YUFE CommUNIty Conference_Seminar

Snježana Prijić Samaržija, Ph.D., is a Full Professor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Rijeka. An expert in social philosophy, political epistemology, and applied ethics, she is the key founder and first director of the University of Rijeka Foundation. She has also founded and directs the Centre for Advanced Studies South-East Europe. Before her rector’s mandate, she was the vice-rector for students and studies for eight years. Rector Prijić-Samaržija was appointed to the Steering Committee to draft the European University Association (EUA) Strategy plan (2020). She was president of the Alps Adriatic Rectors Conference and Young European Research University Network (YERUN), a member of the Strategy Board of the European University Alliance – Young Universities for Future of Europe (YUFE), and a member of the Steering Committee for Education Policy and Practices at the Council of Europe. She is the president of Rectors Forum of South East Europe and Western Balkans.

Silvia is Director of Institutional Relations and Cooperation at UC3M, where she works since 2004. She has been Director of International Relations and Cooperation between 2014 and 2022, and since 2004 until 2014, Director of the University Development Cooperation Office. With a Diploma in Translation and a Degree in Political Science, she has also been involved in the Spanish Rector’s Conference as a Secretary of the Cooperation for Development Group and she has served as Director of the University Development Cooperation Observatory (OCUD) between 2012 and 2014. She has been involved in the international networks such as YERUN and the European University YUFE since their inception. She coordinated international mobility and cooperation programmes mostly funded by Erasmus+, university local and international volunteering programmes as well as international development projects both in Europe and in Latin America or Africa.

Magdalena Barwiolek,, graduate of the Faculty of Chemistry at NCU in Toruń. In 2019, she received a postdoctoral degree in science, with specialization in chemical sciences. Scientifically, she is interested in issues related to imine systems, coordination compounds of copper, zinc or silver, among others, the phenomenon of luminescence, OLEDs, and sensory systems. She directs the HORIZON Europe SENSACORN4 grant on novel optical nanocomposite sensors for the analysis of micro- and macronutrients in corn plants, in collaboration with researchers from Italy, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, and Ukraine. From 2021 to 2024, she served as an Associate Dean for Organization and Collaboration at the Faculty of Chemistry. She was also a member of the Faculty Committee for Educational Quality, as well as the Program Council of the chemistry major. In addition, for years she has been active in the Team for Promotion and Popularization of Science at the Faculty of Chemistry.

Professor Deltas graduated in 1982 from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens with a degree in Pharmaceutics. He earned his PhD in Biochemistry at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, USA in 1988. In 2002, he was elected to the position of Genetics Professor at the newly created Department of Biological Sciences of the University of Cyprus. He served twice as elected Chairman and had a key role in establishing the Department, implementing undergraduate and graduate study programs and hiring new faculty. Since September 1, 2020, he is a Professor at the Medical School of the University of Cyprus. He founded and directed the Molecular Medicine Research Centre and most recently the Centre of Excellence for Biobanking and Biomedical Research. The Centre of Excellence maintains and develops the first and largest Biobank in Cyprus, as a national medical research infrastructure.

YUFE Civic Star Awardee and a master’s student in Information Architecture at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń. She has been actively involved in the Information Verification and Cyberpathology Prevention Clinic (part of the YUFE service-learning Help Desks network), whose mission is to transfer knowledge and support the development of skills and competencies in information verification, cyberthreat, and cyberpathology prevention. Her research interests include media education, fact-checking, and OSINT. She enjoys going to the cinema and museums with friends.

Laurence Allard is a researcher at IRCAV Sorbonne Nouvelle. She is currently working on the relationships between ecology, culture, and digital technology. Her latest book, co-coordinated with Alexandre Monnin and Nicolas Nova, is Ecologies du smartphone, Editions Le Bord de l’eau (2022). The project presented is a survey with professionals from the cinema and audiovisual sector in France in the legal development of an eco-production label and the deployment of reflective practices regarding the material methods of film production.

Vedran Kružić graduated from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka. From 2002 to 2012, he held the positions of manager for key business users, manager of business sales for the West region, and manager of sales to key business users and state institutions in Hrvatski Telekom d.d. In 2002, he was an assistant to the Minister of Economy for trade and the internal market. In 2018, he was appointed as Director of the Regional Development Agency of the Primorje-Gorski kotar County (Prigoda), a public institution whose activities are aimed at providing expert and advisory assistance in the preparation and implementation of projects and the creation of strategic development documents for public law bodies.

Bojana Ćulum Ilić is a full professor at the Department of Education, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka. Her research focuses on engaged university, engaged teaching, learning pedagogy, and youth civic education. She is one of the experts that contributed to the development of TEFCE Toolbox, the first and only (European) institutional self-reflection framework for community engagement in higher education. She collaborates frequently with civil society organisations, public institutions, and local authorities on numerous projects in the local community. She is the current Director of the University of Rijeka Foundation and serves as a member of the National Council for Youth Work. She is also a Fulbright alumna (Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, 2015/2016).

Caroline Masson is a professor at the Linguistics Department of Sorbonne Nouvelle University and in the CLESTHIA research unit. Her research and teaching focus on language acquisition in children under six, following three guidelines: the dynamics of adult-child interactions, language practices in educational, clinical and school contexts, and the development of speech corpora for research in language acquisition and clinical linguistics. Since 2018, she has been leading the RaProChe project, a research project on childcare settings.

Ulpiano Ruiz-Rivas Hernando studied at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid where he obtained a degree in Industrial Engineering in 1991. After a two year fellowship at CERN (AT division, Vacuum Group), he joined the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in 1994. He presented his PhD Thesis in 2000 (about PIV measurements and visualization techniques on forced, co-flowing water jets). Ulpiano Ruiz-Rivas currently works at the Department of Thermal and Fluids Engineering, University Carlos III de Madrid. His current areas of interest focus on the energy vulnerability of households and communities, both in Europe and in undersupplied regions. He participated in the consolidated Research Groups Energy Systems Engineering, Appropriate Technologies for Sustainable Development and, since 2023, in the research group Technique and Ecological Humanities (THECO). He also participates in the Cooperation Group Engineering for Human Development (IDH), a consolidated group of the UC3M with more than ten years of activity.

Katrien Schaubroeck is a full professor at the Philosophy Department of the University of Antwerp. She specializes in the domains of moral psychology and feminist philosophy. She wrote on moral emotions such as shame, guilt, love, and grief. She published a book for a wide audience on the philosophy of Iris Murdoch (Letterwerk 2020). She defended her PhD on the topic of practical reasons in 2008, after which she published The Normativity of What We Care About (Leuven University Press, 2013). With Kristien Hens she co-founded Metrodora, a Health Humanities Expertise Centre, at the University of Antwerp. From 2024-2028, she will run the interdisciplinary project ‘Death Care: Building the framework for a sustainable funeral industry in a superdiverse society’, co-created together with the funeral industry and other relevant societal actors (religious communities, local and federal government).

Azia Lafleur, Interdisciplinary scholar and community project manager. Raised in Spain, and of Dutch, American and Ecuadorian heritage. Master’s graduate in Cultural Studies specializing in Health Humanities. Currently on the Advisory Board of Refugee Project Maastricht, and a research assistant at Museum Vrolik at Amsterdam University Hospital. Azias’ academic foundation is complemented by her professional expertise in collaborative community engagement, organizational leadership, and diversity and inclusion efforts. She is committed to applying creative and critical thinking to real-world felt challenges. Her work, passion and intercultural sensitivity are intrinsically informed by personal migration and health background.

With a background in International Business, his work at Rode Kruis Nederland (Red Cross) and Refugee Project Maastricht (RPM) is driven by a mission to foster sustainable community empowerment. As the Cultural Café Team Leader at RPM, Mohanad leverages his skills in cross-cultural communication, event coordination, and international NGO collaboration to support refugees and asylum seekers in their integration journey. Mohanads’ approach is centred around creating inclusive environments and facilitating constructive dialogue. Their team’s efforts have enabled a significant increase in the assimilation of diverse groups into the local community, with a focus on promoting mutual understanding and respect. He is committed to connecting with organizations and individuals to further collective impact on social sustainability and cultural integration.

Mirja Uschkureit is a marketing and communication expert at the Academy HERE AHEAD, a joint institution of the five state-run universities in the Federal State of Bremen, Germany. Furthermore, she is responsible for the program coordination of the Foundation Program :prime. The Academy HERE AHEAD with its :here programs, studies, and :prime program offers student preparation on Bremen and is thereby an equivalent to a Studienkolleg. Since 1998, Mirja Uschkureit is working in the field of Marketing and Communication. From 2011 to 2016, she was Content Manager at the University of Bremen and responsible for the central website of the University. Since fall 2016, she is part of the Academy team. Her expertise is student marketing and student recruitment. She is a member of the Bremen Network for Scientific Communication.

Zoran Grozdanov is a lecturer at the Protestant Faculty of Theology Matthias Flacius Illyricus, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Grozdanov is the founder and editor of Ecumenica and Ars haeretica series at Ex Libris in Rijeka, Croatia. He has also coordinated the national initiative “No VAT on Food Donations,” which succeeded in tax exemptions for all food donations to charities in Croatia. His works include Repugnant Word: The Death of God in Early Hegel and Early Moltmann (2016) in Croatian; an issue of Concilium: International Journal of Theology called Religion and Identity: Theology in Postconflict Societies (2015) in English, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Croatian; Faith in a Dialogue: Conversation Between Secular and Religious Domain (2017) in Croatian; and coedited with Ryan McAnnally Linz and Matthew Croasmun Flourishing in Christ: Essays in Honor of Miroslav Volf (Wipf & Stock, forthcoming).

Johan has dedicated over 30 years to the funeral industry, becoming a prominent figure in both national and international funeral services. For the past two decades, he has served as President of the Royal Federation of Belgian Funeral Directors (FUNEBRA), an organization that has represented funeral professionals since 1965. In addition to his national role, Johan is the First Vice President of FIAT-IFTA, the World Organization of Funeral Operatives, and will serve as President from 2026 to 2028. He is also Vice President and founding chairman of the Guarantee and Social Fund for Funeral Enterprises (PC320). His commitment to ethical standards extends to his board membership with the European Federation of Funeral Services (EFFS). Beyond his professional endeavours, Johan remains socially engaged, serving in various capacities such as Past Governor of Rotary International (2007-2008) and Vice President of the Royal College of Honorary Deans of Labor.

Founder and president of the Court Watch Poland Foundation, an NGO that has engaged over 3.000 volunteers to monitor courts and improve the quality of justice. With a background in sociology of law, he conducts empirical research and analytical work on the right to a fair and public trial, procedural and restorative justice, and judicial management. He is the author of more than 50 academic articles and reports on various aspects of the justice system. In 2018, he received the Polish Business Roundtable Award for his work for the common good. His research and advocacy focus on fostering a judicial system where every individual entering the court can be confident of fair and respectful treatment.

As Project Leader of Civic Engagement Activities at Maastricht University and WP8 YUFE Representative, Cheyenne focuses on bridging the gap between students and local community. Through civic engagement activities, they support students to expand their social networks, enhance their sense of belonging, and contribute positively to society’s essential steps toward becoming global citizens. Driven by mutual respect, enthusiasm, and collaboration, she aims to build meaningful connections. Her background in Organisation Studies and experience in the public sector support her work in strengthening community ties, promoting social engagement, and connecting diverse stakeholders. Each new experience reinforces Cheyenne’s commitment to creating a lasting impact through civic engagement.

Thomas Farnell works as a Higher Education Policy Expert at the Institute for the Development of Education, a think-tank for higher education based in Zagreb, Croatia. His main area of interest is the social role and social responsibility of higher education. He has led a series of European-level projects to build the capacity of universities and policymakers for community engagement in higher education and he is leading a national network of experts on tacking educational inequality from early childhood to higher education. He is a member of the European Commission’s Network of Experts on the Social Dimension of Education and Training (NESET) and is the main author of the European Commission reports Community engagement in higher education: trends, practices and policies (2020) and The impact of COVID-19 on higher education: a review of the emerging evidence (2021).

Up until his retirement a few years ago, Thomas was a high school teacher of German literature, politics, and Protestant religion. Thomas enjoys a life full of culture and art and wanted to remain active after retirement by spending his time on something inspiring, meaningful and fun. As part of the University’s Senior Citizen community, Thomas supports the international students and researchers and helps them understand the peculiarities of German culture. Due to his empathy and willingness to listen, he is successful in helping international guests carry out their studies and research in Germany. He himself utilizes the University to further explore his interests and hobbies such as theatre and cultural involvement.

Victor has been working at UC3M since January 2023 as part of the Institutional Relations and Cooperation Unit. Within YUFE, he actively participates in WP8 Civic and Community Engagement, coordinating UC3M local volunteering and help desk programmes. He is also involved in WP3 Lifelong Learning, particularly in the task dedicated to the upscaling and upgrading of the YUFE Stars. From 2021 to 2023, he worked as a scientific cooperation officer at the French Embassy in Spain. Before that time, he volunteered for several months at the House of Europe, in Paris. He has a dual Master’s degree in the International Strategy of Local Stakeholders from Sciences Po Grenoble (France) and Universidad del Norte (Colombia), as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Université Lumière Lyon 2 (France).

Piotr Zariczny is an Economic promotion expert at the Business Support Centre of the City of Toruń, member of the YUFE4Postdocs Selection Committee, and the Dronetech World Meeting Scientific Council. Piotr has a PhD of Social Sciences in the field of Politics and Media Studies. He is an academic teacher at the State University of Appliad Sciences in Wloclawek, sworn translator of German, ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 management system auditor.

Laurent Creton is a researcher at the University Sorbonne Nouvelle. Member of the IRCAV and the LabEx ICCA, he is currently working on the economy of cinema, audiovisual and new medias, with a special interest in relationships between ecology, culture, and digital technology. He has published numerous articles, and 15 books devoted to these issues, including L’Économie du cinéma, Armand Colin, 2024; Cinéma et stratégies: économie des interdépendances (ed.), PSN, 2008; “The Political Economy of French Cinema. Attendance and Movie Theaters”, in A Companion to Contemporary French Cinema, 2015. The project presented is a survey with professionals from the cinema and audiovisual sector in France in the legal development of an eco-production label and the deployment of reflective practices regarding the material methods of film production.

As coordinator of the University of Antwerp’s science communication team, Els Grieten helps researchers build bridges to society. This includes organizing hands-on activities for children, lectures and science bars, connecting researchers to video and podcast platforms, and providing them with opportunities to explore and try out their communication skills. She is currently a co-chair of an interuniversity working group on science communication at the Flemish Interuniversity Council and co-represents the Antwerp University Association (AUHA) science communication team at the AUHA board. Science communication being a bridge between academia and society brought Els to contribute to the YUFE focus on society engagement.