UlySA at European Youth Energy Forum 2025: Students Driving Europe’s Energy Transition

UlySA, the student association of Ulysseus European University representing more than 250,000 students across 8 universities, played an active role at the European Youth Energy Forum (EYEF) 2025 in Catania, one of Europe’s leading youth-led energy events, held in early October.

Wael Ben Khaled, PhD student and Vice President of UlySA, took part in the EYEF steering committee and participated in the panel “Strengthening Academia–Industry Bonds,” which highlighted the essential role of student-led initiatives in Europe’s energy transition, emphasizing collaboration between academia and industry.

UlySA showcased how Ulysseus connects disciplines from engineering and data to economics, policy, and entrepreneurship through its 8 Innovation Hubs, enabling students to test ideas with partners while maintaining academic rigor. Research across 8 countries complements this approach, with student perspectives shaping project agendas.

Key takeaways from the panel included:

• Aligning projects with real industrial needs
• Creating agile mobility and internship pathways
• Maintaining open channels for data, mentoring, and rapid feedback

In addition to the panel, UlySA hosted a ‘handshake event’ for EYEF participants, presenting Ulysseus academic programmes, mobility opportunities, and student initiatives, followed by a networking lunch. The event generated tangible momentum, with follow-ups from companies and institutions expressing interest in co-creating student-driven projects.

EYEF 2025 demonstrated the impact of motivated student alliances in turning ambition into actionable pathways, reinforcing the critical role of youth in Europe’s energy transition.