Three days in Belval dedicated to the progress and future of the project
Held twice a year and hosted in rotation by partner universities, the General Meeting brings together all teams involved in UNIVERSEH to review progress, discuss challenges, and collectively shape the path forward.
This November, the University of Luxembourg had the pleasure of hosting the final General Meeting of 2025 on the Belval Campus.
The event offered an opportunity to strengthen cooperation among partners, exchange ideas, and outline the next steps for UNIVERSEH’s strategic development toward 2027.
Day 1: Opening sessions and keynote contributions
The first day began with welcome remarks from university leadership, followed by an update on UNIVERSEH’s objectives and future strategy. Participants then received progress reports from Work Packages, and the Student Council, contributing to a shared understanding of ongoing activities.
In the afternoon, several major sessions highlighted innovation and expertise within the Alliance:
- Showcase on AI in teaching & learning, featuring real use cases and expert insights, with Benito Castellanos, from EDT&Partners
- Presentation of the Transversal PhD Courses, with Mahulena Hofmann
- Keynote on shaping the future of space, including perspectives on research, talent development, and future challenges, with Miguel Olivares Mendez and Symeon Chatzinotas from the University of Luxembourg.
The day concluded with informal networking moments and thematic group meetings across campus.
Day 2: Committees, workshops and a space-themed networking evening
The second day unfolded across the Maison du Savoir, where several sessions ran in parallel, including the Steering Committee, Academic Council, Work Package workshops, the Advisory Board, and quality assurance meetings. Participants also had the opportunity to join guided visits of the Blast Furnaces and the City of Science in Belval, Luxembourg.
A key highlight of Day 2 was the final session on LMS interoperability in teaching and learning, presented by
- Elie Elmalem, AWS Solutions Architect (Amazon), in the framework of the Digital Education Plan inititated by DG EAC from the European Commission
In the evening, participants gathered for a space-themed networking dinner, animated by Galactic Chloé Carrière, offering a unique moment to connect, exchange, and celebrate collaboration across the Alliance.
Day 3: High-level panels and closing discussions
The closing day opened with a welcome coffee followed by two high-level panel discussions:
- “Space policy in Europe and abroad” — featuring representatives from DG DEFIS from the European Commission, the Luxembourg Space Agency, European Space Policy Institute, the European Investment Fund, and academia.
- “New Space – Entrepreneurial soul” — bringing together leading actors from OQ Technology, iSpace Europe, Redwire Space Europe, and the University of Luxembourg.
The last afternoon continued with the session “European University Legal Entities – From Myth to Reality”, followed by feedback from the Governing Board and the official closing session, marking the end of three rich days of discussion and cooperation.
