From June 30 to July 4, IMT Nord Europe had the pleasure of hosting, on behalf of IMT, nearly 200 students from the European universities of the EULiST alliance, of which IMT is a proud member.
A European gathering to co-design the future of higher education
For one week, the IMT Nord Europe campus in Douai welcomed students from across EULiST partner universities for the second edition of the EULiST Student Conference.
This event brought together the driving forces of European higher education around a shared ambition : to design a European university that is inclusive, sustainable and innovative, through :
- The development of cross-disciplinary knowledge on major technological challenges
- The strengthening of interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment
- Collective reflection on the future of European university alliances, placing students at the heart of action
This initiative is part of the European Universities Initiative, supported by the European Commission, and aims to strengthen academic and scientific cooperation on a continental scale
Four key issues at the heart of the discussions
The event was punctuated by collaborative workshops, inspiring conferences and intercultural exchanges on strategic themes :
- The European doctorate : working towards mutual recognition of doctoral programs to facilitate transnational academic pathways.
- Inclusive mobility : making exchanges accessible to all, regardless of economic or social background.
- Student engagement : promoting the active participation of students in university governance.
- Ecological transition : embedding climate challenges into institutional priorities.
A program rich in learning and discovery
Throughout the week, participants took part in a wide range of activities:
- Meetings with companies and start-ups, fostering connections with the regional economic and innovation ecosystem.
- Thematic conferences, addressing topics such as international careers and environmental challenges linked to space debris.
- Cultural visits to explore the local heritage and strengthen intercultural ties.
- Co-design sessions to collectively imagine the tools, services and curricula of the future EULiST university.
The highlight of the week was a gala evening at the Louvre-Lens museum.
EULiST: a European alliance for academic excellence
The 2025 edition of the Student Conference brought together the 10 partner universities of the EULiST alliance : Brno University of Technology (Czech Republic); Jönköping University (Sweden); University of Hanover (Germany); University of L’Aquila (Italy); National Technical University of Athens (Greece); Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (Slovakia); LUT University (Finland); Technische Universität Wien (Austria); Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Spain); and Institut Mines-Télécom (France).
On the French side, all of IMT’s Technological Universities were represented :
IMT Atlantique, IMT Mines Albi, IMT Mines Alès, IMT Nord Europe, Institut Mines-Télécom Business School, Mines Saint-Étienne, Télécom Paris, and Télécom SudParis.
A European dynamic driven by youth
Beyond workshops and conferences, this student conference strengthened cohesion between institutions and highlighted the crucial role of young people in building Europe’s academic future. By developing cross-cutting skills, fostering interdisciplinary exchanges and promoting social innovation, EULiST is working towards a European university that is both connected to society and oriented towards the future.
A heartfelt thank you to the local and institutional partners, and to everyone who contributed to the success of this exceptional week dedicated to education, collaboration and European innovation !
