WELCOME TO THE COLOURS ALLIANCE!

As part of the COLOURS project, an IMAGINE/IDEATE workshop was organized at Ventspils University of Applied Sciences, where students applied design thinking principles to address equality, diversity, and inclusion issues within the university environment. This two-day workshop provided an opportunity for participants to analyze existing challenges and develop practical solutions they could implement themselves. During the workshop, students worked in groups, first identifying the challenges they face in their daily lives. They then focused on creating solutions using creative methods. Importantly, the proposed solutions had to be realistically implementable by the students themselves, fostering their responsibility for shaping the environment and driving positive changes. At the end of the workshop, students presented their ideas, and the best proposals were recognized. The winning group, composed of first-year students from the professional bachelor’s program in Intercultural Communication, proposed organizing events to help students integrate into their new environment and find like-minded peers. These events aim to provide practical support to young people facing challenges in adapting to a new social and academic setting. The authors emphasized that such events would foster a positive and inclusive experience, promoting mutual support among students. The workshop’s outcomes demonstrate that by encouraging active student participation and creative approaches, sustainable changes can be achieved in their daily lives. This workshop is part of the COLOURS project, which aims to promote the principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion in educational institutions.

CoLab ""Higher Education and Workforce in the Region" held at the VIZIUM Science Center brought together academic staff, students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other members of the community. The discussions focused on analyzing current challenges and exploring innovative solutions to ensure that new specialists are well-prepared to meet the demands of today’s labor market. Opening the event, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) Rector Andris Vaivads highlighted the increasing demand for highly qualified specialists in the coming years, referencing forecasts from the Ministry of Economics. He called for closer collaboration between universities, businesses, municipalities, and society to adapt educational programs to the real needs of the labor market. Dr. Annette Klinkert, Executive Director of the COLOURS project, and Dace Štefenberga, VeA’s COLOURS Content Manager, shared insights on the European University Alliance and its benefits for the region. Austris Galindoms, Head of the Economics and Procurement Department at Ventspils City Council, emphasized the municipality’s role in fostering cooperation between education and the labor market. Meanwhile, Sandrine Labory from the University of Ferrara presented Italy’s experience in the Emilia-Romagna region. Other participants included Baiba Kūma, Head of the Kurzeme Planning Region’s Business Center, and Gvido Grinbergs from the Business Support and Digital Innovation Center at Ventspils High Technology Park, who stressed the importance of developing digital skills in the workforce. Raita Rollande, Head of TDL School, a subsidiary of TestDevLab, shared her experience collaborating with higher education institutions to prepare new specialists. Additionally, Maksims Kovalenko, Production Director at Immer Digital, highlighted workforce challenges in the industry. The forum concluded with a panel discussion on the impact of higher education on local economic development and regional growth. The panel featured business representative Raita Rollande, Ventspils City Council Deputy Executive Director Egons Spalāns, VeA Rector Andris Vaivads, and student Kārlis Andrejs Krūmiņš.

About the event From November 18 to 22, students and staff of COLOURS partner universities are invited to embark on an interactive, virtual journey through nine different countries. This exciting Virtual Journey Week will provide participants with unique digital experiences, including language cafés, taster courses, quizzes, and engaging video clips, showcasing the diversity of the Alliance’s universities, cultures, and languages. In a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, attendees can participate in discussions in various languages, connect with students and colleagues from across Europe, and exchange insights on cultural and academic topics. Student representatives will be available to answer questions, and Erasmus students will share their personal experiences, offering a first-hand glimpse into the world of international study. Whether you’re looking to expand your cultural knowledge, meet new friends, or simply enjoy a week of digital exploration, Virtual Journey Week is the perfect opportunity to engage with the COLOURS Alliance community—all from the comfort of your own desk! Don’t miss this chance to explore, connect, and be inspired.

On November 5, the European University Alliance COLOURS brought excitement and opportunity to life during the student event “Match With Colours”. Hosted at the Restaurant & Cocktail Bar SILRAK, the event blended an informal, lively atmosphere with inspiring messages and activities, captivating students from Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS). The evening left a lasting impact, with some students felt a "match", eager to contribute to their university’s growth and expand their horizons. The event was expertly guided by comedian Edgars Balins, whose charm and humor kept participants engaged and energized. The first part of the evening featured remarks by Andris Vaivads , Rector of VUAS, who underscored the transformative potential of the COLOURS alliance. He highlighted its role in fostering international collaboration, saying, “This partnership opens doors to new opportunities for the university and its students, broadening perspectives and accelerating growth.” Kristiana Balode , the COLOURS WP3 lead at VUAS, outlined the vast opportunities available through the project. Students were inspired by the prospects of joining hackathons in Latvia and abroad, building mobility networks, participating in internships, enrolling in microcredential courses, attending summer schools, and representing the university at international student forums. Kristiana captured the essence of the initiative, saying, “The COLOURS project allows us to see beyond borders, reminding us that we’re not just part of Ventspils or Latvia – we’re part of Europe.” The second part of the event shifted gears to creativity and collaboration. Students tackled real-life challenges through problem-solving tasks and shared innovative ideas. A spirited Kahoot quiz tested their knowledge about COLOURS partner universities and the diverse countries they represent. The victory was claimed by the international team that included Erasmus students, full-time foreign and local students.

International Workshop of Student Innovation 21 November 2024; 09:00 - 18:00 MASTERCLASS : Aula Magna, Department of Economics (Via Voltapaletto 11) WORKSHOP : Student Enterpreneurship Centre c/o Laboratorio Aperto (Via Castelnuovo 10) Are you passionate about creating real-world solutions ? Do you aim to make a lasting impact on your community while gaining entrepreneurial skills ? Then, this is your chance to dive in! Emilia-Romagna’s coastal ecosystem is threatened by the invasive blue crab , a species wreaking havoc on its biodiversity and local fishing and tourism industries. But where there are challenges, there are also opportunities. We’re inviting you to a solution-driven, hands-on workshop that tackles this urgent issue head-on! The Workshop In this dynamic, one-day intensive workshop organized by the European University Alliance COLOURS, you’ll collaborate with international peers from different fields to brainstorm, design, and develop innovative entrerpreneurial solutions that can engage with the blue crab emergency, all accompanied by a skilled mediator. Whether it’s new product ideas, market strategies, or sustainable techniques and methodologies, your creativity and insight will help imagine a better future for our region. Why Join? Develop entrepreneurial skills : Learn the ins and outs of business problem-solving, from ideation to execution. Work with a multidisciplinary team : Collaborate with students from various backgrounds and bring diverse perspectives to the table. Gain real-world experience : Contribute to solving a pressing environmental challenge, with the chance to turn your ideas into actionable projects. Boost your CV : Get recognized for your innovative thinking and teamwork, gaining valuable skills for your future career. Bring your ideas, your talent, and your energy. The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges of our generation, and addressing invasive species like the blue crab is part of this issue. Whether you're passionate about starting entrepreneurial projects, supporting sustainability, or just brainstorming new solutions, your fresh perspective is exactly what we need. Are you ready to take on the Blue Crab Challenge? Apply now by filling out this form (deadline 15/11/2024!) and plunge into this opportunity! At the end of the lab, a certificate of attendance will be issued. For those who cannot join us onsite, there is an opportunity to participate online via a link that will be shared before the event.

We are pleased to announce the first annual COLOURS Conference, which will take place in Osijek, Croatia, from October 24-25, 2024, with a pre-conference day on October 23. This event will be organized by Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Croatia in cooperation with Paderborn University, Germany. It represents a significant step in the development of our alliance, bringing together COLOURS partners, stakeholders, and students to discuss key initiatives and foster collaboration across institutions. The conference will be held in a hybrid format, enabling wider participation from across the COLOURS community. Those who are unable to attend in person will have the opportunity to join online and engage with the sessions remotely. The conference will provide a structured platform for sharing ideas and strengthening partnerships. The program will include workshops, presentations, and discussions focused on innovation, education, and strategic collaboration within the COLOURS network. Key Details: Pre-Conference Day (October 23) : Field study focused on the COLOURS Smart Specialization Strategy IT and Digital Transformation, for internal COLOURS members. Day 1 (October 24) : COLOURS Innovation & Engagement Day, involving external partners and stakeholders, with workshops highlighting Smart Specialization Strategies and a session dedicated to student talent development. Day 2 (October 25) : COLOURS Collaborative Progress Day, aimed at reinforcing internal collaborations, featuring the “Creators’ Corner” for showcasing innovative solutions and projects. We invite all partner universities to contribute ideas, and participate actively in the program. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a pioneering event that celebrates collaboration and the creative spirit of our alliance. Please register here by October 14, 2024

From this year, Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Master's study program "Strategic Intercultural Communication" includes study course "Digital Corporate Communication Strategies", within which our students together with other Master's students from different universities will participate in the "Global virtual teams" project. Students will work in multicultural teams, mixed from different universities, to develop a digital communication strategy for the expansion of a company in another country's market. This project is a simulation and the strategies will not reach the selected companies, but it will be good practice for the students to work in international teams and try their hand at developing strategic documents. The project will run for 10 weeks, from 7 October to 13 December, during which the students will work independently in teams, participate in virtual workshops and consultations, and, at the end, present their work. The project will allow students to put into practice their knowledge of intercultural communication they have acquired in the studies, improve their digital skills, learn about the benefits and challenges of multicultural virtual teams, and exchange knowledge and experience with students and lecturers from other universities who act as team mentors in the project. The mentor and lecturer in the project from VUAS is guest lecturer Elīza Cimdiņa. This international study project, led by the Paderborn University, has been running for several years. It is intended to be conducted entirely virtually, using the Paderborn University's e-learning platform KOMO. This will also give the VUAS representatives opportunity to adopt good practices in using e-learning platforms for virtual course delivery. The project will bring together students and lecturers from 6 European universities: Clermont Auvergne University (France), University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (Czech Republic), Paderborn University (Germany), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland), University St Kliment Ohridski Bitola (Northern Macedonia) and Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvia). Along with VUAS, the “COLOURS” Alliance university from Northern Macedonia has also joined the project this year. It is this European University Alliance "COLOURS" that is the basis for new faculty friendships and new faculty cooperation. This is a practical example of how the “COLOURS” Alliance colours and enriches our study process.

Enhance your language learning experience by joining us for activities such as language cafés, quizzes, videos, presentations and more in the languages of our nine partner universities : Croatian , French , German , Italian , Latvian , Macedonian , Polish , Spanish and Swedish . Registration UCLM, LMU, UNIFE, HKR, UNIOS, UPB: --> No need to register! To log in you simply: go to Bloomhub click on EduGAIN login choose your institution and log in with your university account UKLO, JDU, VUAS and external parties: Send an email to stefanie.muehlbaecher@upb.de asking to register for the European Day of Languages. Please provide your name and email address. The deadline is the 23 September 2024. You will receive your login details via email on the 25 September.

We invite you to participate in an informative seminar on microcredit courses within the framework of the COLORS project. Microcredits (Microcredentials) courses, intended for the professional development of citizens, are one of the activities of the "COLOURS" consortium of European Universities. The European Commission explains : "A 'microcredit' is a record of the learning results obtained by the learner after a small amount of learning (from 0.5 ECTS and above). The learning experience leading to the award of microcredits is designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge , skills and competences that meet societal, personal, cultural or labor market needs." During the project, at least 18 microcredit courses will be created, which comply with the principles of open education. We invite you to an informative seminar where you can learn more about the basic principles of microcredits and learn from the experience of UNA Eiorpa ( https://www.una-europa.eu/ ) and EUTOPIA ( https://eutopia-university.eu/ ) consortia. Time of the seminar: May 24, at 11.00 Registration: https://forms.gle/Vd7oafHEqUVF8fgN7