In mid-May, advocates of innovative pedagogy and community engagement gathered at Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica for a week-long training event organized for partner and collaborating institutions of the European University Alliance EMERGE.

The aim of the event, which took place in the form of a Blended Intensive Program, was to familiarize participants with the didactic methodology of service learning and its potential applications not only in the participants' everyday teaching practice, but also in improving their own educational journey and creating more favorable conditions for connecting academic life and community life. The training was led by experienced expert Doc. PhDr. Alžbeta Brozmanová Gregorová, PhD. from the Faculty of Education at UMB. Several other experts from the host university also participated, presenting their experiences with implementing the strategy. The participants then worked together to find ways to implement it in their home countries.

The methodological training was framed by interesting guest lectures. They were led by Dr. Vina Ballgobin from the University of Mauritius, Doc. Inge Sieben from Tilburg University, Dr. Palina Louangketh from the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora, and Doc. Loredana Manasia from the Polytechnic University of Bucharest. Several of these institutions are associated partners of the European University Alliance EMERGE.

The week-long program was complemented by other activities. Guests had the opportunity to experience the cultural life of the host university. They attended concerts at the Akademická Banská Bystrica 2025 festival, which took place at the same time. They were introduced to the concept of University Literature Night, tried out communication through movement at the e-motion workshop, and finally took part in art therapy.

From May 12 to 16, 2025, teachers and students from 11 partner institutions and eight countries participated in or were involved in various ways in the intensive training program Service-Learning in Higher Education: Engaged and Collaborative Learning (Community Engagement through Arts and Culture): Neapolis University of Pafos (Cyprus), Université Rennes 2 (France), Polytechnic University of Bucharest and Bucharest University of Economic Studies (Romania), Academy of Applied Sciences - Higher School of Management and Administration in Opole (Poland), Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University (Ukraine), University of Mauritius (Mauritius), Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (Boise, USA), Tilburg University (Netherlands).

The intensive educational program at Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica is a contribution to the program of activities for the first year of operation of the EMERGE alliance of European universities. Other activities for students offered by our university as part of its involvement in EMERGE include certificates of completion of selected courses focused on Europe, short-term and semester mobility, professional internships, and teaching practice abroad. Teachers and other staff are offered mobility opportunities and networking in research. The portfolio of available activities will continue to expand.