit labor intermediation relying on migrant workers in precarious legal conditions — endures despite legislative prohibition, sustained by labor shortages, retailer price pressures, and dysfunctional public...
Attention is increasingly paid to the role of ‘AI tools’ in educational practice. As institutional and pedagogical discussions about the use of ‘AI tools’ expand to involve more and different kinds of participants, expressions of affective experience are often filtered out. This leaves behind a discourse that is institutionally legible in the form of guidelines and best practices, but bears...
The global crisis and the interdependence between countries in Europe in ensuring food security are intensifying, taking into account the transformations in the socio-economic and ecological system. Climate change and the impact of war have significantly affected food security. The standard of living has decreased and the environment has deteriorated due to ongoing military aggression.
The...
This study examines how citizens access, interpret, and evaluate climate change (CC) information in a media environment shaped by information overload, misinformation, and fragmented news consumption. The aim was to identify the information sources, trust criteria, and climate narratives that influence public understanding of CC. The research employed a qualitative approach based on a citizen...
This study examines media coverage of the “Marsz Niepodległości 2025” (Independence March) in Warsaw within the context of Poland’s highly polarized political and media landscape. Poland is characterized by strong divisions between political camps and closely aligned media outlets, making media–politics interdependence a defining feature of public discourse.
The aim of the research was to...
