European programme ‘Ready to Service.’
RUN-EU launches a new programme to help students address real community challenges
The European University Alliance RUN-EU (Regional University Network – European University) has launched a new initiative entitled Ready to Service, aimed at bringing students closer to the real challenges faced by communities across their regions.
Beyond academic and scientific learning, students will have increased opportunities to work directly with local partners and contribute to projects with tangible social impact.
The programme is built on shared core principles, while remaining flexible enough to adapt to the specific contexts of each of the ten institutions currently part of RUN-EU.
At its core, Ready to Service promotes service-based learning, encouraging students to engage with real-life situations that affect the people and communities around them.
One of the key components of the programme is Service-Learning, through which students — often working in international teams — collaborate to address similar social challenges.
As these challenges take different forms across Europe, collaboration between students from different regions allows for the exploration of multiple perspectives and approaches. In this context, the Polytechnic University of Leiria is currently developing three projects in collaboration with the Universidade de Burgos (Espanha) e com o Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave (Barcelos), involving ten academic staff members from IPLeiria.
The programme is expected to involve more than 170 participants, as well as external partners such as the Portuguese Red Cross, the Santa Casa da Misericórdia of Alcobaça, and several local schools.
The three projects launched in 2025 are:
- Voice in Action: Education, Awareness, and Prevention for Vocal Health in Teachers and Students;
- Games that can be Heard with the Eyes: Accessible and Intergenerational;
- Social Store for Social Change: A Collaborative Initiative with the Portuguese Red Cross.
Participants also take part in joint learning experiences, namely through COILs (Collaborative Online International Learning), following a shared curricular framework and working collaboratively across institutions.
Through these activities, coordinated by academic staff from the relevant fields, students exchange ideas, compare local realities, and jointly develop creative solutions.
OPPORTUNITIES PORTAL
An Opportunities Portal is currently under development and will serve as a meeting point between universities and community partners. Organisations from different regions will be able to publish challenges or topics where support is needed. Academic staff and students can then choose to address these topics within their courses, final projects, or dissertations.
VOLUNTEERING PROGRAMME
A Volunteering Programme is also being developed, with initiatives taking place across several RUN-EU countries. Students from the alliance’s institutions will form mixed international teams and engage in volunteering activities in different locations, particularly in small rural communities.
Projects may focus on areas such as sustainability, digital skills, STEM outreach, or other locally identified needs. In addition to supporting communities, this experience will enable students to gain a deeper understanding of European values and to see how international cooperation can generate a meaningful impact on the ground.
The programme also offers training for students, academic staff, and technical personnel, including Short Advanced Programmes (SAPs), aimed at supporting the effective use of Service-Learning methodologies throughout the volunteering activities.
Overall, the Ready to Service programme reflects RUN-EU’s commitment to aligning education with the real needs of society. It strengthens the connection between universities and their regions, while offering students diverse opportunities to learn, grow, and create positive change within their communities.