ENLIGHT
ENLIGHT* is an alliance of European universities established in 2020. It is formed by ten comprehensive, research-intensive universities from ten European countries: Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The ENLIGHT project is funded by the Erasmus+ programme and focuses primarily on the internationalisation of the field of study.
*European university Network to promote equitable quality of Life, sustainability and Global engagement through Higher education Transformation
Project Enlight focuses on learning collaboration, increased learning mobility and supporting activities.
By the end of the project, the UT and other partner universities will have
- a common quality approach for teaching, research and support activities;
- initiated various short-term learning formats implementing challenge-based learning experiences: living labs, summer schools, intensive courses;
- integrated the teaching of generic competences, e.g. multilingualism and management skills, in their curricula;
- created an integrated system of green mobility, involving different forms of learning mobility (physical, combined and virtual, long-term and short-term);
- opened study opportunities for students of all partner universities;
- created digital solutions based on standardised data exchange to support learning mobility;
- organised systemic cooperation with local, European and global stakeholders;
- created a system to measure the impact of the project.
The UT is responsible for the successful completion of two tasks. The first is an inter-connected digital campus that facilitates students’ access to study opportunities offered by different universities and contributes to the creation of the system of automatic recognition of study periods across the consortium. At the UT, Ivar Koppel leads the work package of the digital campus.
The second responsibility of the UT is the design of the ENLIGHT Competence Framework. In this work package, partner universities agree on which competences the students should obtain by completing different forms of study. At the UT, this work is led by Ülle Tensing.
All partner universities, including the UT, will create the so-called regional academies bringing together students, researchers, local governments, entrepreneurs and non-profit organisations. The role of regional academies is to identify local challenges for which solutions will be sought in annual living labs.
Members of the regional academy will also belong to the think tanks focusing on particular topics. The think tanks will define the learning opportunities and research projects of the flagship domains. Also, each think tank will organise a short programme and a European dialogue (a conference) involving experts outside the consortium.
The project encompasses several other actions in different domains the UT is involved in. Among other actions, the following will be created:
- joint Erasmus Mundus curricula in five flagship areas;
- a global engagement module (10 ECTS) comprising subjects and activities from different universities. It aims to provide students with generic competences required in a multicultural society;
- peer review groups for teaching staff;
- the ENLIGHT Doctoral Network;
- a teacher education network (and a teacher education conference will be organised).
The objective was to become more competitive and innovative together, leveraging and synergizing our respective strengths and capitalizing on our innovation potential and partnerships with our surrounding ecosystems to jointly promote a greener, healthier, more equitable and sustainable Europe. The project ended in autumn 2024.
ENLIGHT RISE key activities:
- Help in identifying partners for research projects from within the network: joint R&I support group + by the end of the project a digital matching tool.
- Seed funding to support partnerships between ENLIGHT researchers in 5 domains.
- Support in the preparation of large strategic project proposals + support kit to researchers to help them build their proposals.
- Identification of ways to connect to and share relevant digital research infrastructures.
- Establishment of a network of early career researchers (post-docs, <10 yrs. from PhD) to foster collaboration and mobility, including networking events.
- Support for collaboration with industrial partners, e.g. via workshops.
- Support for the implementation of public engagement activities and Open Science practices, via knowledge sharing and development of an ENLIGHT Open Access & Data Management starter kit for researchers.
ENLIGHT RISE project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101035819.
To get to know more about the studying abroad opportunities, visit the studies in ENLIGHT universities site and our students' feedback corner, where students share their experience.
ENLIGHT aims to boost student mobility and international study experience. UT students are welcome to participate in classical student exchange programmes, short term courses, and enrich their studies with virtual courses of interest.
Erasmus+ programme student mobility
ENLIGHT and Erasmus+ programme student mobility cooperation enables UT students to:
- Apply for a semester study in a partner universities.
- Participate in short-term BIP courses the partner universities have co-created. Check out the available courses.
- In addition to student mobility cooperation that involves the entire university and network, several UT institutes are doing speciality-based Erasmus+ cooperation with ENLIGHT partner universities. For student mobility destinations, search the SoleMove study system.
Application for semester studies and BIP courses is done as a public competition within the UT, and the final decision is up to the partner university. The requirements for the recognition of studies abroad will be agreed on before the study period, read more about the process. The UT will provide the participants with Erasmus+ funding.
Virtual courses and short-term visits
In addition to Erasmus+ student mobility, the ENLIGHT partners invite students (including doctoral students) to participate in:
- Virtual courses
- Summer schools/winter schools (read more on the ENLIGHT courses page)
- Conferences
- Registration is mostly open via the organizing university and the UT will not mediate funding. As with Erasmus+ student mobility, students should discuss the requirements for the recognition of studies abroad with their institute.
Course Catalogue
The ENLIGHT network has launched a digital Course Catalogue, which allows ENLIGHT students to search for all the courses available for application in the ENLIGHT European University. The catalogue includes courses meant for exchange students as well as virtual courses.
Teaching staff can give lectures in partner universities either onsite or online, take part in conferences and an online challenge-based education course. There are workshops for all types of leaders and staff members and additional mentorship for new leaders.
Teaching staff can also present joint initiatives that will encourage cooperation within the network. There are three categories for application: the ENLIGHT Incubator Grants, ENLIGHT Thematic Networks and ENLIGHT+.
There is a possibility to take part in the annual Teaching and Learning Conference and in the Impact Conference (in 2025 and 2027). Teaching staff can participate in challenge-based education courses.
In research cooperation, the idea is to create and fund thematic networks where at least three members of the partner universities cooperate in the six main flagship domains. For cooperation in education and research, the universities organise the biennial conference European Dialogue, which brings together representatives from cities, regions, and businesses.
Researchers can also present joint initiatives that will encourage cooperation within the network. There are three categories for application: the ENLIGHT Incubator Grants, ENLIGHT Thematic Networks and ENLIGHT+.
From autumn 2024, ENLIGHT will hold ten staff weeks annually that offer staff members elective courses for continuing education and networking. For further information, consult the ENLIGHT staff week calendar.
In educational strategy, the focus lies on generating future-proof education in the curricula and intensifying the internationalisation of study. Once a year, there is a possibility to apply for funding for joint initiatives, for example, joint courses or programmes.
Ongoing events
Want to know what's currently going on? Read about the ongoing calls, see the latest opportunities that offer a chance to be a part in the ENLIGHT community.
Past events
Read about the various notable events that have taken place either in the first or second phase of ENLIGHT:
1. Tartu hosted the Teaching and Learning Conference 2024
2. Read the full list and news about the winners of the first round of ENLIGHT Incubator Grants and Thematic Networks.
3. Courses for spring semester 2024/25, call ends 15 November
4. UT risk and resilience research work group won Impact Award
5. Tartu was in charge of launching the ENLIGHT Course Catalogue
Students' feedback
Overview of the students' feedback from participating in various BIPs, conferences, and programmes. For further information on studying abroad, visit the studies in ENLIGHT universities site.
ENLIGHT Rise achievements
Overview of the achievements of the ENLIGHT RISE project:
1. Online workshop on the responsible evaluation of research and researchers
2. Rectors confirm open science principles
4. The evaluation of research and researchers
5. ENLIGHT Open Science Status Quo & Opportunities
6. Mapping of Digital Research Infrastructural Resources
7. Repository of Good Practices on Research Impact
