Q-Helix Meeting in Prešov (Slovakia) – 4-5 May 2026

On 4-5 May 2026, an international meeting of representatives of partner universities within the Q-Helix – The Inclusive European University alliance took place in Prešov, Slovakia. The event was hosted by the University of Prešov and held at the Rectorate building.

The first day of the meeting focused on discussing the current state of development of the European Universities Alliances initiative and reviewing recent activities carried out within Q-Helix. Participants were introduced to the progress of the Q-Helix International Center for Quality in Education and Research, including its ongoing tasks, key documents, and planned activities. Discussions also addressed the development of strategic documents for the alliance, the organization of research mobilities, and upcoming academic events such as conferences and thematic schools. An important part of the agenda was dedicated to presentations of research groups and exchanges on the preparation of joint project proposals, with submissions planned for the period from May to December 2026. The day concluded with the first part of a training session on preparing project proposals under the Horizon Europe programme, followed by a networking dinner.

The second day concentrated on strengthening educational cooperation and developing innovative teaching approaches, particularly in the areas of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), thematic pathways, and microcredentials. The Horizon Europe training continued and concluded with a competence test for participants. The meeting ended with a summary of key outcomes and the identification of next steps for further collaboration within the alliance.

The meeting in Prešov marked an important step in reinforcing cooperation among Q-Helix partners, fostering knowledge exchange, aligning ongoing activities, and advancing joint initiatives at the European level.