Author: mara.contardo

First Festival of European Culture and Languages

Tourism and Heritage from the Border – 7–11 July 2025 | University of Trieste, Italy

Tourism is a powerful force in shaping Europe’s cultural and economic landscape, but it also raises critical issues: overtourism, simplified narratives, and the erasure of historical complexity. These effects are particularly evident in border cities where rich, layered identities and diverse memories are often reduced to stories that are easier to market.

Programme Festival of European Culture and Languages
Programme Sustainable Heritage Student Competition

The Festival of European Culture and Languages, organised within the Transform4Europe University Alliance, takes on these questions through an immersive and critical learning experience for students and researchers coming from across Europe.

Trieste —an emblematic border city with a complex past— becomes the stage for this open-air laboratory on heritage. Designed as a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), the Festival combines theory and practice through several lectures, interdisciplinary workshops, urban explorations, and creative performances. The aim is to challenge standardised heritage representations and foster new reflections on identity, memory, and cultural sustainability in a changing Europe.

Programme Highlights:

25th June – An online kick-off meeting for the participants, with an introduction to the goals and structure of the week. The session includes two lectures on tourism intertwined with mobility and memory, led by Professors Roberta Altin and Alessandro Carrieri.

7th July – The official launch of the Festival at the University of Trieste, followed by a guided tour of the city led by Professors Roberta Altin, Tullia Catalan, Giuseppe Grimaldi and Alessandro Carrieri. Participants will critically examine Trieste’s tourist image through the lenses of anthropology, history, and heritage studies.

8th July – A full day dedicated to the theme of “heritage of overtourism.” Coordinated by Roberta Altin and Giuseppe Grimaldi, the day opens with a roundtable discussion featuring scholars from various disciplines. This is followed by a workshop on mapping border tourism led by Stefano Mastromarino. The day ends with the screening of Abito di Confini (2025), a film by Opher Thomson exploring the connections between tourism and migration — free and open to the public event.

9th July – A deep dive into memory tourism, coordinated by Professors Tullia Catalan and Alessandro Carrieri. The group will take a critical excursion to historical and natural heritage sites, focusing on contested, forgotten, and reinterpreted memories and the reshaping of the spaces that host them.

10th July – A day focused on multilingualism, a foundational element of Trieste’s identity. Organised by Federica Fragapane of the School for Interpreters and Translators, the day begins with a lecture by Professor Piergiorgio Trevisan on the legacy of multilingualism in Trieste, followed by hands-on language workshops.

11th July – Final presentations: students will share their projects, developed collaboratively during the week. The day concludes with the announcement of the winning initiatives for the T4EU Common Cultural Activities, a cross-alliance initiative dedicated to heritage collaboration among Transform4Europe partner universities.

The Festival — which will also be enriched by the simultaneous running of the “First T4EU Sustainable Heritage Student Competition”, focusing on the relationship between heritage, the environment, and generational awareness — will serve as an opportunity to raise participants’ awareness of key contemporary issues.

In addition to involving students, researchers, and professors from the University of Trieste and various European universities, selected events from the Festival and the Student Competition will also be open to the general public. These events, free and open-access, will be held in English and include:

  • Tuesday, July 8, 9:30 AM, Androna Baciocchi (Room A) – Perspectives on Overtouristification and Heritage Roundtable with professors, researchers, and experts from UniTS, OGS, SISSA, ECAN, and UCL.
  • Tuesday, July 8, 6:00 PM, Cinema Ariston Abito di Confini (2025) by Opher Thomson Film screening followed by a discussion with the director.
  • Wednesday, July 9, 2:00 PM, Androna Baciocchi (Room A) – Climate Change across Space and Time Roundtable with professors, researchers, and experts from UniTS, OGS, AMP Miramare, and gECO.
  • Thursday, July 10, 9:30 AM, Androna Baciocchi (Room A) – Crossroads of Voices: Multilingualism in a Global Context and the Unique Case of Trieste Lecture by Prof. Piergiorgio Trevisan, UniTS.
  • Friday, July 11, 9:30 AM, Androna Baciocchi (Room A) – Work Group Projects Student Presentations Presentation of the projects developed by students during the Festival’s working week.

T4EU people: Prof. Guido Bortoluzzi

Professor Guido Bortoluzzi, Coordinator of the Phd Programme in Circular Economy, recently took part in the 5th Science Café of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) alliance, held in Portugal.
The event, titled “What drives real innovation in industry and the circular economy?”, highlighted the crucial role of universities in turning science into tangible impact, with examples ranging from hydrogen-powered cruise ships to award-winning biotech startups.

We asked some questions to Prof. Bortoluzzi.

1. What added value does being part of the Transform4Europe alliance bring to the University of Trieste, and how is it reflected in research and teaching?

Being part of international alliances is always a source of enrichment. Mutual understanding between people not only facilitates the exchange of knowledge, but also lays a solid foundation for future collaboration — in research, teaching, and the sharing of best practices. In the case of T4EU, the bond developing among participating universities is particularly strong. This represents an excellent premise for building a stable, long-term European network for ongoing collaboration.

2.How do events like the Science Café help strengthen collaboration among T4EU partner universities?

Through events such as the Science Cafés we discover that we are both similar and different. Similar because in the end the challenges we face in our universities are not very different. But different because the ways to address them can also diverge significantly. And these can become formidable learning opportunities for us researchers.

3. During Innovation Day in Portugal, the circular economy was a key theme. In your view, what are the most pressing challenges and real opportunities where universities and industry can truly make an impact?

Today, the most important thing is to stay the course — resisting the outdated siren songs that suggest sustainability is no longer urgent or relevant. The momentum must not stop, because real impact on the ecosystem depends on a deep transformation of our production systems and consumption habits. On this, there can be no turning back. At the same time, this transition unlocks vast opportunities for innovation — in both technology and business models. In short, the circular economy must continue to be seen as a powerful business opportunity. Without that incentive, progress slows… and so does the ship.

T4EU Summer School for Refugee Researchers and Scholars at Risk in Sofia

We are excited to announce the T4EU Summer School dedicated to refugee researchers and scholars at risk, which will take place in Sofia from September 1st to 6th, 2025. This event aims to enhance the integration of participants into the European labour market through an intensive and interactive training program.

Event Details:

Dates: September 1-6, 2025

Location: Sofia, Bulgaria

Participants: 30 refugee researchers and scholars at risk, including PhD students, postdocs, and experienced researchers.

Objectives:

  • Improve communication skills with diverse audiences.
  • Collaborate effectively in international teams.
  • Solve problems and evaluate information.
  • Research funding opportunities in Europe.
  • Apply for funding or jobs.

Join Us!

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to enhance your skills and integrate into the European labour market.

The deadline is 8th June 2025. 

apply now
https://forms.office.com/e/ixeGyJpcUD

T4EU Chair Programme – Mobility Opportunities for Teaching Staff

Transform4Europe Chair Programme – 2nd Call for Applications

The Transform4Europe (T4EU) Chair Programme is now open for its second call for applications. This programme offers academic staff from the Transform4Europe Alliance partner universities the opportunity to participate in short-term teaching and research mobility aimed at strengthening cross-university collaboration and innovation in higher education.

The initiative supports visits of a minimum of five working days at one of the T4EU partner universities. During their stay, selected T4EU Chairs will:

  • Deliver teaching activities aligned with the alliance’s shared focus areas (Knowledge Entrepreneurship, Societal Transformation, and Sustainable Development),
  • Collaborate with local faculty and students,
  • Participate in joint academic events and workshops,
  • Contribute to the creation of a truly European and interdisciplinary academic environment.

The programme is open to academic staff from all disciplines, and encourages proposals that are innovative and collaborative in nature.

Each university within the T4EU alliance manages its own selection process, so application deadlines and procedures vary by institution. Applicants are strongly advised to consult the official call for detailed information regarding:

  • Eligibility criteria,
  • Hosting institutions and available disciplines,
  • Funding arrangements,
  • Application forms and deadlines.

📄 Full details and application guidelines are available here:
👉 transform4europe.eu/t4eu-chair-programme-2nd-call-for-applications

By participating in the T4EU Chair Programme, academic staff become key actors in shaping the European University of the future, helping to develop innovative teaching approaches and deepen inter-university cooperation within the alliance.

For further information, please contact the International Office of your home institution.

CLIMATE CHANGE AND EUROPEAN CITIES. FIRST T-LAB Fair and the 2nd Stakeholder Challenge in Sofia

Sofia University is proud to host the FIRST T-LAB Fair and the 2nd Stakeholder Challenge, happening 2–4 June 2025 in Sofia.

Topic:
CLIMATE CHANGE AND EUROPEAN CITIES: ADAPTATION TO THE URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS

During the event, you will:

  • Explore the innovative work of the Transform4Europe (T4EU) Labs
  • Participate in workshops and thematic discussions
  • Visit a Geospatial Research & Technologies Fair
  • Engage with stakeholders, researchers, and businesses
  • Witness the Stakeholder Challenge — a unique experience for students to tackle real-world urban issues

Who should apply?
BA, MA, and PhD students with an interest in climate action, sustainability, urban planning, and innovation.

Each partner university is going to select 2 students. Don’t miss the chance to be part of it!

To apply, just click here

Application deadline: 15 May 2025

Presentation of the Book “Multicultural Cities of the Habsburg Empire” by Catherine Horel

On Thursday, April 10, at 5:00 PM, at the Department of Humanities of the University of Trieste, the book Multicultural Cities of the Habsburg Empire, 1880-1914. Imagined Communities and Conflictual Encounters by Catherine Horel (CEU Press, 2023) will be presented.
(Open-access link: here)

The book, the result of extensive and passionate research, offers a comparative analysis of 12 cities within the Habsburg Empire, including Trieste. It examines aspects of daily life such as education, associations, culture, and economy. Horel’s study presents an image of an empire whose urban centers were marked by cultural and political dynamism, despite ongoing national conflicts.

The author will be joined in discussion by historians Borut Klabjan, Francesco Toncich, and Tullia Catalan.

Environmental Heritage and Generations

The University of Trieste (UNITS) is proud to lead the T4EU Sustainable Heritage Student Competitions, an initiative carried out in collaboration with the Bora Museum and the Innovators Community Lab (ICL – UNITS).

This project invites students to explore innovative approaches to the preservation and enhancement of environmental and intergenerational heritage, fostering greater awareness and active engagement in the context of climate change.

Selection criteria will be based on the evaluation of written (300-word) or visual (3-minute video/poster) proposals that align with the competition themes and demonstrate analytical and creative thinking. 

Through the competition, UNITS aims to stimulate reflection and action on key issues related to cultural and environmental sustainability, encouraging collaborative projects capable of generating both local and replicable impacts. This initiative aligns with the values and activities already developed by the Bora Museum, with a specific focus on:

  • Environmental Heritage: examining the atmospheric, climatic, and landscape dimensions of heritage.
  • Generations: promoting intergenerational dialogue to share and preserve stories, experiences, and memories.

With this challenge, the University of Trieste invites students to explore the role of cultural and creative organizations in disseminating knowledge and raising awareness of the impact of climate change on both tangible and intangible heritage.

Submit your proposal to t4eu.heritage@units.it  by 20th April.

1st Festival of European Culture and Languages

Tourism and Heritage from the Border

DATE: 7th–11th July 2025
AUDIENCE: BA, MA, and PhD students
LOCATION: Trieste, Italy
TOPIC: Tourism and Heritage in Border Regions
FORMAT: Blended Intensive Program (BIP), 3 ECTS awarded
APPLICATION: To participate, apply here by 20th April

Tourism is a fundamental aspect of Europe’s cultural and economic landscape. However, it increasingly raises concerns of over tourism, leading to structural challenges on the one hand and the simplification of urban narratives on the other. Cities, rich in historical and cultural complexity, often undergo a process of reification, where their multifaceted identities are flattened to fit a coherent, marketable story.

This phenomenon is particularly evident in border regions, where historical,
anthropological, and political dynamics are intricate and deeply intertwined. Too often, these complexities are obscured by stereotypical and exclusionary narratives that fail to reflect the richness of local identities.

In this festival, we will critically engage with these themes, taking Trieste —a city shaped by its “border identity”— as a case study. Participants will be invited to explore the city as ”cruisers” —same as those arriving everyday on Trieste shores—, embarking on an intellectual and experiential journey that unveils the hidden and contested narratives embedded in its urban fabric. Through guided explorations and critical discussions, we will reflect on what is made visible in heritage discourses and what remains invisible.

The festival is designed as a Blended Intensive Program (BIP), encouraging students to actively engage in this critical exploration. Rather than following a traditional lecturebased format, participants will be challenged to step out of their comfort zones and take part in performative restitutions of their findings. We seek students who are open to an immersive, interdisciplinary, and participatory experience that questions conventional heritage representations.
This event will provide a unique opportunity to unravel the complexities of European cultural narratives and heritage, fostering a deeper understanding of how history and identity are constructed and represented in border regions.

Science Communication Workshops

We are pleased to invite students, researchers, and faculty members across the Transform4Europe Alliance to participate in two online workshops on science communication, offered by the University of Primorska. These workshops aim to enhance the ability to effectively communicate scientific knowledge within both academic and public spheres.

Both sessions will be conducted via Zoom, and participants who successfully complete the workshops will receive a certificate of attendance issued by Transform4Europe.

Workshop Details:

🔹 Workshop 1: Research Data Sharing as Part of Open Science Communication
🔹 Workshop 2: Effective Science Communication with Social Media

Registration form: https://forms.office.com/e/51EVXg4mYq

For additional information please contact sanja.sandic@upr.si.

We look forward to your participation!