From 9 to 12 September 2025, the EPiCS partners gathered in Prague to join over 150 international experts and innovators in entrepreneurship, engagement, and higher education from more than 40 countries at the 2025 Global ACEEU Forum hosted by Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). The Forum’s theme, “Higher Education Excellence in the 21st Century: Cultivating Synergies Between Purpose, Strategy and Culture to Drive Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Impact,” aligned closely with EPiCS, emphasising how universities can maximise their potential when purpose, strategy, and daily practices work together to generate societal impact.
The trip to Prague was intentional. CZU recently joined EPiCS as an Associated Partner, bringing expertise to support the project’s objectives. The Forum provided a perfect opportunity for CZU to advance this role by helping translate EPiCS results into tangible benefits for partners, target groups, and broader stakeholders, while fostering synergies with other higher education institutions and supporting the long-term visibility and use of EPiCS outputs.
A key part of the Forum was the EU Funding Workshop and Networking (9–10 September), a side event particularly significant for EPiCS. Partners participated in workshops co-organised with CZU and ACEEU, exchanging experiences, sharing challenges, and exploring best practices in project and initiative proposal development. They learned from international approaches and co-created solutions to shared challenges, which will directly inform EPiCS pilot actions planned for next year.
The side event also offered facilitated networking, where EPiCS partners connected with over 35 participants from European universities and beyond, identifying potential collaborators to support the outreach and exploitation of the project’s results. It provided space to share EPiCS outcomes, exchange ideas, build partnerships, and explore opportunities for long-term use and impact beyond the pilot actions.
Before the Forum started, EPiCS held its second face-to-face project meeting, during which partners advanced the planning of the EPiCS Digital Platform. A hands-on workshop defined the platform’s mission and vision, ensuring alignment with the project’s impact. The platform will act as a space for developing and delivering citizen science and research service-learning projects, connecting communities and higher education institutions in practical ways.
One event, multiple purposes! The Forum provided the opportunity to combine international networking, project planning, and the expansion of collaboration and synergies in a single setting. The experience and progress gained at the Forum will be carried forward to inform EPiCS’ next steps and future pilot actions, ensuring lasting impact across Europe and beyond.
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