Join the ACE²-EU Flavour School and create light-based art experiences for the Riga Light Festival. In international, interdisciplinary teams, you’ll explore the city, develop concepts, and turn ideas into real, public-space installations. Learn hands-on skills in design, technology, sustainability, and collaboration, while producing a complete project plan that could be realised in the festival. This course is perfect for any student passionate about creativity, innovation, and making an impact in urban environments.

Duration and Timeline:

• Total contact hours: 25 hours (on-site) 

• On-site mobility week: 31 August – 4 September 2026 

• Location: Riga, Latvia 

Award, Credits and Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be awarded:

• 2 ECTS credits 

• Certificate of Attendance 

The specific requirements for the recognition of ECTS credits must be confirmed by each partner institution.

Organising Institutions

Lead and Host Institution

• Latvian Academy of Culture (Latvia)
  • Elizabete Palasiosa

Partner Institutions

• Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Spain)
  • María Gutiérrez Pérez
  • Claudia Peinado Cruz
• Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria)
  • Andrea Stitzel
  • Georg Riesenhuber
• Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany)
  • Stefanie Wrobel
• Medical University of Gdańsk (Poland)
  • Aniela Brzezińska

External Stakeholders

• Riga Light Festival
• Riga City Municipality

Course Description

The ACE²-EU Flavour School is an intensive, practice-based programme held in Riga, where students from diverse disciplines collaborate in international teams to design festival-ready light-art concepts for public space.

Participants will learn how to move from early exploration and idea generation to a clear and feasible project plan by integrating:

• Artistic narrative and storytelling
• Site-specific spatial design
• Technical planning (lighting sources, power supply, control systems)
• Safety and sustainability considerations

The course responds to the growing demand for professionals capable of designing meaningful, environmentally responsible interventions in real urban contexts—skills increasingly relevant across the creative industries, technology, and public-sector innovation.

Learning Structure

Online Component

• Pre-briefing online session (date to be confirmed after registration)

On-site Component (Mobility Week)

Students will work in interdisciplinary teams with continuous mentor support following a structured five-day process:

• On-site sessions: During the mobility week, students work in interdisciplinary teams with mentor support through a structured 5-day process.

Day 1 – Urban Exploration & Sensory Mapping

Introduction to the Riga Light Festival and light as a spatial and social medium. Guided site visits, location scouting, documentation, and group reflection.

Day 2 – Team Formation & Thematic Focus

Balanced team formation, expert inputs, ideation sessions, and initial concept framing, including audience definition and intended format.

Day 3 – Concept Definition & Spatial Strategy

Development of a site-specific concept, narrative, and interaction strategy. Site revisits for measurements and constraints. Mid-review critique focusing on clarity and feasibility.

Day 4 – Prototyping & Technical Development

Prototype testing and technical planning (lighting, power, control systems, materials, and assembly). Safety and sustainability checks, including weather resistance, public safety, and low-impact or reusable materials.

Day 5 – Final Project Definition & Presentation

Finalisation of drawings, technical specifications, activation or performance plans, and production timelines. Presentation of a feasible project package and reflective discussion on teamwork and public-space practice.

Follow-up and Reflection

After the on-site week, each team will finalise and submit a feasible project package, including:

• Concept description
• Site documentation and analysis
• Drawings, diagrams, or prototype evidence
• Technical solution
• Implementation and dismantling plan

Online team check-ins (dates to be confirmed) will support completion and readiness for potential production.

There is a real possibility that selected projects may be produced and installed as part of the Riga Light Festival such cases, teams may be invited to follow the project through practical set-up and, where applicable, participate during the festival period.

Specific Learning Objectives

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

• Conduct a site analysis for a light-based public-space intervention by documenting context, user flows, accessibility, and visibility, and summarising findings into a clear location rationale.
• Develop a site-specific concept and narrative that defines the intended audience experience and the role of light (e.g., atmosphere, signal, interaction trigger) in an urban environment.
• Translate a creative idea into a feasible project plan by defining technical requirements for light sources, power, and control methods appropriate to the site conditions.
• Create and test a prototype (model, performative test, etc.) to validate key elements of the concept.
• Apply safety and sustainability criteria by identifying risks (public safety, weather resistance) and selecting low-impact or reusable materials and practical assembly methods.
• Produce a complete “feasible project package” including concept text, site documentation, drawings/diagrams or prototype evidence, technical solution description, and an implementation plan (set-up/dismantling timeline).
• Communicate and defend the project clearly through a final presentation that explains the concept, site justification, technical approach, and implementation steps.
• Collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary, international team by taking defined roles (artistic/performative, spatial/design, technical/production) and reflecting on the collaboration process.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU partner universities in areas such as:

• Art, Design, Architecture, Spatial and Landscape Design
• Media Arts, IT/Creative Technologies, Interaction Design
• Performing Arts, Sound Design, Dramaturgy
• Urban and Environmental Studies

It is particularly relevant for students interested in:

• Site-specific light art and public-space interventions
• Interdisciplinary teamwork and prototyping
• Developing festival-ready, real-world projects

Recommended Language Level

• English B1–B2 (working language of the course)

Application Process:

Interested applicants should apply via the online form:

Apply here: https://forms.gle/TPcyPaCeBerDcSVh6

• Application deadline: 10 May 2026
• Notification of acceptance: 17 May 2026
  (Acceptance letters will be issued by the host institution and will include programme details.)

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

elizabete.palasiosa@lka.edu.lv

• Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)

Duration and Learning Format

• Total workload (in hours), broken down into:
  • Synchronous online activities – 5 h
  • On-site (physical mobility) activities -25 h
  • Independent and group work – 15 h
• Dates of:
  • Online component: August 2026
  • On-site component: 31 August – 4 September 2026

Credits and Certification

In order to obtain the 3 ECTS credits, participants are required to attend at least 80% of the course activities and demonstrate active participation and satisfactory achievement of the learning objectives.

Organising Institutions and Teaching Staff:

Lead and Host Institution

• UGD (North Macedonia)

Adrijana Danchevska (Film Academy — Contemporary Dance)

Jana Jakimovska (Art Academy — Classical Painting)

Partner Institutions

• UFV (Spain): Julie Ann Marsden
• LAC (Latvia): Ilze Zirina

External stakeholders

KUC Tekstil (Cultural Centre Textile)

Course Overview

The course positions choreography, visual arts and language as powerful tools for social transformation. Students engage with the voice of textile workers through testimonials provided by KUC Tekstil, then translate those testimonials into abstract artistic segments — movement, image and language — that culminate in a public performance / installation addressing workers’ rights and broader contemporary social issues.

Through a practice-led, transmedial approach, students explore how embodied practices and creative co-creation can foster public dialogue, give visibility to marginalised voices and enable shared artistic expression across disciplines.

Learning Journey
Online sessions – August 2026 · 5h synchronous

• Visual research on textile-worker movements, gestures, environments
• Choreographic labs introducing movement vocabularies and improvisation tools
• Study of testimonials provided by KUC Tekstil (Cultural Centre Textile)
• Theoretical and research-based foundation for multidisciplinary work
• International team formation across UGD, UFV and LAC students

On-site sessions — 31 August – 4 September 2026 · 25 h · Shtip / Skopje

Intensive practice-led phase combining:

• Movement improvisation and embodied research
• Spatial composition and site-responsive creation
• Three parallel groups per discipline (Movement / Visual / Language) co-creating a public performance / installation
• Daily critiques, peer reviews and mentor feedback

Learning Objectives

• Transmedial collaboration: Master the ability to work across movement, visual media and language
• Social awareness: Understand how to use artistic expression to address contemporary social issues
• Embodied research: Explore how physical practices can be used as a research tool

Learning Outcomes

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

• Co-create a multidisciplinary work (choreography and stage design) that fosters public dialogue
• Translate real-world testimonials into abstract artistic segments (auditive or visual)
• Collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary teams using a practice-led approach

Who Should Apply?

Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU universities

Fields: Contemporary Dance and Performance · Visual Arts and Stage Design · Theatre Studies · Linguistics · Sociology / Human Rights (given the focus on NGO testimonials and textile workers’ rights)

Suitable for those interested in: Creative co-creation and working in small, intensive collective groups · Social transformation through art and activism · Interdisciplinary experimentation blending physical movement with visual installations and language · Community engagement using the “voice of the workers” to reach broader audiences

Group size: Maximum 20 students

Language: English B1–B2

Application Process:

Interested applicants should apply here: https://forms.gle/xoiWsmwmUjih26AH6

Deadline: 14 July 2026 

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any questions related to the course, please contact:

]]> https://www.ace2eu.eu/event/ace%c2%b2-eu-grants-academy/ Mon, 07 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.ace2eu.eu/?post_type=tribe_events&p=18153 Course Type:

Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)

The ACE²-EU Grants Academy is designed as an intensive blended learning experience for early-stage researchers who wish to build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to prepare, write and implement competitive research grant applications. It combines a preparatory online session with an immersive on-site week, enabling participants to engage directly with experienced grant professionals and peers from across the ACE²-EU Alliance.

Participants will explore national and European funding landscapes, work through the technical aspects of real application processes, gain insight into how proposals are evaluated, and develop the partnership-building and communication skills essential to a sustainable, grant-supported research career.

Duration and Learning Format:

• Course components: 1 preparatory online session + 5-day on-site programme
• Online component: 4 September 2026
• On-site component: 7–11 September 2026 (it will take place in Gdańsk, Poland)

Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance.

Organising Institutions and Teaching Staff:

Lead and Host Institution

• Medical University of Gdańsk (POLAND) — Mateusz Kirjak

Partner Institutions

• Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (GERMANY)
• Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (AUSTRIA)

Course Overview

Securing research funding is one of the greatest challenges — and opportunities — of an early scientific career. The ACE²-EU Grants Academy addresses this challenge head-on: a Blended Intensive Programme designed jointly by the Medical University of Gdańsk, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt and Carinthia University of Applied Sciences for early-career research staff from the ACE²-EU Alliance.

From national funding schemes across the Alliance countries to the European framework of Horizon Europe, European Partnerships and Interreg, the Academy demystifies the grant ecosystem and shows participants how to turn research ideas into fundable proposals. The course is dedicated exclusively to staff from ACE²-EU Alliance institutions and is open to researchers of any field.

Learning Journey

Online session:

• The online component opens with an ACExperience session, delivered before the first day of online classes, introducing participants to the ACE²-EU active learning approach.
• The preparatory online session introduces the characteristics and types of research grants available in the countries of the ACE²-EU Alliance, giving participants a shared foundation and a comparative view of national funding landscapes before the mobility week.

On-site sessions:

• The on-site component in Gdańsk (7–11 September 2026) is an immersive week combining workshops, practical sessions and collaborative exercises. Participants progress from the European funding framework (Horizon Europe, European Partnerships, Interreg) to the personal dimension of building a scientific career through grants, including the skills and attitude this requires.
• Hands-on sessions address the technical aspects of preparing and submitting a Horizon Europe application, followed by an evaluator’s-eye view of how grant applications are assessed — enabling participants to strengthen their own proposals.
• The week closes with activities on building partnerships and effective communication, helping participants create the international networks on which successful consortia are built.

Follow-up / reflection:

• Participants must attend the full programme and contribute to collaborative tasks. A certificate of attendance listing the course title, learning outcomes, developed competencies and duration (online/on-site) is issued upon successful participation, together with 3 ECTS credits.

Learning Objectives

Specific learning objectives include:

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

• Identify and compare the main types of national research grants available across the ACE²-EU Alliance countries
• Navigate the European funding framework, including Horizon Europe, European Partnerships and Interreg
• Plan a grant-based research career, developing the skills and attitude needed to sustain it
• Apply the technical requirements of preparing and submitting a Horizon Europe application
• Analyse how grant applications are evaluated and use that perspective to strengthen their own proposals
• Build international partnerships and communicate research effectively across disciplines and borders

Which staff members would find this course useful for them?

This course may be suitable for staff from ACE²-EU partner universities who are early-career research staff (0–5 years after PhD) or PhD students, in any research field.

This course may be suitable for those who have an interest in: research grant preparation, writing and implementation; European and national research funding; and building an international research career.

Recommended Language Level:

English B1–B2, as the working language of the course is English.

Application Process:

Apply here: https://forms.gle/wyh54NPwnFdxPuMz8

Deadline for receipt of applications: 29 June 2026, 15:00 CET 

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

m.kirjak@gumed.edu.pl

Duration and Learning Format

• Total workload (42 hours (12h online + 30h on-site)), broken down into:
  • Online : 7–11 September 2026 · 5 days · 12 hours total Daily schedule: 14:00–16:00 CET
  • On-site (physical mobility) activities: 14–18 September 2026 · 5 days · 30 hours total Daily schedule: 10:00–13:00and 14:00–17:00
• Dates of:
  • Online component: 7–11 September 2026
  • On-site component: 14–18 September 2026, in IPSantarém — School of Agriculture (ESA) · Santarém, Portugal

Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

Organising Institutions and Teaching Staff:

Lead and Host Institution

IPSantarém — School of Agriculture

Names of teaching staff involved: Maria Gabriela Basto Lima (Lead), Joana Ferreira, Marília Henriques, Ana Teresa Machado Ribeiro, Paula Lúcia Ruivo, João Reis, Patrícia Henriques, Rute Vitor, Vanda Andrade.

Partner Institutions

Partner universities: UFV — Universidad Francisco de Vitoria

Names of teaching staff contributing to the course: Estela Pérez Lago, María José Herrero.

External stakeholders

Course Overview

The agri-food industry generates substantial amounts of by-products — fruit and vegetable pomace, peels, seeds and processing residues — alongside underused aquatic biomass such as algae, both rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds yet largely underexploited. This ABC tackles a real-world challenge identified by industry partners: How can stakeholders re-use terrestrial and aquatic biomass as sustainable, safe food ingredients while overcoming technological, regulatory and consumer-acceptance barriers? Working alongside companies in the green- and blue-bioeconomy ecosystem, students apply principles of circular bioeconomy, biorefinery, sustainable extraction and ingredient functionality to design innovative food solutions that meet the growing demand for healthier and environmentally friendly food.

Learning Journey
Online component — 7–11 September 2026 · 12 h (14:00–16:00 daily)

The online component is structured in 6 modules of 2 hours each:

• Module 1 — Introduction to Green & Blue Bioeconomy (2 h) · Concepts of circular bioeconomy, sustainability, biomass valorisation and innovation pathways.
• Module 2 — Biomass Sources and Bioactive Potential (2 h) · Agro-industrial by-products, algae and other terrestrial/aquatic biomass; nutritional and functional potential.
• Module 3 — Biorefinery and Sustainable Extraction Techniques (2 h) · Green extraction methods, fractionation strategies and recovery of value-added compounds.
• Module 4 — Ingredient Functionality and Food Applications (2 h) · Technological and functional roles of sustainable ingredients in food systems.
• Module 5 — Analytical Methods Overview (2 h) · Chemical, physical, rheological, microbiological and sensory approaches for ingredient/product evaluation.
• Module 6 — Group Work and Challenge Preparation (2 h) · Team building, stakeholder challenge framing and preparation for the on-site week.

Onsite sessions: 14–18 September 2026 · 30h · IPSantarém (ESA)

The on-site week runs 5 full days (10:00 – 13:00 + 14:00 – 17:00) with a daily focus:

• Day 1 — Meet the Stakeholders + Challenge Definition · Raw materials, sustainability context and team project framing.
• Day 2 — Extraction / Processing and Ingredient Development · Hands-on work on biomass processing, extraction or ingredient preparation.
• Day 3 — Food Product Development · Application of ingredients/extracts in food prototypes or product concepts.
• Day 4 — Analytical and Sensory Evaluation + Sustainability Reflection · Product/extract characterisation and discussion of environmental/economic value.
• Day 5 — Final Pitches, Showcase & Feedback · Presentation of team solutions to teachers and stakeholders.

Follow-up & reflection

• Final team pitch + product/concept prototype delivered to stakeholders
• Reflection on environmental and economic implications of converting biomass residues into high-value products
• Certificate of attendance issued upon successful participation

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be able to:

• Identify sustainable terrestrial and aquatic biomass sources rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds
• Understand the principles of green and blue bioeconomy, circularity and biorefinery for the valorisation of underused biomass and by-products
• Evaluate sustainable physical, chemical and biological extraction and processing methods
• Understand ingredient functionality and its relevance in food formulation and product development
• Select and apply appropriate analytical methods for the characterisation of biomass, extracts, ingredients and/or developed products
• Develop innovative food concepts or prototypes using sustainable biomass-derived ingredients
• Reflect on the environmental and economic implications of converting biomass residues into high-value products

Who Should Apply?

Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU institutions

Fields: Food Science and Technology · Biotechnology · Chemistry · Experimental Sciences · Gastronomy · Circular Economy and Sustainable Development · Nutrition and Health Sciences

Mindset: Motivated to work in multidisciplinary and international teams, applying knowledge to real-world food challenges using sustainable ingredients

Universities: Open to students from any ACE²-EU partner university

Language: English B1–B2

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

Apply here:

https://forms.gle/6DQVYHwUQP1WytZf7

Deadline for receipt of applications:  15 July 2026

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

Email: maria.lima@esa.ipsantarem.pt

Duration and Learning Format

Provide a clear overview of the course structure, including:

• Total workload: 35 hours on-site (workshop activities, design studios, group discussions, presentations)
• Dates of on-site component: 21–25 September 2026 · 5 days · Stip, North Macedonia

Credits and Certification

2 ECTS

Organising Institutions and Teaching Staff:

Lead and Host Institution

Goce Delcev University · Stip, North Macedonia

Teacher : Ekaterina Namiceva Todorovska (lead)

Partner Institutions

Medical University of Gdańsk

Teacher : Magda Warzocha

External stakeholders

Course Overview

UNd-9 United in Design is a short, intensive, cross-cultural workshop that brings together students from different creative and design-related disciplines to explore how design can communicate shared cultural narratives in public and semi-public spaces. The course is based on the idea of UNd-9 as a flexible framework that connects multiple cities through stories, symbols and creative interpretations.

The workshop is intentionally open to students from different departments — architecture, urban design, graphic design, fashion design, product design, fine arts, media and related fields. Working in international and interdisciplinary teams, participants use primarily paper-based methods, complemented by simple physical modelling, to research, interpret and translate cultural identities into spatial and visual concepts.

The central task of the course is the conceptualisation and design of an exhibition panel or spatial marker intended for a university garden or open public space. In addition to drawings and narratives, participants collaboratively construct one cardboard prototype that functions as a reference model. This prototype demonstrates how the UNd-9 concept can be extended, adapted and replicated across different cities, institutions and cultural contexts.

Learning Journey
On-site component — 21–25 September 2026 · 35h · Stip

The on-site sessions unfold as an intensive, hands-on design laboratory over five consecutive days. Learning happens through doing: drawing, mapping, cutting, assembling, discussing and testing ideas together in a shared studio environment.

Students work in international and interdisciplinary teams, moving fluidly between research, storytelling and making. Using paper, cardboard and simple tools, participants explore cultural narratives and translate them into spatial and visual concepts. Ideas are continuously sketched, pinned up, reworked and debated, allowing the design process to remain open, experimental and collaborative.

The week culminates in the collective construction of one cardboard prototype, conceived as an exhibition panel or spatial marker for a university garden or open space. Daily critiques, informal reviews and a final presentation frame the experience as a shared journey — focused on process, exchange and cross-cultural learning rather than on polished final results.

Learning Objectives

Specific learning objectives include:

• Explore how cultural narratives and identities can be translated into visual, material and spatial concepts.
• Develop confidence in experimental, paper-based and low-tech making processes, including drawing, mapping and cardboard prototyping.
• Learn to collaborate effectively in international and interdisciplinary teams, valuing different creative approaches and perspectives.
• Strengthen storytelling and conceptual thinking as tools for design and artistic practice.
• Understand how temporary installations or spatial markers can activate and communicate meaning in shared university or public spaces.
• Reflect on the role of design and creative practice in fostering dialogue, inclusion and cross-cultural exchange.

Learning Outcomes (By the end of the course, students will be able to):

• Translate cultural themes and narratives into visual, material or spatial design concepts.
• Use paper-based and low-tech prototyping methods to develop and communicate design ideas.
• Collaborate effectively within international and interdisciplinary teams, integrating diverse creative perspectives.
• Develop and present a coherent concept for an exhibition panel or spatial marker in a shared open space.
• Reflect critically on their own creative process and the value of cross-cultural collaboration in design and artistic practice.

Which students would find this course useful for them?

Who Should Apply?

Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU partner universities

Fields: Architecture and Urban Design · Graphic Design and Visual Communication · Fashion and Textile Design · Product and Industrial Design · Fine Arts and Contemporary Art Practices · Media, Communication and Creative Technologies · Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning · Cultural Studies

Suitable for those interested in: Cross-cultural and international collaboration in creative practice · Concept-driven design and artistic experimentation · Storytelling through visual, material or spatial forms · Hands-on, low-tech making using paper and cardboard · Temporary installations, exhibition design and spatial communication · The role of design and art in fostering dialogue, inclusion and shared cultural understanding

Language: English B1–B2

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

Apply here: https://forms.gle/Lr4HUpt24XWCeuLP7

Deadline for receipt of applications: 15 July 2026

A notification of acceptance to participate will be sent to successful applicants by the host institution. Prior to the start of the course, participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance with detailed instructions specific to the course.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact ekaterina.namiceva@ugd.edu.mk

Duration and Timeline:

Online component: 21–25 September 2026

On-site component: 28 September – 2 October 2026

Award, Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course, participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

Organized by:

Universidad Francisco de Vitoria · Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid

María José Herrero & Estela Pérez Lago

Santarém Polytechnic University

Joana Ferreira · Patrícia Henriques · Gabriela Basto Lima · João Reis

Goce Delcev University

External stakeholders that will be involved in the course: Virgen de la Viña (winery)

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Grapes (Vitis vinifera) and their by-products are among the most studied sources of bioactive compounds in food and health science — from polyphenols and flavonoids to resveratrol, anthocyanins and tannins. These compounds have demonstrated effects on cardiovascular, neurological, digestive and immunological systems, with growing applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals and preventive medicine. This ABC tackles the real-world challenge identified by the Virgen de la Viña winery and partners: how to identify and assess the beneficial effects of grape compounds, and translate that evidence into practical applications. Working in international, transdisciplinary teams across biotechnology, biomedicine, nutrition and food science, students develop evidence-based proposals that bridge phytochemistry, molecular pharmacology, agronomic processing and nutritional intervention.

Course Description:

Online sessions: 21–25 September 2026 · 5 days

• Foundations of grape phytochemistry: polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, resveratrol
• Scientific evidence on the beneficial effects of grape compounds across physiological systems (cardiovascular, neurological, digestive, immunological)
• Molecular mechanisms of action of grape bioactives
• International team formation, stakeholder briefing (Virgen de la Viña), challenge framing

Onsite sessions: 28 September – 2 October 2026 · UFV Madrid · 30 hours

• Dialogic expository sessions linking phytochemistry, biomedicine and nutrition
• Practical laboratory sessions — extraction, characterisation and analysis of grape bioactives
• Visit and engagement with the Virgen de la Viña winery — agronomic conditions, processing
• Collaborative project-based teamwork in transdisciplinary international groups
• Final presentation of strategies for practical application (functional nutrition / nutraceuticals / functional foods)

Follow-up / reflection: Reflective learning logs across the two weeks

• Final group deliverable: strategy for practical application of grape bioactives in functional nutrition, nutraceutical formulation or food product development
• Individual reflection on transdisciplinary learning

Specific learning objectives include:

• Analyse the phytochemical composition of grapes and grape pomace, with special emphasis on polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and resveratrol
• Evaluate the scientific evidence on the beneficial effects of grape compounds on different physiological systems (cardiovascular, neurological, digestive, immunological, among others)
• Understand the molecular mechanisms of action of the main bioactive compounds in grapes
• Examine the impact of industrial processing and agronomic conditions on the bioactivity and bioavailability of grape compounds
• Design strategies for the practical application of grape bioactive compounds in contexts such as functional nutrition, the formulation of nutraceuticals or the development of foods with health properties

Which students would find this course useful for them?

Who Should Apply?

Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from any ACE²-EU partner university

Fields: Biotechnology · Biomedicine · Nutrition · Food Science — also welcome: Pharmacy · Biology · Chemistry · Health Sciences · Oenology

Suitable for those interested in: Functional foods · Phytochemistry · Preventive nutrition · Nutraceuticals · Wine industry · Translational research · Industry-academia collaboration

Universities: Open to students from any ACE²-EU partner university

Language: English B1–B2

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

Apply here: https://forms.gle/Aqf79wEPxGWnKDF1A

Deadline for receipt of applications: 15 July 2026

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

ace2eu@ufv.es

Duration and Timeline:

• Course components and contact hours: 10 hrs. synchronous online, 20 hrs. on practical work/group work
• Registration deadline:30 June 2026
• Online component: September 2026
• On-site component: 05-09 October 2026 ( it will take place: Tvirtovės al. 35, Kaunas, Lithuania)

Award, Credits and Certification

On sucessful completion of the course participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

Organized by:

External stakeholders that will be involved in the course:

Representatives of different companies involved in sports car activities

FIA members

Course Description and Learning Objectives

This course explores the development of core engineering skills through the interdisciplinary context of racing car design, construction, and performance optimization. Using motorsport engineering as a real-world application, students engage with fundamental and advanced concepts in mechanical engineering, systems design, materials science, aerodynamics, data analysis, and project management. The course emphasizes problem-solving, innovation, and teamwork while integrating theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on activities. By examining contemporary and emerging technologies in racing, students gain insight into how high-performance engineering drives advancements applicable to the broader automotive and mobility industries.

Course Modules Overview

Online component: lectures according to a set timetable

1. Racing Car Architecture and Regulations

2. Racing experience from a racing drivers’ perspective

1. Aerodynamics for Competitive Racing
2. Driver development and racing simulators
3. Race control, marshals and event organizing
4. Data Logging, Telemetry, and Race Analysis
5. Race Strategy and Engineering Decision-Making
6. Safety, Reliability, and Race Operations

Onsite component: Workshops, practical activities, case studies, laboratory and ring racing track testing. 05-09 October 2026

Follow-up / reflection: end-course activities summarizing results of practical activities and case studies.

Specific learning objectives include:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of fundamental engineering principles as applied to racing car systems, including powertrain, chassis, aerodynamics, and suspension.

Integrate knowledge from multiple engineering disciplines to address complex, real-world engineering challenges.

Develop practical skills in experimentation, data acquisition, and performance testing relevant to motorsport applications.

Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating project planning, communication, and professional responsibility.

Assess the impact of emerging technologies and sustainable practices on the future of racing and automotive engineering.

Translate skills and knowledge gained from motorsport engineering to broader engineering and industrial contexts.

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

Analyse racing car architectures and motorsport regulations to inform compliant engineering design decisions.

Evaluate and optimize race vehicle dynamics through suspension setup, tire selection, and balance adjustments for different track conditions.

Evaluate aerodynamic configurations to achieve appropriate trade-offs between downforce, drag, and vehicle stability.

Apply performance tuning principles to racing powertrains in order to improve lap-time and efficiency.

Plan, conduct, and analyse track testing activities to support iterative racing car development.

Analyse data logging and telemetry outputs to assess vehicle and driver performance.

Evaluate race strategies by integrating fuel consumption, tire degradation, pit stop timing, and real-time race data.

Identify, analyse, and evaluate safety and reliability risks associated with racing operations.

Which students would find this course useful for them?

This course may be suitable for students from ACE²-EU partner universities enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programs in the following fields:

• Automotive / Transport engineering
• Mechanical engineering
• Engineering

This course may be suitable for those who have an interest in:

• Motor sports, racing activities, working in international multi-disciplinary team

• Recommended Language Level :
  • Basic to intermediate level of English (B1-B2), as the working language will be English

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

Apply here: https://forms.gle/nXcmLPDS4zw1Eu447

• Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.
• Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

judita.streimikiene@lik.tech

Duration and Timeline:

Online component: September 2026

On-site component: 05–09 October 2026

Award, Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course, participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

Organized by:

Goce Delcev University & Military Academy General Mihailo Apostolski, North Macedonia

Teachers: Prof. Dr. Sci. Jugoslav Achkoski · Prof. Dr. Sci. Biljana Karovska Andonovska

Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Spain

Teacher: Prof. Dr. Sci. Eduardo Pilo de la Fuente

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria

Teacher : M.A. Gerlinde Koppitsch (Lecturer in English EAP/ESP)

External stakeholders that will be involved in the course:

Course Description and Learning Objectives

Civil protection and emergency response increasingly demand professionals capable of acting across institutional boundaries in complex emergencies — from cyber attacks and blackouts to floodings and hybrid threats. This ABC tackles a real-world challenge: How can civil, military, technical and social actors design and operate integrated contingency plans that hold up under pressure?

Working alongside academic and institutional experts from North Macedonia, Spain and Austria, students engage with EU/NATO and national emergency frameworks, risk assessment methods, communication strategies and integrated response protocols. They participate in tabletop simulations, field visits and practical drills organised in cooperation with key national institutions, learning to translate theory into operational decisions.

Course Description:

Online sessions: September 2026 · ~30h synchronous

The online phase provides theoretical foundations in contingency planning and crisis management through:

• Lectures, case studies and interactive group exercises
• Exploration of EU/NATO and national emergency frameworks
• Risk assessment methods and communication strategies in emergency situations

Active participation is essential. Students work in small international groups, attend scheduled sessions, and self-coordinate meeting times with their team during September 2026. Discussing, asking questions, giving statements & presentations and group work form a core part of the course.

Onsite sessions: 5–9 October 2026 · ~35h · Skopje

Intensive, hands-on training delivered together with key national institutions:

• Workshops and expert lectures from academic and professional partners
• Tabletop simulations on realistic emergency scenarios (cyber attacks, blackouts, floodings, hybrid threats)
• Field visits to relevant facilities and operational sites
• Practical drills with civil protection, defence and security stakeholders
• Interdisciplinary teamwork under simulated pressure
• Co-creation of integrated contingency plans

Follow-up / reflection:

After the onsite week, students engage in guided reflection to:

• Evaluate individual and team performance
• Identify lessons learned and teamwork dynamics
• Consolidate knowledge and develop critical thinking about preparedness
• Translate experience into improved professional practice and a culture of resilience in their communities

Specific learning objectives include:

• Understand and explain the principles and structure of civilian contingency planning
• Conduct basic risk assessments and contribute to resource allocation and emergency coordination
• Apply crisis management skills in simulated emergency scenarios
• Demonstrate effective leadership, teamwork and decision-making under pressure
• Use digital tools and simulation methods to support integrated security responses
• Contribute to building resilience and a culture of preparedness within their communities

Which students would find this course useful for them?

Who Should Apply?

Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU partner universities

Fields: Social Sciences (Psychology, Social Work, Public Policy) · Information Technology · Law · Engineering · Security Studies

Suitable for those interested in: Emergency and crisis management · Civil protection and public safety · Security and defence studies · Disaster risk reduction and resilience · Civil–military cooperation and coordination

Language: Minimum B2 English (active participation in discussions, teamwork and presentations required)

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

Apply here: https://forms.gle/KTbNwi6cNaGJnCSF7

Deadline for receipt of applications: 15 July 2026

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

jugoslav.ackoski@ugd.edu.mk

Duration and Timeline:

Online component: 14, 21, 28 September 2026 (16:00–18:00 CET)

On-site component: 5–9 October 2026

Award, Credits and Certification

On successful completion of the course, participants will receive 3 ECTS credits and a certificate of attendance

Organized by:

Latvian Academy of Culture, Latvia

Teachers : Ieva Vītola · Rasa Laua

Universidad Francisco de Vitoria, Spain

Polytechnic University of Santarém

External stakeholders that will be involved in the course:

Course Description and Learning Objectives

The course tackles a real-world challenge: traditional food products and cultural heritage are losing ground to fast food, globalization, and cheaper synthetic alternatives. Students work in interdisciplinary, international teams to develop creative solutions that reconnect younger generations with traditional food culture.

The learning journey starts online with lectures on cultural identity and consumer habits, then moves to Riga for hands-on workshops, market visits, stakeholder dialogues, and group project work with local food producers and cultural entrepreneurs. The programme places strong emphasis on intercultural collaboration, critical thinking, and holistic understanding of sustainability as a cross-sectoral theme — bridging cultural heritage, community development, entrepreneurship, environmental responsibility, and creative industries.

Course Description:

Online sessions: 14, 21, 28 September 2026 · 16:00–18:00 CET · 8h synchronous + independent and group work

Three sessions combining lectures with independent and group work:

• Kick-off: course briefing, objectives and introduction to the challenge; key concepts — cultural heritage (tangible and intangible), how globalization and modernization influence traditional products and local identities
• Lectures on cultural identity and heritage, the modern consumer’s taste, changing consuming habits
• Group work in breakout rooms (2–3 students) — tell each other about one traditional food in your country
• Homework briefing: choose one traditional food in your country and make its “Dating Profile of local/national traditional food” (using template)
• Independent work — research and prepare the “Dating Profile” for the chosen local/national traditional food

Onsite sessions: 5–9 October 2026 · Riga · 40h

Participants work in interdisciplinary teams to explore the topic “Taste of Culture: Cultural Heritage in Transition — Sustaining Traditional Products in the 21st Century”, addressing challenges related to preserving cultural identity, supporting local producers, balancing authenticity with innovation, and promoting sustainable cultural practices in a globalized world. Learning activities are experiential, participatory and reflective:

• Hands-on workshops and masterclasses with traditional food producers
• Study visits to local markets, museums, cultural enterprises and traditional production spaces — connecting theory with practice
• Stakeholder dialogues with cultural practitioners, entrepreneurs, sustainability experts and community representatives
• Creative sessions integrating storytelling, design thinking, intercultural exchange and community-based learning
• Group projects focused on developing innovative ideas or concepts for sustaining and promoting traditional cultural products in contemporary society

Follow-up & reflection

• Reflective learning logs and final group deliverable
• Individual reflection on heritage, sustainability and entrepreneurship

Specific learning objectives include:

• Understand the socio-cultural and environmental value of heritage-based products
• Collaborate with real stakeholders to co-design viable strategies for increasing the relevance and appeal of traditional products
• Develop creative, sustainable, and culturally sensitive solutions aligned with EU priorities (Green / Digital transitions)
• Strengthen skills in challenge-based learning, intercultural communication, and co-creation
• Connect students with European heritage through cultural heritage
• Foster intercultural collaboration and dialogue

Which students would find this course useful for them?

Who Should Apply?

Level: Undergraduate and postgraduate students from ACE²-EU partner universities

Fields: students from ACE²-EU partner universities in Cultural management and event studies · Nutrition and food studies · Social sciences (sociology, anthropology, cultural studies) · Audiovisual Communication, Cinema, Photography · Environmental sciences, ecology and sustainability studies · Engineering, logistics and resource management. Open to any specialization with interest in culture, heritage, tourism and creativity.

Language: English B1–B2

Application Process:

Interested applicants should

Apply here: https://forms.gle/5orL9pYVajgJ2WMCA

Deadline for receipt of applications: 10 July 2026

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures.

Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.

Further Information

For any further information or queries related to the course, please contact:

rasa.laua@lka.edu.lv · ieva.vitola@lka.edu.lv