Research-based learning workshops

Purpose of the workshops 

The EUTOPIA Research-based learning workshops aim to introduce students to research skills and career opportunities relevant to the Connected Communities' (CC) topics of focus and to familiarise students with the nature of research through hands-on examples, demonstrations.

The workshops highlight excellent research/research practices that are part of the CC. By the end of the workshop, students should: 

• have a good grasp on how to conduct research in their area of interest
• feel motivated to become researchers/engage with research
• better understand how scholarly methods can be used to solve complex problems of society 
• how to interact with researchers
• Inspiration from European Competence Framework for Researchers (2023)

Format of the workshops

The workshop format is not one-size fits all but is determined by the community and its desired aims for research based learning. It can be:

•  Identifiable as a workshop: Eg. 2 x 2 hr. session or a 1 week of summer school
• Different modalities possible: Face2face? Hybrid? Online?
• Should include more than one EUTOPIA partner in the CC
• Enable students interact/meet across campuses and/or disciplines
• Should be durable: not a one-off event but integrated into the CC offer after the end of the 2-year project

Concrete Examples in Practice from Connected Communities

CC: Grounding Human-Centred AI on Embodied Multimodal Interaction

Beyond Words workshop (2-days, hybrid)
Cross-campus dimension GU, UW, UPF, several EXT stakeholders (universities and other)
Brief description Students submitted abstracts for sessions, got feedback on submissions, presented in hybrid sessions and got feedback on presentations, interacted with keynote speakers and researchers in the field. (see more)

CC: Maintaining international peace and security

Student Conference on International Relations (2 days, on-site)
Cross-campus dimension UL lead, participants CY Cergy Paris and Nova, several EXT stakeholders (universities and other)
Brief description A total of 38 student essays were completed by undergraduate and graduate students and then presented in 8 thematic panels. Mentorship was provided by professors and doctoral students from multiple EU universities. Professors and doctoral researchers reviewed essays, providing detailed feedback, suggesting improvements, and recommending further research avenues. (see more)

CC: Digitisation for Hydro-Climatic Risk Reduction

Groundwater workshop and conference (3 days, on-site)
Cross-campus dimension VUB lead, participants VUB and TUD, several EXT stakeholders (universities and other practitioners in the field)
Brief description Hands-on training on a digital modelling platform from inception / development of a conceptual model to testing with data with university students and experts in the field (see more)

Research-based Learning Promoters

The RBL promoters help the Connected Community lead/s and/or partners in reflecting on and setting up workshops that link their teaching and research competences and prepare students for research intensive careers by using state of the art methodology. 

Kate Meier

Contact kate.meier@vub.be

George-Catalin Turcas 

Contact george.turcas@ubbcluj.ro

Learn more about the overarching EUTOPIA Educational Model underpinning the EUTOPIA Communities here.