Baltic University Programme

This webinar will focus on water safety and how water consumption influences the Baltic Sea Region. It will be held on 21 May at 14 CEST and the participants are welcome to contribute with questions to broaden the discussion. This is the fifth webinar in a series celebrating BUP’s 35th anniversary in 2026, dedicated to sustainability and the ten BUP themes.

Artur Magnuszewski (University of Warsaw) will give a talk titled 'Can we measure the sustainability using water consumption?'. There are different ways to measure water resources and their use. One popular is the index of water availability - volume of river runoff divided by number of citizens in a year - (Falkenmark, 2005). Another way used recently is the Water Exploitation Index (WEI). For sustainability at the lowest personal level, it can be used as the volume of water used per person per day. Questions raised are: How much water do you use daily and how is this consumption controlled in the digital era? What is the meaning of green water, blue water, black water and grey water? Is the water from the tap healthy?

Inga Grinfelde (Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies) will explore the question of whether we can drink digital water. In an era of artificial intelligence, digital twins, and data-driven hydrology, this provocative question highlights a critical reality. No model or algorithm can replace safe, clean drinking water, which remains essential for human health and survival. As water safety becomes increasingly sensitive due to pollution, climate change, and emerging contaminants, the responsibility of water engineers grows not only to model systems but to ensure a reliable, high-quality water supply for society. The talk calls for a new educational paradigm that integrates AI innovation with strong scientific understanding, ethical responsibility, and a deep commitment to safeguarding safe drinking water for present and future generations.

Register to attend the webinar via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/events-and-announcements/bups-35-year-celebratory-webinars

This summer school has a focus on the Baltic Sea environment and coastal development. The event will take place from 2-9 August 2026 in Klaipėda, Lithuania, with a two-day excursion to Liepāja, Latvia. Accepted students and PhD students will be studying the sensitive Baltic Sea Environment, both on land and at sea, with leading experts from across the region.

One day of the summer school will take place onboard Klaipeda University’s sailing vessel Brabander, sailing from Klaipėda to Liepāja, while conducting tests and collecting samples. Participants will also study the unique coastal environment of the Curonian Spit and visit the Sventoji settlement and Seaside Regional Park, learning about the impacts and solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss and the human aspects of the unique Baltic Sea Environment. The excursions are accompanied by relevant lectures and seminars.

Science and Sail is the result of a cooperation between the BUP Coordinating Secretariat, Klaipeda University and Riga Technical University (Campus Liepāja). The summer school is the second of three events connected to the Swedish Institute-financed project 'CoMaDe'.

A key part of the summer school is the creative case studies that accepted students will conduct in small groups under the supervision of PhD students. In the weeks before the summer school, students are expected to prepare questions and outline their case study plans. During the event, each group will collect data, consult experts, study key indicators, and learn to draw conclusions to better understand coastal development in the Baltic Sea. On the final day, the students will present their findings to their peers. After the successful completion of the summer school, each participant will be offered 3 ECTS from Klaipeda University. The application deadline is 4 May 2026, 23:59 (CET).

Read more about the event and apply to attend via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/events-and-announcements/bup-science-and-sail-2026

This webinar will explore the relationship between nature-based solutions (NbS) and public participation. It will be held on 23 April at 14 CET and the participants are welcome to contribute with questions to broaden the discussion. This is the fourth webinar in a series celebrating BUP’s 35th anniversary in 2026, dedicated to sustainability and the ten BUP themes.

The webinar targets students, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in urban sustainability, participatory planning, and collaborative governance. The session will begin with an introduction by Małgorzata Blicharska (Uppsala University/UUniCORN), who will provide context and background on nature-based solutions and then moderate the webinar.

Following the introduction, Bianka Plüschke-Altof (Tallinn Technical University and Tallinn University) and Bradley Loewen (Norwegian University of Science and Technology) will present their research on ‘Transforming the City with NbS: Unpacking Tensions of participatory sustainability transition projects’.

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are increasingly promoted as a way to address urban environmental and climate challenges while improving the quality of life in cities. At the same time, participatory planning is widely encouraged to ensure the legitimacy and acceptance of sustainability initiatives. Policy frameworks such as Horizon Europe and the New European Bauhaus emphasize collaborative and transdisciplinary approaches involving citizens, researchers, and public authorities.

Typically part of one-off, externally funded project-based initiatives operating largely outside established planning and governance systems, practitioners in NbS projects, however, frequently encounter obstacles when trying to integrate public participation into NbS planning and ensure long-term results.

Based on cross-case analysis of several urban NbS projects in Northern Europe, the research examines the tensions encountered in participatory NbS planning. Reflecting on these empirical insights from practice, the presenters discuss strategies that planners, researchers, and project organisers use to navigate these tensions and engage in transformative planning, hence simultaneously work towards more inclusive and effective approaches to NbS and sustainability transitions.

Register to attend the webinar via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/events-and-announcements/bups-35-year-celebratory-webinars

This award is a distinction given to the authors of what is judged to be the most qualified PhD work defended at any of the BUP participating universities. The winners will receive a prize in the form of a diploma and support of up to 1000€ for either attending a scientific conference or publishing in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The BUP PhD Award is a way to support high-quality research promoting sustainable development in a Baltic Sea Region context. For the BUP PhD Award 2026 we accept theses defended in 2025 which are nominated by the supervisor/s of the thesis. The award is established in two research areas, one award for each:

Natural Sciences, Technology and Engineering
Social Sciences and Humanities

A Scientific Committee is responsible for the selection process. The thesis will be assessed from the following criteria: originality, inter-/multi disciplinary approach, novelty, innovation, and how the thesis promotes sustainable development in a Baltic Sea Region context.

The nomination deadline is 25 May 2026.

Read more about the PhD Award on the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/bup-for-researchers/bup-phd-award

The grant aims to develop and strengthen cooperation among young researchers in the Baltic Sea Region, at BUP participating universities, by covering travel and accommodation for a research project. The awarded maximum is a total value of 3000 Euros.

The grant is intended to support young scholars in their research on sustainable development. For an applicant to be eligible to receive the grant they need to have finished their PhD in the past 5 years.

The applications can be made for the funding of new research projects (in whole or in part), or as a financial contribution to ongoing ones, as long as the applicant stays at another university in the Baltic Sea Region during the Mobility Grant period.

The last application day is 30 April 2026. The suggested project has to be carried out between September 2026 and February 2027.

Read more about the grant and apply via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/about-us/news/archive/2026-02-17-the-bup-announces-the-mobility-grant

This three-day training aims to strengthen the implementation of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the UN Agenda 2030 within teaching and learning practices in higher education. The event takes place on 12-15 October 2026 and is titled 'Sustainability Competences – Sharing Knowledge, Best Practices, and Challenges'.

The four "Sustainability Competences"—Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity—form a central foundation of ESD and will be the keywords of this event.

The training is organised as a cooperation between the BUP Associated Secretariat in Finland, at Åbo Akademi University, and the BUP National Centre in Latvia, at Riga Technical University.

The event offers an opportunity not only to gain new insights, but also to exchange experiences with colleagues from across the Baltic Sea Region. Participants will get the opportunity to co-create interdisciplinary learning tools for sustainable futures, forming and testing a learning scenario.

During the program, there will be a session focused on the participants' own reflections and examples from their teaching practice. Preparing experiences to share is not mandatory, but doing so will increase the likelihood of being accepted into the training.

We welcome applications from teachers, educators and researchers at BUP participating universities. The application deadline is 15 May 2026, 23:59 (CET).

Read more about the training and apply to take part via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/events-and-announcements/bup-teachers-training-2026

The BUP Coordinating Secretariat welcomes applications for the position of intern during autumn 2026. The intern will work with administrative tasks, coordinating projects and organising events and trainings for researchers, teachers and students.

The Secretariat coordinates the Programme with nearly 120 participating universities in the Baltic Sea Region, cooperating for education and research in Sustainable Development and Democracy.

The applicant should be enrolled at one of the BUP’s participating universities. Since the work of The Baltic University Programme is structured around 10 BUP themes related to sustainable development, it is required that the applicant has knowledge of and an interest in the field of sustainable development.

The period, duration and workload of the internship will be defined individually depending on the intern's interests and skills. Recruitment will be ongoing and the position may be filled before the application deadline. The last day to apply for the role is 1 May 2026.

Read more about the internship and the application process via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/about-us/news/archive/2026-03-03-bup-internship-during-autumn-2026

This webinar will explore, through two talks, how what we eat influences the environmental status of the planet and how everyday practices can contribute to sustainability. It will be held on 19 March at 14 CET. This is the third webinar in a series celebrating BUP’s 35th anniversary in 2026, dedicated to sustainability and the ten BUP themes.

At the event, the participants are welcome to contribute with questions to broaden the discussion. These are the two presentations that will be given during the webinar:

Amanda Wood (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) – 'How diets can support healthy people on a healthy planet'

We know that the foods we eat affect our health, but our diets also influence the health of the planet. This talk will explore the many ways in which our diets impact environmental sustainability - for better and for worse - and describe what we can eat to keep both people and the planet healthy and thriving. Starting from a global view on what foods are produced, eaten and wasted, and moving down to a local Nordic perspective on diets, listeners will learn about dietary shifts that can make a positive impact on themselves and the planet.

Rūta Pelikšienė (Kaunas University of Technology) – 'Veganism, Stereotypes, and Everyday Climate Action'

Climate change discussions often focus on energy, transport, and industry, yet the climate impact of what we eat remains largely overlooked. This talk will explore the climate relevance of vegan practices and why their potential is often underappreciated. Drawing on sociological research and accessible data, it examines how cultural norms and stereotypes shape public perceptions of veganism and influence people’s willingness to engage with plant-based eating. By reframing veganism as a spectrum of everyday practices rather than an all-or-nothing lifestyle, the session invites participants to reconsider how food choices relate to climate action. This presentation will offer an engaging and practical perspective, leaving participants with concrete ideas for how gradual shifts toward plant-based eating can contribute to meaningful climate action.

Register to attend the webinar: https://doit.medfarm.uu.se/bin/kurt3/kurt/8900760

This free of charge event brings together students, researchers, and practitioners for an immersive three-day journey into the interconnected dynamics of biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable land use. This year’s conference is entitled 'The Complex Equation: Climate, Land use and Biodiversity - Understanding Conflicts, Designing Solutions'. The event takes place on 9-12 June in Lund, Sweden.

The conference is co-organised by The Baltic University Programme’s Coordinating Secretariat at Uppsala University and Lund University. The conference is open to bachelor's and master's students studying at BUP participating universities. Students will learn from teachers and facilitators who are leading experts in climate change, land use, and biodiversity. As a participant, you will be part of a learning environment deeply committed to advancing both sustainability knowledge and action.

Through lectures, field experiences, workshops, and interactive group work, participants will explore how ecological, social, and political systems interact and how synergies and trade-offs shape decisions for a more sustainable and resilient future. A central element of the program is the UNESCO-designated biosphere reserve Storkriket, which is a living example of these intricate relationships.

The application deadline is 23 March 2026, 23:59 (CET).

All information about the event is available on the Student Conference event page on the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/about-us/news/archive/2026-02-12-the-bup-student-conference-2026

This webinar explores how war reshapes ecosystems, public health, and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. It will be held on 26 February at 14 CET. This is the second webinar in a series celebrating BUP’s 35th anniversary in 2026, dedicated to sustainability and the ten BUP themes.

The event will contain three focused presentations by Ukrainian researchers that examine environmental resilience and flood risks in Transcarpathia, the targeting and degradation of water bodies as both victims and instruments of war, and the emerging links between armed conflict, environmental exposure, and human health:

‘Water bodies of Ukraine as victims and weapons of war’, presented by Viktor Karamushka, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

‘Environmental Resilience of Transcarpathia during Wartime: Flood Risks, Infrastructure Degradation, and Emerging Anthropogenic Pressures’, presented by Svitlana Delegan-Kokayko, Uzhhorod National University.

‘War, Environment, and Cancer: Lessons from Ukraine’, presented by Olexiy Kovalyov, Zaporizhzhia State Medical and Pharmaceutical University.

Read more about the webinar and register to attend via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/about-us/news/archive/2026-01-19-celebratory-webinar-human-and-environmental-consequences-of-war-in-ukraine-short--and-long-term-impacts

Photo: Khoda.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0, this section is an excerpt of the original

This webinar will explore the evolution of ESD and its current state, together with insights and perspectives from the participants. It will be held on 12 February at 14-15 CET. This is the first webinar in a series celebrating BUP’s 35th anniversary in 2026, dedicated to sustainability and the ten BUP themes.

Climate change, extreme weather events, global pandemics, financial instability, political and military conflicts, and the rapid evolution of AI – these are interconnected challenges shaping our world today, often emerging simultaneously and unpredictably.

Questions to be considered at the webinar are: How do these polycrisis conditions influence Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)? Are higher education institutions in the Baltic Sea region truly “walking the ESD talk”? What obstacles do university educators face, and what expectations are students bringing to the table?

The presenters are PhD Aleksandra Halaim (Uppsala University) and PhD Cecilia Lundberg (Åbo Akademi University).

Read more about the webinar and register to attend via the BUP website: https://www.uu.se/en/collaboration-innovation/the-baltic-university-programme/about-us/news/archive/2026-01-13-bup-celebratory-webinar-education-for-sustainability-in-times-of-polycrisis

We would like to extend our warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season with family and friends. As we look toward the coming year, we sincerely hope it will bring enduring peace, stability, and prosperity to our region. May it nurture deeper understanding, strengthen bonds of cooperation across borders, and advance excellence in education, research, and sustainable development. In this spirit, we celebrate and reaffirm the collaboration and shared responsibility that lie at the heart of The Baltic University Programme (BUP).