The Silesian University in Opava was represented by the Rector doc. Mgr. Tomáš Gongol, Ph.D. (Commission), Vice-Rector doc. Ing. Iveta Palečková, Ph.D., prof. Ing. Daniel Stavárek, Ph.D. (Steering Committee,  WP5), Dean doc. RNDr. Ing. Roman Šperka, Ph.D. (Steering Committee), and Vice-Deans Ing. Tomáš Pražák, Ph.D. (WP2), Ing. Jana Šimáková, Ph.D. (WP3), and RNDr. Tomáš Gráf, Ph.D. (WP4). The work packages were further represented by Ing. Dalibor Šimek, Ph.D. (TIGs, WP3), Ing. Jan Podmol (WP1), Mgr. Anna Novák Šefraná (WP1, STARS EU Office), Ing. Radka Kubalová, Ph.D. (WP3), Ing. Petr Korviny, Ph.D. (WP5), Ing. Petra Daníšková (WP6), Ing. Irena Szarowská, Ph.D., MPA (WP7), Mgr. Barbora Hamplová (WP8, STARS EU Communication), Mgr. Kristína Novotná (Student Board), Anna Schindlerová (Student Board), Ing. Pavel Adámek, Ph.D., and Mgr. Gabriela Kalužová (BeePartner a.s.).

During the first two years, the alliance established key processes, common frameworks, and collaborative structures. It is now entering the second phase, which will focus on implementing planned activities and delivering tangible results for students and academic and non-academic staff across all partner institutions. As Prof. Daniel Stavárek noted: “I look forward to more BIPs, joint courses, and research or development projects. The meetings in Tenerife clearly showed that all partners are highly motivated to bring the project to a successful conclusion and continue its development in the coming years.”

A significant milestone in the meeting was the official signing of the European Campus Charter by the rectors of all nine STARS EU universities, confirming the alliance’s commitment to building an integrated European campus. The charter will facilitate study, teaching, research, and mobility across the alliance and strengthen cooperation, innovation, inclusion, and sustainability. The partners also agreed to prepare the alliance statutes, which will now be drafted by the legal departments of individual universities. The aim is to elect the first President of the STARS EU Alliance during the annual conference hosted by the Silesian University in Opava in March. This step represents a significant shift from a project-based setup towards a more institutionalized form of cooperation. The alliance is also preparing to establish a Student Advisory Board with clearly defined competencies, which will play an active role in shaping alliance strategies and decision-making processes.

The meeting in Tenerife also hosted the first gathering of the Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation project, coordinated by the Silesian University in Opava and involving all nine STARS EU institutions. Partners exchanged best practices and, together with the external company BeePartner a.s., began shaping the project proposal based on the greenhouse approach, designed to support innovation across the alliance. The topic of sustainable funding was addressed by Carl-Fredric Miles (University West), who emphasized the importance of long-term cooperation and follow-up joint projects.

“I am very excited about what we are planning within the joint degree in innovative entrepreneurship, which is based on the principles of the Team Academy. It is an approach we are accustomed to at the School of Business Administration, and I am pleased that we have found a partner who will help develop this concept at an international level,” – Dean of the School of Business Administration, Roman Šperka

Within WP2, partners presented progress in the implementation of nine Living Labs, which are currently in the pilot or early implementation phase. Discussions also focused on preparing more than 150 student traineeships across the alliance, including the potential creation of new internal university-based placement offers to complement existing opportunities provided by external organizations.