OpenEU Staff Week Series 2027-2028: Save the Dates for Upcoming Staff Mobility and Collaboration Opportunities!

Dear OpenEU community,

Building on the success of the 1st pilot OpenEU Staff Week hosted by FernUniversität in Hagen, the OpenEU Alliance is pleased to announce the OpenEU Staff Week Series 2027–2028, offering exciting opportunities for professional development, international mobility, and collaboration across partner institutions.

Mark your calendars, plan ahead, and secure your mobility funding to make the most of these upcoming Staff Weeks!

2nd OpenEU Staff Week | UNED, Spain | 8–12 March 2027

Theme: Open by Design: Inclusive Higher Education Across Digital and Territorial Boundaries

Overview

The 2nd OpenEU Staff Week will explore how open, digital and territorially distributed universities can foster inclusive higher education and develop shared approaches to accessibility, social needs and territorial engagement.

• Host: National University of Distance Education (UNED)

• Format: On-site | Madrid & Ponferrada Associated Center (Castilla y León), Spain

• Participants: 25 Participants (OpenEU Partners, OpenEU Associated Partners and a limited number of external participants)

• Language: English

• Application Period: 3 November 2026 until 15 December 2026. Interested participants are encouraged to monitor forthcoming OpenEU communications for the official call.

• Funding: Erasmus+ Staff Mobility and/or other institutional or national funding provided by participants' sending institutions.

• Contact Person: Florence Dupraz (openeu@adm.uned.es)

Key Themes

• Open Education

• Inclusion

• Accessibility

• Digitalisation

• Territorial Engagement

Programme Highlights

• Interactive Workshops

• Networking Activities

• Cultural Programme

• Good Practice Exchange

• Collaboration Opportunities Across OpenEU

Objectives

• Promote shared approaches to open, accessible and inclusive higher education that respond to diverse social and territorial needs.

• Exchange good practices and strengthen cooperation among OpenEU partners in accessibility, student support, digital innovation and lifelong learning.

Expected outcomes

By the end of the 2nd OpenEU Staff Week, participants will be able to:

• Identify institutional approaches to inclusive and accessible higher education.

• Compare practices from different universities and territorial contexts.

• Apply relevant ideas to their own teaching, services or institutional structures.

• Develop potential initiatives and partnerships for future cooperation within OpenEU.

3rd OpenEU Staff Week | Daugavpils University, Latvia | 17–21 May 2027

Theme: Driving Regional Transformation: How Universities Build Innovation Ecosystems Involving Local Partners and Industry

Overview

The 3rd OpenEU Staff Week will focus on the role of universities in regional innovation ecosystems, smart specialization, and sustainable regional development. Participants will also visit partner companies and explore how universities contribute to economic and social transformation beyond capital regions.

• Host: Daugavpils University

• Format: On-site

• Participants: 25-30 Participants (OpenEU Partners & OpenEU Associated Partners)

• Language: English

• Application Information: The application process and submission deadlines will be announced soon. Interested participants are encouraged to monitor forthcoming OpenEU communications for the official call.

• Funding: Erasmus+ Staff Mobility (STA/STT) and/or other institutional or national funding provided by participants' sending institutions.

• Contact Person: Inese Hodanova (inese.hodanova@du.lv | +371 65421606)

Key Themes

• Regional Transformation

• Innovation Ecosystems

• University-Industry Collaboration

• Local Partnerships

• Sustainable Regional Development

Programme Highlights

• Interactive Workshops

• Networking Activities

• Cultural Programme

• Industry and Company Visits

• Collaboration Opportunities Across OpenEU

Objectives

• Explore strategies for building resilient regional innovation ecosystems.

• Foster university-industry and stakeholder collaboration.

• Exchange best practices on social and economic transformation in regional contexts.

Expected Outcomes

By the end of the 3rd OpenEU Staff Week, participants will gain:

• A deeper understanding of successful strategies for university-industry collaboration and regional innovation ecosystems.

• Valuable contacts with international colleagues and regional stakeholders to foster future joint projects and initiatives.

• First-hand experience of how a regional university operates as a catalyst for economic and social transformation outside capital regions.

4th OpenEU Staff Week | Open University of Cyprus | Spring Semester 2028 (TBD)

Theme: Celebrating Achievements, Strengthening the Community and Shaping the Future of OpenEU Alliance.

Further practical details will be shared as dates approach.

Interested colleagues are encouraged to contact the respective hosts directly. As some universities have already opened their internal calls for Erasmus+ mobility funding, early planning is strongly recommended.

Save the dates and be part of the OpenEU experience!