Young Universities for the Future of Europe - YUFE

And that's a wrap on the 2026 YUFE Academy Spring edition!

For the 3rd year in a row, YUFE and its 10 partner universities brought knowledge and curiosity outside of campuses and classes, and this spring it was not an exception: 12 expert lectures, online and onsite, free and accessible for everyone. A unique and open lifelong learning programme.

The YUFE Academy has also proved to be a powerful opportunity to create spaces for discussion between citizens across Europe, like the ones that sprouted after the screening of the movie "SAKBE-Roads of Life in the Maya Forest". It has also given us the chance to remark that knowledge goes beyond universities thanks to collaboration with local NGOs and associations.

Head to our website to hear about it from the participants themselves: https://www.yufe.eu/citizens/yufe-connects-countries-and-generations/

Civic Engagement Activities Intro Training for Students is an online training session that will introduce you to the ideas behind the YUFE Civic Star and the rules for applying to it. You will find out why universities and YUFE are interested in community engagement, and how to recognise and make visible the different competencies gained through civic engagement activities.

Register by: June 24 here: https://www.yufe.eu/event/civic-engagement-activities-training-for-students-2/

A moment to celebrate community, connection, and impact!

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and the City of Getafe recently came together to honour the students and citizens behind two incredible YUFE volunteering programmes:

🤝 YUFE Contigo-Getafe: students personally accompanying elderly people to reduce unwanted loneliness
📚 Learning Together-Getafe: volunteers providing emotional and educational support to school pupils

Since 2023, more than 80 students have taken part, and 34 of them earned the YUFE Civic Star digital certificate for their outstanding commitment 🌟

This is what a university for the future of Europe looks like. 💙

🔗 Read the full story here https://www.yufe.eu/citizens/uc3m-and-getafe-city-council-celebrate-the-success-of-their-civic-engagement-activities/

Last week, YUFE held its 2nd CommUNIty Conference: Connecting Cultures at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, bringing together community partners, NGOs, and academics from across Europe working with people with migration experience.

Over three days, participants:
🔹 Explored place attachment, identity, and belonging through a keynote by Prof. Maria Lewicka
🔹 Dived into workshops on buddy programmes, intercultural learning, and empathy fatigue
🔹 Visited the Free Dom Foundation — a grassroots organisation led by women with lived migration experience from Ukraine
🔹 Held the first in-person meeting of the YUFE Community Engagement Network

Together, participants also co-created a concept for a campus-based intercultural game — a tangible outcome that reflects YUFE's commitment to turning dialogue into action.

This is what European collaboration looks like in practice. 🤝

👉 Learn more about YUFE Community & Civic Engagement: https://www.yufe.eu/community-engagement/

Yesterday marked the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which got us thinking: real inclusion starts with a shared language.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity (ED&I) isn't just a value at YUFE, it's the thread woven through everything we do. And to make sure we're all speaking the same language, our ED&I Work Group has put together a Glossary of Key Terms 📖
Swipe through to explore some of the terms that shape our community and our commitment ➡️

🔍 Would you like to learn more? Discover the full glossary here: https://www.yufe.eu/resources/yufe-edi-glossary-of-terms/

Because building an inclusive world starts with understanding it. 💛

What is YUFE Academy? It's a series of open for all lectures and workshops happening at YUFE partner universities across Europe.
Join for free and participate online or on-site.

Here's the latest programme! Sign up here: https://virtualcampus.yufe.eu/p/courses/category/yufe-academy

🖊️From 28 to 30 April 2026, members of the YUFE Student Forum gathered in Cyprus for three days of meetings, workshops, discussions, and shared experiences.

Hosted by University of Cyprus (UCY), the Physical Meeting brought together student representatives from across the alliance to reflect on ongoing projects, develop new ideas, and strengthen collaboration between members.

🎓The meeting highlighted how collaboration within YUFE extends beyond formal structures. Through workshops, discussions, shared meals, and informal moments together, participants were able to build trust, exchange experiences, and develop a stronger sense of collective purpose.

🙏The Student Forum extends its gratitude to the Cyprus students for their support throughout the event, as well as to the University of Cyprus for its warm welcome and hospitality.

Curious how student voices drive the alliance forward?
👉 Discover more at yufe.eu

🤝Become an active citizen by getting involved in your !

Join a help desk or a volunteering programme and make a positive impact on global challenges, hand in hand with local NGOs or municipalities.

The Civic Star acknowledges your commitment to society and highlights your newly acquired community-engaged .

✅This digital certificate is 100% verifiable and fully compatible with LinkedIn.

What are you waiting for — step into the YUFE Stars constellation and unlock new opportunities!
🔗 More info here on our website

🌈 Yesterday was the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, & Transphobia ( ), a powerful occasion to reflect on the discrimination and violence that LGBTQIA+ individuals face in our societies, online spaces, and even in our campuses.

💭 We dream of a European community that proudly sees diversity as a value, where everyone's voice is respected and cherished. A safe space, where everyone is free to learn, to travel, to connect, and to live without fear.

This is not (yet) the reality we live in: there are still too many cases where hate speech and hate crimes target + people, limiting their rights and their opportunities.

This is why we have an Anti-Harassment & Bullying Policy, a comprehensive set of guidelines that serve to prevent and adequately address any act of discrimination and violence. They set common standards across all our partner universities and establish support services that need to be visible, known, trained, and confidential, aiming to take down all the barriers that prevent victims from seeking help.

🔮 At YUFE, we don't just dream about the future: we build it. 🧱

🔗 Read our full policy on our website: https://www.yufe.eu/resources/yufe-anti-harassment-and-bullying-policy/