M.A.R.K.E.T. Meet-up of the Associated Partners of the European University Alliance ChallengeEU
On 11 December 2025, the Associated Partners’ Meet-up of the European University Alliance ChallengeEU took place at the Technology and Knowledge Transfer Centre of the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies (LBTU), bringing together representatives from educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, and regional institutions. The event was attended by representatives from Jelgava City, Jelgava Region Municipality, Zemgale Regional Planning Centre, Zemgale NGO Centre, Bulduri Technical School Ltd, and Malnava College.
The meeting was opened by Ilze Beitāne, LBTU Vice-Rector for Studies, who highlighted the university’s key role in expanding international cooperation and the importance of more closely integrating regional partners into the alliance’s activities.
The event’s special guest, Artis Ābols, Head Coach of the hockey club “Zemgale/LBTU” and the Latvian U-20 national hockey team, delivered an inspiring talk titled “From Belief to Bronze.” He shared insights on motivating teams, fostering growth, and pursuing purposeful work to achieve high results. His presentation sparked a broader discussion on leadership, cooperation, and overcoming challenges in the context of organisational and regional development.
Signe Neimane, ChallengeEU Lead at LBTU, presented the goals of the alliance, offering an overview of its main initiatives and international opportunities for students, researchers, and partners. She emphasised that the alliance is based on a shared vision of a sustainable, open, and innovative European higher education area.
Ilze Stokmane, Head of the LBTU Administrative Centre, spoke about the role of associated partners and the ChallengeEU M.A.R.K.E.T. approach, highlighting how this methodology supports the creation of targeted and mutually beneficial partnerships between the university and sector representatives.
In the concluding part of the event, participants discussed the next steps for strengthening cooperation within ChallengeEU, agreeing on the need for regular communication and joint activities to transform identified initiatives into concrete projects.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continue the work begun and to further develop the network of partnerships, making a significant contribution to the growth of both LBTU and the wider region.
