CUAS Participates in the 2^nd Annual Congress of the ACE²-EU Alliance in Târgu Jiu

From October 26 to 30, the 2nd Annual Congress of the ACE²-EU Alliance took place in Târgu Jiu, Romania. CUAS was represented by a strong delegation of 23 participants, including members of the university leadership, project coordinators, teaching staff, and students, as well as a representative from Land Kärnten.

The Annual Congress is the Alliance’s most important high-level event, bringing together representatives from all partner institutions every October. It provides an opportunity for the Alliance’s central boards to meet, discuss and evaluate progress, and define strategic priorities for the coming year. The Congress is accompanied by a series of events, including the annual ACE²-EU Kaleidoscope Culture Festival, workshops, and learning opportunities for students.
This year, around 300 people participated in the event, including approximately 250 students.

CUAS representatives took part in a wide range of strategic, management, and student-focused activities. The Executive Director Martin Waiguny, the Director for Internationalization and Cooperation Peter Granig, the ACE Project Manager Julia Marinaccio, and the Head of the ACE²-EU ARIES Incubator Sangeetha Brennsteiner attended strategic and management meetings. Markus Steindl, representing the Government of Carinthia, connected with representatives from government and industry. Two CUAS students joined the Student Advisory Board, contributing their perspectives, preferences, and suggestions regarding the learning opportunities offered within the ACE²-EU Alliance.

Waltraud Grillitsch and Carolina Müller from the School of Health accompanied a group of nine students to the Kaleidoscope Culture Festival. There, the students presented activities, tackling social well-being and culture, that they developed jointly beforehand, participated in a video-making workshop and introduced Austrian Christmas traditions, including the celebration of St. Nicholas and the traditions surrounding Krampus. Another seven students participated in micro-learning opportunities (MLOs) covering topics such as Circular Economy and Long-Term Impact, Fake News and Social Impact, and Agritourism, Local Traditions, and Their Impact on Communities.

Throughout the week, participants connected with peers from the Alliance’s nine countries and beyond, exchanging ideas, exploring issues shaping contemporary societies, and working together to advance ACE²-EU’s shared goals. Excursions provided valuable insights into local companies, cultural landmarks, and regional attractions. In the evenings, participants gathered at a local event venue to celebrate cultural diversity and strengthen connections across the Alliance.