Upcoming events within FORTHEM Alliance

University of Jyväskylä is a member of FORTHEM, a European Universities Alliance. Together with 8 European partner universities, we develop our activities and offer new kinds of international networking and learning possibilities to for our students, researchers, staff members and local partners. On this page, we list some highlights from the events calendar.

Published

4.2.2026

Selected FORTHEM opportunities in February 2026

We have collected here some highlights for the upcoming months. All upcoming events can be found in the events calendar on the FORTHEM Alliance website

Horizon Europe Pillar II: Consortia project ideation, proposal development, and application processes - from idea to funding

A three-day bootcamp in the winter wonderland of Jyväskylä: workshops, group discussions, seminars, and activities on the theme of developing joint, collaborative consortia project ideas to proposals and funding applications in the Horizon Europe Pillar II programme for 2026 and 2027.
Further discussions and funding action plans for the new Horizon Europe Work Programme 2028-2034.

Please note the dates on the FORTHEM website (link below) are incorrect: the bootcamp will be organised in March, not 21-23 January. The registration for the bootcamp will re-open in late January.

Register by 8.2.2026 Online Conference: Your Voice Matters - Join us in shaping a more inclusive university!

Planned Activities

1. Round Table with FORTHEM Students
Date: 12 February 2026, 10:00-13:00 CET / 11:00-14:00 EET
An open discussion among nine FORTHEM students sharing mobility and event experiences.
2. Collective Work on the FORTHEM Code of Conduct
Students will collaborate to revise and integrate the FORTHEM Code of Conduct for inclusive mobility and events. The final version will be adopted by FORTHEM universities, and the student perspective will be invaluable for fostering a real change in mindset.
3. Future Guidelines for International Students
If, during the work, we identify specific needs regarding the reception of international students, we will propose to create practical guidelines for international students at FORTHEM campuses, including essential information on services, health, security, and cultural life.

Register by 10.2.2026 FORTHEM Open Call: Democracy week 2026

The FORTHEM partner universities are unified in their belief that freedom and democracy are pivotal in facilitating the free exchange of ideas and collaboration in education and research.

As such, the FORTHEM alliance invites students and academics to contribute to Democracy Week across the nine FORTHEM universities. FORTHEM also invites students and academics to participate in the flagship event European Conference on Democracy and Human Rights 2026 at the University of Agder, Norway. Through this initative, the alliance hopes to enhance awareness of democratic practices and issues within the community.

Please note that, as a general rule, the FORTHEM travel grant can be awarded to only 1-2 JYU students per event, unless stated otherwise. If you are a doctoral student and employed by JYU, please read the Erasmus staff mobility guidelines and JYU’s travel instructions. Employees cannot receive grants that are meant for students.

Apply by 15.2.2026 Blended Intensive Program “Design Your Life” at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu

The course helps students to identify their values and decide which path they want to take. The concept focuses on professional careers, addresses personal aspects, and shows new perspectives for combining professional and private life. Cooperating within a group has an exceptionally motivating effect on students. It encourages them to talk about their experiences, wishes, and goals in life. This exchange can reduce uncertainties and develop soft skills. Furthermore, it can ease the transition between studies and career.

Period BIP: 18.05.2026 - 22.05.2026.
Location: ULB Sibiu, Romania
Content of the BIP: “Design Your Life”
Target group of students: Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD from all disciplines

Students should write a short CV and a few sentences about their motivation to participate in the BIP on one page and send it to BIPSibiu26@uni-mainz.de.

Please note:
- Only 5 students can be selected for the course from the University of Jyväskylä

Register by 16.2.2026 Online course: Political Representation: From Theory to Practice

The University of Latvia invites advanced bachelor’s and master’s level students to join the course Political Representation: From Theory to Practice on the FORTHEM Digital Academy!

Have you ever wondered why some voices in politics are heard more than others? This course invites you to explore how representative democracies function by examining the mechanisms behind political representation.

Credits: 3 ECTS
Course Start Date: 24 February
Course End Date: End of April 2026

Register by 18.2.2026 Online Course: Inclusive Education from a Special Education Perspective - An Introduction to Policy and Practice

This interactive micro-course will introduce students to the fundamentals of principles and practices of inclusive education and its relationship with special education.

Through a combination of asynchronous content and synchronous discussions, students will explore key concepts, engage with critical ideas and issues, and examine the historical development, current challenges, and policies surrounding inclusive education.

Students will gain an in-depth understanding of inclusive education, reflect on their own values and practices, and explore practical solutions and strategies that can be integrated into professional and social practices.

Course duration:
2 March - 17 April

The course carries 2.5 ECTS credits.

Register by 28.2.2026 Peer-to-peer Project 3_Map of Green FORTHEM Routes

A creative initiative involving students from the FORTHEM Alliance, aimed at designing sustainable and intercultural travel routes across Europe. The goal is to create a Green Map of Europe, promoting eco-friendly mobility and cultural exchange within the Alliance FORTHEM.

Participants will engage in virtual sessions led by FORTHEM experts, where they will learn tools and methods for sustainable travel planning. The project will involve parallel work on different routes and topics, encouraging creativity and knowledge-sharing across the team.

By the end of the project, students will have co-created a practical and inspiring resource that supports greener travel choices and strengthens intercultural connections across FORTHEM campuses.

Register by 1.3.2026 Online Course: Sustainable education for equity and democracy

This interactive micro-course will introduce students to the fundamentals of principles and practices of sustainable education with a focus on active citizenship and democratic participation.

Course duration:
18 March - 8 May

During the course, students will:

learn about the main concepts within sustainable, democratic, and citizenship education.
explore how to identify, analyse, and overcome barriers to sustainable education based on real-world case studies.
be sensitised to policies and practices within sustainable education and be encouraged to reflect critically on their own practices and values within educational contexts, either as participants in learning communities, or as educators working at different educational levels.

The course carries 2.5 ECTS Credits.

Apply by 1.3.2026 Summer School in Opole 2026 "Frontiers in Education"

The University of Opole (UO), Poland, is hosting the fourth edition of the FORTHEM Summer School for Teachers and Teacher Education Students between June 22 and 26, 2026. The Summer School will focus on the exploration of the frontiers in a variety of areas of education: Gamification, Lifelong Learning, Online Learning, Moodle Courses, and Economics, among others.

Target groups: Students, school teachers and university lecturers

Please note that, as a general rule, the FORTHEM travel grant can be awarded to only 1-2 JYU students per event, unless stated otherwise. If you are a doctoral student and employed by JYU, please read the Erasmus staff mobility guidelines and JYU’s travel instructions. Employees cannot receive grants that are meant for students.

Register by 15.3.2026 Interdisciplinary Symposium - From Looking to Seeing: Visual Literacy in Visual World

Today, we constantly look at screens, images, data - but do we know how and what to see? How do we make sense of the visual information? How do perception, attention, and interpretation shape knowledge, learning, and creativity?

This symposium explores visual literacy as the capacity not only to read images but to engage with them critically, reflectively, and imaginatively. We aim to create a space for discussing how visuality influences our thinking, teaching, research, and cultural life.

Dates: Wednesday May 27, 2026 → Friday May 29, 2026
Location: University of Latvia, House of Nature, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga, Latvia
Aimed for: Doctoral students (FORTHEM funding)

We warmly invite you to consider a green travel option to reach Latvia!

Apply by 20.3.2026 Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Reading for a Stronger Europe: From Pixels to Pages – Reading Europe Differently (3 ECTS) at University of Latvia - Riga, Latvia

The course is arranged as a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), which comprises of meeting on-line and a live intensive week in Riga, Latvia:

First online session: 8th May 2026 at 15–16.30 CET, 16–17.30 EET
Second online session: 29th May 2026 at 15–16.30 CET, 16–17.30 EET
Live contact teaching week in Riga 8–12 June 2026

JYU-students MUST FIRST APPLY THROUGH WEBROPOL by filling in their details and sending / saving them by 20 March 2026 at 16.15. Selected students will be informed about selection in late-March.

WEBROPOL for Latvia BIP

After this the students need to apply through Latvia BIP-process as explained on the website below. On the website there is more information about the course.

More information: Erasmus Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Reading for a Stronger Europe: From Pixels to Pages – Reading Europe Differently

Register by 20.3.2026 AI in Academia Staff Week

Join academic library professionals from across Europe for an immersive five-day experience exploring how Artificial Intelligence is transforming higher education libraries. Hosted by Agder University Library in the vibrant coastal city of Kristiansand, this Staff Week combines hands-on AI workshops, inspiring presentations, and meaningful networking opportunities.

This Staff Week is designed for:

Academic librarians and library professionals
Information specialists and digital learning coordinators
Library managers and team leaders
Anyone working in higher education libraries interested in AI and emerging technologies
Professionals seeking to enhance their understanding of AI's impact on academic library services

Apply by 31.3.2026 Summer School in Riga 2026 "Teaching for the Future: Learning through Innovation"

The Summer School for Teachers and Teacher Education Students 2026, hosted by the University of Latvia, Faculty of Education Sciences and Psychology, invites young teachers, MA and PhD students in pedagogy to immerse themselves in an inspiring week of creative learning and digital exploration.
This international programme focuses on innovative pedagogical approaches, including the integration of AI tools in education, the digital principles of modern pedagogy, and the development of digital competencies essential for future educators.
Through workshops, lectures, and collaborative projects, participants will explore how emerging technologies can transform teaching, learning, and creative expression.

Target groups:MA and PhD students (young teachers) in Pedagogy and Teacher Education, primary/secondary school teachers, Pedagogy and Teacher Education university teaching staff

Register by 13.4.2026 FORTHEM Online MasterClass for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA PF)

Planning to apply for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA PF)? This MasterClass by the FORTHEM Academy for Early-Stage Researchers supports postdocs in developing a focused, competitive proposal and connects you with expertise across the FORTHEM network.

What will you gain:
- Practical input on proposal logic (Excellence–Impact–Implementation) and what evaluators look for
- Peer exchange and structured feedback to sharpen your project idea
- A strong fit for researchers planning mobility within (or towards) FORTHEM partner universities; supervisors are welcome to engage as well

Who should consider it:
- Postdoctoral researchers preparing an MSCA PF application who meet the MSCA PF eligibility conditions (including the mobility rule).

Stay tuned

Check the FORTHEM Alliance event calendar for more events online and on-site at the FORTHEM partner universities campuses!
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