Internationalisation certificates, insights into research, teaching and student engagement, and a look ahead: On 19 October, the European university alliance Aurora took centre stage at the International Days event in the Aula.
The University of Innsbruck used the event to inform its members about the activities of the European university alliance Aurora at the university. The focus was on insights into research, teaching and student engagement within the alliance, as well as the presentation of Internationalisation Certificates to university staff. The event also addressed the development of the alliance and its future: preparations are currently underway to extend the project by a further two years. The Aula provided an ideal setting for an event that brought together information, recognition and personal exchange.
Presentation of Certificates for Internationalization
Rector Veronika Sexl opened the event, followed by Vice-Rector for Human Resources Dirk Rupnow, who shared his own experiences with Aurora.
Opening Remarks by Rector Veronika Sexl
Isabella Göschl, Head of Staff Development, presented the Internationalisation Certificate for general staff, which received first place in the Internationalisation Award in 2025 and whose content has also been strongly shaped by Aurora. Together with the Rectorate and Thomas Baumgartner, Head of International Affairs, she subsequently presented the certificates.
A Review and Outlook on Aurora's activities
During the information session moderated by Dejan Lukovic, Institutional Coordinator for Aurora 2030, Thomas Baumgartner traced Aurora's development from its early beginnings to its current status, highlighting several projects running in parallel with a total funding volume of just under €45 million, of which approximately €3.2 million is allocated to the University of Innsbruck. Vice-Rector for Research Gregor Weihs and Sigrid Neuhauser, a member of the Aurora Research Council, provided insights into the annual Seed Funding Call. In 2026, 45 eligible applications were submitted, with a total of €240,000 available. In addition, since 2024, 27 short-term research stays have been made possible for early-career researchers, 23 of them thanks to the Förderkreis 1669.
In the area of teaching, Vice-Rector for Teaching and Students Janette Walde, Silke Meyer and Doris Eibl reported that more than 70 Aurora courses had reached over 6,000 students by December 2025. The course "Heavy Metal Sustainability", taught by Aydin Abar and Fabian Dielmann, received the Ars Docendi award in 2025.
Sophia Neßler, a former member of the Aurora Student Council and a Student Ambassador, demonstrated how students can help shape decision-making within the alliance. Applications for the Student Ambassador programme are open until 30 October.
To conclude the session, Dejan Lukovic outlined the next steps: the application window for extending the current project will open in November. Key priorities include joint teaching activities, the Aurora Hubs, the Aurora Virtual Campus and even greater student involvement.
World Café and Exchange
The event concluded with a World Café and buffet, where colleagues gathered around six themed tables to discuss Aurora-related topics, including teaching, mobility opportunities for students and general staff, internationalisation and research. More than 20 hosts, including researchers, teachers, students and administrative staff, shared their first-hand experiences. This format allowed questions to be addressed directly through personal exchange and further strengthened the Aurora community at the University of Innsbruck.
(Dejan Lukovic)
