Starting in 2026, the European University Alliance ACE²-EU will launch the “ACE_RISE (Reach, Inspire, Serve, Engage) Volunteer Programmes” as part of its commitment to civic engagement, solidarity and social responsibility across Europe. Developed and implemented by the SPACE Centre, in collaboration with external stakeholders, the ACE_RISE Volunteer Programmes provide students with structured opportunities to engage in meaningful to volunteer within international and intercultural environments.
The ACE_RISE Volunteer Programmes respond to evolving global and local challenges related to multiculturalism, inclusion, equality, and well-being. Through continuous learning, listening, and adaptation, the programmes remain responsive to real-world contexts while fostering growth in both communities and volunteers.
Each partner university in the Alliance will provide at least four volunteer opportunities annually for Social Impactors and four for the Culture Hub. In total, more than 70 volunteer opportunities will be offered to all Alliance university students by stakeholders in social services and care, culture and creative industries, public administration, education, and many other fields. All volunteering activities include an 8-day international mobility period for participating students. Students from the host university may apply to participate in the programmes offered by their own institution alongside international students.
The initiative is organised in two strategic directions of the SPACE Centre:
ACE_RISE Social Impactors Volunteer Programme
This strand offers volunteering activities focused on addressing major societal challenges in the following thematic areas: Culture & Diversity, Social Well-Being, Respect & Dignity and Gender Equity.
Students will work directly with external stakeholders, contributing to service-to-society initiatives while developing empathy, responsibility and intercultural awareness.
ACE_RISE Culture Hub Volunteer Programme
This strand enables students to participate in cultural engagement activities within external stakeholder environments. It strengthens the connection between universities and communities, encouraging cultural exchange, creativity and shared responsibility.
Programme Structure and Methodology
The ACE_RISE Volunteer Programmes consist of two core components:
- ACE_RISE MOOC (25 hours)
Before mobility, students must complete a 25-hour Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), delivered asynchronously. The course introduces participants to the aims of volunteer work, solidarity, social responsibility and communication.The MOOC includes general information about the course and five modules:
- Volunteering begins with shared values
- The world needs solidarity-minded humans
- What it means to be a volunteer
- Our social responsibility grows with knowledge
- Empathy speaks through how we communicate
- On-site Volunteer Activity (8 days)
Students participate in an in-person volunteering period in a host country. Tasks are defined by the hosting organisation, and participants are accompanied by a supervisor. Working hours follow the legislation of the host country. Students receive a grant for the 8-day mobility period.
Registration
Students from all ACE²-EU Alliance universities can register for the volunteering activities via the registration link: https://forms.gle/pFaxKcK9KeU5UMgHA.
The list of volunteer activities and their full descriptions is available in the digital catalogue: https://www.ace2eu.eu/ace-rise/.
The registration deadline for volunteering activities happening in the spring semester (from the end of March to the end of May) is 8 March.
The registration deadline for activities in the summer and autumn semester (from the beginning of June to the end of December) will be announced in the spring.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the programme (MOOC + volunteering mobility), participants will receive 2 ECTS credits. The certificate will include the course title, learning outcomes, developed competences, and duration.
For questions related to the ACE_RISE Volunteer Programmes, please contact:
Mafalda Pacheco Ferreira, IPSantarém | mafalda.ferreira@esa.ipsantarem.pt
Paula Pinto, IPSantarém | paula.pinto@esa.ipsantarem.pt