ACE²-EU European University Alliance successfully delivered a key module of its flagship Applied Blended Challenge (ABC) Program on Thursday, 23 October 2025, hosted at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI). The session, titled “Communicating for Policy & Public Impact,” was led by J. Marinaccio (CUAS) and brought together students and staff from partner universities to strengthen strategic communication and policy advocacy skills within the broader context of sustainable urban development.
This interactive course forms part of the “Sustainable Cities: Environmental, Social, and Economic Challenges” module, an interdisciplinary program designed to enhance the understanding and strategic relevance of urban sustainability. Developed jointly by THI (host), Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), and Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), the course engages participants in real-world municipal challenges in collaboration with the City of Ingolstadt.
The program’s overarching objective is to equip students with practical tools to:
- Explore sustainable urban transformation from environmental, social, and economic perspectives;
- Critically assess city sustainability performance and apply relevant indicators;
- Co-create strategies to attract and retain talent in urban areas;
- Foster cross-sectoral collaboration between technology, governance, and the community.
Course Highlights – October 23, 2025
The day began with a lecture on “From Strategy to Policy – Leveraging Impact Narratives,” focusing on how strategic storytelling and data-driven narratives shape public policy. This was followed by a hands-on workshop on drafting a one-page Executive Policy Brief, where students translated sustainability challenges into actionable policy proposals.
The afternoon session was dedicated to concept refinement, pitch preparation, and storytelling techniques, helping participants communicate their solutions effectively to policymakers and stakeholders.
By combining interdisciplinary learning, policy communication, and real-life urban challenges, the course exemplifies the ACE²-EU approach to fostering innovation, impact, and cooperation between academia, government, and society.
Organisers:
Host: Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI)
Co-hosts: Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS)
Stakeholder: City of Ingolstadt
