ENLIGHT

ENLIGHT (European university network to promote equitable quality of life, sustainability and global engagement through higher education transformation) is a network of European universities established in 2020. The network consists of the following Universities: Basque Country, Bordeaux, Bratislava Comenius, Galway, Ghent, Groningen, Göttingen, Tartu and Uppsala. The University of Bern is also a partner.

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The Enlight project is funded by the Erasmus+ European University initiative and focuses on the internationalisation of the field of study. The network's mission is to transform higher education based on research to help network students grow into innovative and informed global citizens. The project focuses on six key areas:

• health and well-being
• digitalization
• climate change
• energy and circular economy
• equality
• culture and creativity

In the Enlight University Network, the student voice is represented through student representatives from partner universities. Each university is represented by at least two student representatives, who together form the 20-member Enlight Student Network. The students of the University of Tartu are represented in Enlight by the Vice-Chairman of the Student Union and the Development Advisor.

• Student Network Governance: Responsible for student representation, strategic decision-making and inter-university collaboration. The department ensures that student voices are heard at the highest level.
• Student Network Community: Focuses on building and fostering the Enlight community by connecting student organisations from different universities and promoting joint projects and initiatives.
  

Opportunities for students

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Enlight offers the opportunity to participate in international courses, intensive programmes and summer schools, which are open to all students at the network's member universities (including students at the University of Tartu). Students can participate in virtual, or hybrid courses organised by Enlight's member universities without having to physically travel to another country. This expands the possibilities for acquiring professional knowledge and creates an opportunity to learn from other universities.

In addition, the student network will organise a student-to-student conference at one of the partner universities every year, focusing on one or two key areas. 8-10 students from each university will be invited to participate in the conference. The 2025 conference will be held at the University of Göttingen and the themes will be sustainability and inclusion. The 2026 conference will be held in Tartu!

The Enlight network will also organise a learning and teaching conference, where sustainability and equity awards will be presented to student initiatives. Initiatives must be implemented between January 2024 and May 2025. To qualify, candidates must be Bachelor’s or Master’s students at an Enlight partner university, and only non-profit, implemented initiatives will be considered. Selected winners will be invited to present their projects at the teaching and learning conference, which will take place from 8-10 October 2025 in Uppsala. Read about last year's winners.

Also check out the students' experiences at Enlight universities.