Students work on real challenges during the first ENGAGE.EU Expedition

This week Tilburg University is hosting the first ENGAGE.EU Expedition. 25 Students of our partner universities from Rome, Toulouse, Mannheim, Sofia, Bergen, and Vienna work together on the theme “A social and just energy transition for all”. During the week the students work in teams to find solutions to three specific challenges that our partners Tilburg Municipality, PON Telos, and Mannheim Municipality defined.  

Anne-Sophie Waag from Mannheim University is one of the mentors who guide the teams: “In the beginning students learn how to work in international and interdisciplinary teams. Then we focus on how they can change their perspective and work on real challenges. It becomes very practical, they need to produce real answers in one week.”

Besides a program packed with design sessions, an inspiration speech of City of Tilburg Professor Ton Wilthagen, and meetings with experts from external partners, the students go on a field trip through Tilburg and enjoy a social program in the evenings. Christian Kavrin, student Economics and Business Administration at NHH in Bergen: “It is nice to go abroad again and meet people from other universities. I hope to learn a lot more about the energy transition in other countries and I want to develop my cooperation skills with students from other studies as well.”

This first Expedition will end on Friday when the final event takes place. The student teams will practice their pitches at the Council Hall and present them to a jury. Marieke Schoots, Work Package Lead ENGAGE.EU: “We want to help our partners, give our students the opportunity to develop themselves through a unique learning experience, and we want to give them a sense of belonging as a European citizen.”