Are you interested in Europe and what makes us European? And would you like to get to know your fellow Europeans better and explore what role languages and culture plays and how the current political climate shapes the values and feelings of being European? And would you also like to take part in a 4-day trip to Aarhus in Denmark to discuss and learn with students from all over Europe?
If so, the Circle EU.lympics is just the thing for you.
The Circle EU.lympics is a programme that delves into the theme of Europe and explores it from a host of different academic angles.
The programme is divided into two phases; 1) a series of four online webinars and 2) a physical conference in Aarhus, Denmark.
Phase 1: Online lectures
The first phase includes four online lectures from February to March 2025. Here, students, researchers and doctoral students from Circle U.’s 9 partner universities will discuss the themes of Europe and what the future of continent is in times of pressure from multiple fronts .
In the online webinars, students and researchers get to share their research topics and expertise. The webinars cover a broad range of interesting and relevant topics.
Phase 2: Physical get-together in Aarhus
In the second phase, a 4-day trip in Aarhus will take place from 29 April to 2 May, 2025 at Aarhus University. The programme will include workshops, debates, site visits and sports activities for students and the opportunity to get to know more about Aarhus, Denmark and the danes. The event will bring together students and staff from across the Circle U. alliance and Aarhus University.
The Circle eU.lympics project is supported by the Circle U. European university alliance and organised by Université Paris Cité, King’s College London and the University of Aarhus.
The primary target group is students from all Circle U. partner universities, and secondly academic staff from all Circle U. partners interested in sharing their work in the online lectures part. The online lectures are open to all interested students and staff in Circle U.
All lectures take place on Zoom from 18.15 - 20.00 (CET) / 17.15 - 19.00 (GMT). You will receive the meeting links after you register.
Preliminary programme (subject to change)
5 February: What is Europe? Borders, identities and global perspectives
Annemarie Majlund, PhD student in European Studies, Aarhus University
Annette Skovsted Hansen: associate professor in Global Studies, Aarhus University
19 February: Europe and politics. Democracies and nationalist populism, Europe and the rest of the world
Fouad Nohra, professor in Political Science, Université Paris Cité: European democratic values and the populist agenda
Bernard Andrieu, professor of Philosophy, Université Paris Cité: The body and populism
Personal perspectives from students from the University of Belgrade: Student action and protest in Serbia, what is all about? - The power of unity
5 March: European culture(s), languages and values - unity in diversity?
Dalibor Sokolovic, associate professor in Slavic Studies, University of Belgrade: languages and linguistic diversity in Europe
Mette Zølner, professor in Intercultural Studies, Aarhus University: Collaborating across cultures and languages
Additional speaker(s) to be confirmed
19 March: Innovation and Sustainability in Europe- what will the future hold?
Sarah Cassella, professor at Université Paris Cité: What role for solidarity in tackling climate change
Janet Raffner, AIAS-SHAPE Fellow, Aarhus Institute for Advanced Studies, Aarhus University: Crea.visions: Human-AI co-creativity to engage policy makers, general public and researchers in societal issues
Manuel Klein, student and member of the Sustainability Office, Humboldt University: global challenges, social tipping points, civic engagement and how the sustainability office at Humboldt University works to empower students
Practical information and precise programme for the physical part in Aarhus on 29 April - 2 May will be available soon.
We welcome applications from all students who have attended the online talks. Students who have attended a min. of two talks and preferably all, will be preferred.
Circle U. students may be eligible for travel funding from their home university. Participants selected to go to Aarhus will be notified directly on 21 March at the latest and will receive information about funding.
Online talks
Sign up for the online lecture(s) by clicking at the blue Sign up-button. You can sign up for one or more of the talks, and the sign-up form for the online talks will be open until 19 March.
Application for the physical conference in Aarhus: application is now open!
Application will be open from 6 - 14 March, and registered participants will receive the link to the application directly.
Selection criteria
Zumreta Trocellier, Université Paris Cité: zumreta.trocellier@u-paris.fr
Lotte Skovborg, Aarhus University: skovborg@au.dk
