Ulysseus Strengthens Mobility Initiatives at Semi-Annual Workshop in Helsinki
The two-day event, hosted at Haaga-Helia’s Pasila Campus on February 25-26, 2025, focused on evaluating and enhancing mobility formats.
Helsinki, 27 February 2025 – The Ulysseus European University Alliance successfully conducted its Semi-Annual Mobility Workshop at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki, Finland, bringing together key stakeholders from its eight partner universities across Europe. The two-day event, hosted at Haaga-Helia’s Pasila Campus on February 25-26, 2025, focused on evaluating and enhancing mobility formats to create more robust international opportunities for students and staff.
Workshop Structure
The workshop convened the Ulysseus Mobility Steering Committee and Local Mobility Officers from all partner institutions. Day one opened with welcome remarks from Ulysseus Project Director in Haaga-Helia, Kitte Marttinen, followed by comprehensive updates on mobility monitoring and implementation progress by MCI, leader of the mobility Work Package.
During the first day participants engaged in targeted workshops on physical mobility formats and concluded the day with parallel strategic sessions for the Mobility Steering Committee and Mobility Officers. These sessions allowed for specialized discussions on strategic coordination and operational aspects of the alliance’s mobility initiatives, creating space for participants to brainstorm innovative solutions to enhance student and staff mobility across the eight partners. Key topics included enhancing Green Mobility initiatives between Ulysseus partners and further development of the Ulysseus Buddy system.
Innovation in Blended and Virtual Mobility
The second day centered on innovations and opportunities in blended and virtual mobility, with participants evaluating implementation plans and developing strategies to enhance these increasingly important formats. The sessions introduced micro-learning concepts to increase visibility of Ulysseus Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs), as well as academic recognition frameworks and the possible integration of BIP credits into student curricula. Plans were developed for the Ulysseus Open Lecture Series targeted to all alliance students, along with a badge system for virtual mobilities to be implemented soon.
Staff Mobility Enhancements and Outcomes
Focused discussions on staff mobility opportunities resulted in concrete plans for implementing regular Ulysseus staff and teaching mobility calls. A pilot Ulysseus Teaching Week will be organized at the University of Montenegro in autumn 2025. The final session concentrated on creating synergies between mobility initiatives and other Ulysseus work packages, ensuring a cohesive approach to the alliance’s broader educational mission.
The workshop represents a significant milestone in Ulysseus Alliance’s ongoing efforts to create seamless mobility pathways across partner institutions and build the foundation for a truly integrated European university model. Participants had additional opportunities for collaboration through optional one-on-one meetings with Haaga-Helia staff, furthering institutional connections beyond the formal workshop sessions.
About Ulysseus
Ulysseus is one of the 64 European Universities selected by the European Commission to become the universities of the future. Led by the University of Seville, the Alliance encompasses other seven universities in Europe: the University of Genoa, Italy; Université Côte d’Azur, France; the Technical University of Košice, Slovakia; MCI | The Entrepreneurial School®, Austria; Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland, the University of Münster, Germany, and the University of Montenegro, Montenegro.