A Virtual Workshop on Undergraduate Research Activities within EU-CONEXUS European University Alliance was organized by the Agricultural University of Athens
On Tuesday, 12th of May 2026, the 3rd Closing Virtual Workshop on Undergraduate Research Activities was successfully held, highlighting student-led research initiatives carried out within the framework of the European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability EU-CONEXUS. This event was part of the EU-CONEXUS initiative “Research to Education”, coordinated by the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA), under the leadership of Professor Eleni Miliou, Vice-Rector for European University, Internationalization, and Student Affairs, and Ms. Evanthia Chatzoglou, Research Associate at the Department of Animal Science, AUA.
The workshop showcased the scientific achievements of EU-CONEXUS students who participated during the academic year 2025–2026 in the activities “Student Research Hub” and “Open Lab Hours.” In total, twenty-six (26) undergraduate research projects were presented to an audience of over fifty (50) students, academics, and researchers from the partner institutions of the Alliance.
The Student Research Hub combines academic learning with hands-on research experience by involving undergraduate and postgraduate students in collaborative teams that work for a duration of 1-2 months on focused research projects. Each team is supervised by a PhD candidate (Leader) and mentored by a faculty member and/or researcher (Mentor), with the aim of developing cognitive, non-cognitive, and technical skills.
The student presentations were evaluated by a Scientific Committee comprising Anica Cuka (Professor, University of Zadar), Charalambos Chasos (Associate Professor, Frederick University) and Dr. Yue Hu (University of Rostock). As a result of the evaluation, seven (7) awarded teams will have the opportunity to participate in and present their research findings at the EU-CONEXUS Conference 2026 in Athens. Final results will be announced in the near future.
The event concluded with an online survey of participants in the SRH projects, designed to evaluate the activities and gather reflections on their experience, key takeaways, and suggestions for improvement. During an open discussion session with students, mentors, and leaders, participants shared their experiences and highlighted both the benefits of taking part in the activities and the strong outcomes of their projects. They also discussed how undergraduate and postgraduate students can benefit from the multi-institutional research opportunities offered by more than four hundred (400) research groups within the EU-CONEXUS Alliance, gaining structured experience, strengthening their aspirations for an internationally competitive scientific career, and developing skills for future employment. Future project ideas were also considered, along with how these experiences can stimulate students’ interest in research and innovation, support further postgraduate studies, and enhance the overall quality of their research work, even at the undergraduate or MSc. level.