Shaping Europe’s Future Together: Perspectives on Global Challenges

Lead and Host Institution: University Constantin Brâncusi Târgu-Jiu (Romania)

Partner Institutions: Medical University of Gdańsk (Poland), Santarém Polytechnic University (Portugal), Goce Delcev University (North Macedonia)

Delivered within the ACE²-EU European Universities Alliance.

External stakeholders: Târgu Jiu City Hall, National Agency for Equal Opportunities

How are today’s global challenges reshaping Europe — and how can students and university staff help shape its future? “Shaping Europe’s Future Together: Perspectives on Global Challenges” is an interdisciplinary Blended Intensive Programme that explores what contemporary global challenges mean for Europe’s economy, institutions, laws and society. Connecting business, administration and law, participants examine sustainable and responsible business, governance and public administration, legal and regulatory developments, digital transformation, leadership and European cooperation. Working in mixed student–staff teams, participants analyse challenges from complementary perspectives and co-create recommendations for a resilient, inclusive and forward-looking Europe. The programme is aligned with ISCED-F 0488 — Business, administration and law (interdisciplinary programmes).

Online sessions (virtual component): The compulsory virtual component (19–23 October 2026) prepares participants for the mobility week: it introduces key concepts, forms international mixed teams and sets the ground for collaborative work and discussion.

On-site sessions: The on-site week in Târgu Jiu (26–30 October 2026) is interactive and experiential, exploring five connected themes: Europe in a Changing Global Context; Business, Sustainability and Responsible Management; Governance, Administration and Leadership; Law, Regulation and Digital Transformation; Shaping Europe’s Future Together. Methods include interactive workshops, expert inputs, case studies, debates, scenario-based exercises and mixed student–staff working groups.

Follow-up / reflection: Through co-creation sessions, mixed teams develop and present practical, interdisciplinary recommendations for responding to global challenges — contributing their perspectives to discussions on Europe’s future.

The course aims to:

• Develop an interdisciplinary understanding of key global challenges affecting Europe.
• Explore these challenges from business, governance, administrative and legal perspectives.
• Strengthen critical thinking, dialogue and collaborative problem-solving.
• Encourage active student and staff engagement in shaping responses to Europe’s future challenges.
• Foster intercultural cooperation and the exchange of perspectives within the European academic community.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and explain major global challenges influencing Europe and its future development.
• Analyse selected challenges from business, administrative, governance and legal perspectives.
• Evaluate possible European responses to sustainability, digital transformation and socio-economic change.
• Compare and integrate perspectives from different countries, disciplines and academic communities.
• Collaborate effectively in international and interdisciplinary teams.
• Develop and present practical recommendations addressing selected challenges and contributing to Europe’s future.

This course may be suitable for Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students from ACE²-EU partner universities, particularly in business, administration, law and related interdisciplinary fields.

It may also be suitable for those who have an interest in: European cooperation, global challenges and sustainability; digital transformation and governance; international teamwork, discussion and co-creation activities.

Student and staff representatives involved in the Advisory Board, or interested in contributing to its activities, are also welcome.

Recommended Language Level: English B1–B2, as English is the working language of ACE²-EU courses.