UHasselt PhD students helping build the European university of the future | Insights from the Student Council meeting 2025 in Gliwice, Poland
From 8 to 12 September 2025, the EURECA-PRO Student Council gathered at the Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland. Among the twelve representatives present were two UHasselt PhD students: Ihtesham Ud Din, current Chair of the Student Council, and Juan Guerrero Paez, who joined the Council earlier this year. For both, the meeting was not only about discussions and planning, it was about shaping students' roles in Europe’s future universities.
Building a stronger Student Council
For Ihtesham, the meeting was a milestone. “We’ve been planning such a gathering for nearly two years,” he explained. “This time we managed to combine productive sessions with a training on life cycle assessment, which aligns perfectly with EURECA-PRO’s mission of responsible consumption and production.”
Together with the other representatives, Ihtesham formalised four key recommendations based on discussion among students to strengthen student participation across the alliance:
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Establishing local student co-creation groups at every partner university.
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Launching an international “Eurecathon” to foster innovation around sustainability challenges.
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Strengthening industry collaboration to bridge the gap between academia and the job market.
- Developing unified, sustainable EURECA-PRO merchandise to create a stronger shared identity.
“These ideas came from many voices within the Council,” Ihtesham stressed. “My role as Chair is to give them shape and bring them to the alliance's leadership so they can make a real impact.”
Preparing for transition
With his PhD nearing completion, Ihtesham is preparing to hand over the Student Council chairmanship. “Each Chair and Vice Chair serves for one year only, so that as many students as possible get the chance to lead,” he explained. He sees his role shifting from leadership to mentorship: “I want to continue supporting EURECA-PRO as an engaged alumnus. My advice to the next generation is to be bold, collaborative, and persistent. Student voices are essential to ensure our European University remains truly student-centred.”
A newcomer’s perspective
For Juan, a PhD researcher in battery materials at UHasselt, Gliwice was his first considerable in-person experience with the Student Council. “The highlight for me was simply having us all together,” he said. “Brainstorming, planning, and motivating each other in person gave so much energy. We left with concrete projects for the future.”
Juan especially appreciated the life cycle assessment (LCA) training given during the week by Dr Szymon Sobek from Silesian University of Technology: “It connects directly to my research on sustainable cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. At some point, I will need to assess the sustainability of my materials, and now I have new tools and insights to apply.”
Beyond the technical side, Juan values personal growth. “Being part of EURECA-PRO broadens my network, exposes me to other ways of working, and gives me the chance to contribute to something bigger: the transition to a more sustainable Europe.”
Experiencing Gliwice and Polish culture
The week in Gliwice was not just about meetings and training. The local hosts prepared a cultural program that allowed students to discover the city and its heritage. “It was important for us to also experience Poland beyond the university walls,” Juan shared. “From the history of Silesia to the daily life of Gliwice, we got a sense of the region that enriches our understanding of Europe’s diversity.”
A highlight of the week was an evening dedicated to Polish traditions, where students discovered local customs and shared in music, dance, and food. “It was a joyful way to connect,” Ihtesham recalled. “Moments like these bring the community closer and remind us that EURECA-PRO is also about celebrating what makes us different.”
Building friendships across borders
Both Ihtesham and Juan highlight that the Council is also about people. “You come in as colleagues from different universities, but you leave as friends,” Ihtesham said. “These connections are what make the network strong. When you trust each other, projects become easier, and ideas grow faster.” Juan added, “I know that many people I met will be part of my professional network for years to come. We are building bridges that last beyond this project.”
UHasselt’s role in EURECA-PRO
UHasselt is one of the driving partners in EURECA-PRO, coordinating several working groups and hosting key events in the past years. Having two PhD researchers in the Student Council underlines the university’s active involvement.
Juan and Ihtesham agree: the Student Council is not just an add-on to EURECA-PRO, but central to its success. It ensures that students are not only beneficiaries of the alliance’s programs but also active co-creators of the European University model.
For UHasselt, the planned local co-creation groups will mean more opportunities for students to step in, connect with peers across Europe, and shape initiatives from the ground up. As Ihtesham put it: “It’s about creating a culture of participation. Students should feel ownership in shaping their environment, locally at UHasselt and across Europe.”
Looking ahead
With Ihtesham preparing to pass on the leadership baton and Juan just beginning his journey, UHasselt plays a central role in ensuring students’ voices are heard at the European level. Their stories show how EURECA-PRO is building joint degrees and research collaborations and forming a community of changemakers: students who want to make a more connected, sustainable, and innovative Europe.
