September 2024 edition of the E3UDRES2 Ent-r-e-novators newsletter, packed with updates on our latest achievements, key milestones, and upcoming events.

In the fourth edition of the project's news page, you can read about:

• Enhancing Citizen Engagement in Scientific Research: The WP5 results highlight our progress in fostering citizen involvement in science.
• Interview with Hannes Raffaseder: A deep dive into how collaboration has shaped the E³UDRES² project, bringing universities into the "Champions League" of innovation.
• Research for Everyone: Sarah De Coninck's vision of inclusivity in scientific research.
• Exciting Cluster Projects: Learn about CONNECT and Energytran, revolutionizing research collaboration and energy transition between Europe and Latin America.
• New Scientific Council: A significant step for academic excellence within the E³UDRES² alliance.

Current news of ViA colleagues:

PhD. Oskars Java, researcher at the Sociotechnical Systems Engineering Institute (SSII). The director of SSII led a focus group discussion within the doctoral school in August.

The focus group was organized to find out what, according to the students, are the most relevant research topics for society at the moment.

Briefly about the profiles of the participants:

All students have spent at least two years in their doctoral programs. Each of them specializes in different areas, but all are familiar with research and have experience in research projects in their specialty. All participants are somehow related to technology and use it in their respective fields.

Taking into account that the focus group was attended by seven doctoral students and applicants for a doctoral degree, in order to lead the discussion more successfully, the group was divided into two smaller groups for a moment.

The main finding is that both groups of doctoral students agreed that the three most important research directions at the moment are:

• Digitization
• Cyber ​​security
• Robotics and automation

Argumentation for digitization - jobs are digitized, automation replaces human work, increasing efficiency is vital in the modern world. It is necessary to adapt to rapid growth.

Argumentation for cyber security - society in general and the people who work with technical tools and data on a daily basis are still not in control of security-related activities.

Argumentation for robotics and automation - this term combines all the research areas mentioned by doctoral students during the focus group, such as artificial intelligence, data processing, precision agriculture, etc. On the one hand, it may seem that "robotics and automation" was placed above such previously mentioned research topics as environmental protection, human resource optimization and sustainability, however, "robotics and automation" also affects these topics in its own way, because production is made more efficient, products and adds value to services and relieves people from manual, man-hour-intensive work.

During September, focus groups will also be organized for ViA experienced researchers and students of the first bachelor's level, in order to be able to compare how the perception of what should be researched differs depending on the level of research experience and generation.

Currently, work on the unified E³UDRES² research strategy is very active.

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Dr.psych., Mg.math. In the work package led by Vineta Silkānes, the focus is currently on the preparation and submission of documents for the "HR Excellence in Research Award".

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Within the project E3UDRES2 Ent-r-e-novators On October 2nd, from 14:00 to 17:30 CET, UCLL Campus Diepenbeek will host an exciting workshop dedicated to advancing citizen science. This event will feature distinguished representatives from the European Citizen Science Association (ECSA), Scivil, and leading universities and applied sciences institutions across Flanders.

Register here!

Stay connected with Ent-r-e-novators for the latest updates, events, and insights into innovation and entrepreneurship. Follow us on social media and be part of our dynamic community!

On September 17-20, 2024, the 10th International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) Biennial Conference will convene in the charming capital of Latvia, Riga. As the third-largest city in Northern Europe, Riga provides an enchanting backdrop for the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and insights in the dynamic field of tourism. 

Hosted by the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences, the conference will serve as a nexus for academia, industry professionals, and researchers to explore and deliberate upon pivotal themes shaping the contemporary tourism landscape. The overarching theme of the conference is intricately woven around three key dimensions:  

• safety and security,  
• changes in traveler behavior, and  
• the imperative of circularity in tourism.  

These critical facets demand concerted attention from educators, researchers, and industry practitioners alike. Through collaborative efforts, we aim to bridge the existing gaps in tourism knowledge and practice, propelling us toward a future marked by Sustainable, Smart, and Secure tourism and hospitality. In alignment with this vision, the conference is aptly titled “Bridging the Gaps in Tourism Knowledge and Practice: The Future of Sustainable, Smart, and Secure Tourism and Hospitality (Future 3Ss for Tourism).” 

More information: Hespi | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

From September 16 to 20, the "International Week 2024" will take place at Vidzeme University, bringing together teaching staff and researchers of higher education institutions from 11 countries: Latvia, Ukraine, Albania, Romania, Czech Republic, Georgia, Egypt, Poland, Moldova, Belgium, Georgia, and a total of 16 universities and colleges.This year, the theme of the International Week is Shaping Minds: The Intersection of Modern Education and Deep Tech.
In five days, seminars, workshops, open guest lectures and panel discussions will take place at Vidzeme University, in which teaching staff and researchers from more than 30 different higher education institutions will share knowledge, experience, and discuss current issues, providing an opportunity for a global exchange of experience and knowledge among both students and teaching staff. .

The international week is one of the wider events that Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences organizes in order to strengthen its role on an international scale and promote international cooperation.

International week program (pdf.)
Program of open lectures (pdf.)

You can find out more about the program of the International Week:

INTERNATIONAL WEEK (va.lv)

We are happy to announce that the first UNESCO Chair in Biosphere and Man of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences newsletter in English has been created in the charming end of August, in order to spread the news to a wider audience. Have a great reading, get involved and by all means - share the news.

Read news here (pdf.)