Una Europa Student Congress 2026 | Sustainability: From Challenge to Change

During this year’s Congress, you will:

• Tackle actual sustainability challenges in teams: brainstorming solutions, testing ideas and learning by doing.
• Explore the power of Citizen Science, discovering how it can enrich research with community insights and make science accessible to all.
• Sharpen your science communication skills in an Oxford Debate, learning how to present ideas persuasively and drive change.

The Congress will be characterised by a hands-on approach known as Challenge-Based Learning. This learning style is all about collaborative problem-solving and combining knowledge from different disciplines to create practical solutions.

Since a variety of perspectives are key to Challenge-Based Learning, we encourage students from many different fields and backgrounds to join us. No matter what you’re studying, please bring your unique world view to our collective table.

Together we will explore three sub-themes during the congress: food, biodiversity and energy justice.

Most sessions will take place in The Hague, the city of peace and justice, but you’ll also get the chance to experience Leiden, the historic base of the Universiteit Leiden.

Beyond plenary sessions and workshops, you’ll enjoy cultural activities and informal meetups. Join us for a classic Dutch borrel (a relaxed social gathering with drinks and snacks). In your free time you can visit one of the city’s many museums or Scheveningen, the Hague’s lively seaside district. The Hague has 11 kilometers of beach within cycling distance of the historic city centre: the perfect place to take a breather.

The Una Europa Student Congress is an annual event bringing together students from all our 11 partner institutions to discuss topics and themes relevant to our student communities. Attendees have the opportunity to connect with their classmates across Europe while participating in critical thinking and creative problem-solving.

Each year a different Una Europa university hosts the Student Congress, adding their own flavour to the programme with cultural and social events reflecting their diverse yet shared student experience.

Universiteit Leiden was the first university to be established in the Netherlands, in 1575, and is one of the leading international research universities in Europe.

The university’s motto is praesidium libertatis – bastion of freedom. One famous example of this commitment to freedom is the speech delivered by Professor Rudolph Cleveringa in 1940, in which he protested the threatened dismissal of his Jewish colleagues. Universiteit Leiden celebrates this courageous act every year in the form of the Cleveringa lecture. It is freedom that unites us even today.

Alongside Leiden, the university has a second hometown: The Hague. As a city of peace, justice and security and as a metropolitan area, The Hague provides plenty of opportunity for research and teaching. It is the political and administrative heart of the Netherlands, home to many international organisations and to nearly a quarter of our 34,000 students.

The Hague will be the main base for the Una Europa Student Congress in 2026, but of course all delegates will also visit Leiden. A short train ride connects the two cities.

• Engage in challenge-based learning by solving real-world problems together with students from across the alliance.
• Gain practical skills related to teamwork, communication, and presenting your ideas through workshops, debates and interactive learning formats.
• Expand your professional network by meeting and collaborating with students from Una Europa’s 11 partner universities.
• Get to know how you can continue participating in Una Europa. There are many opportunities!

You’re welcome to apply, if you are:

• Studying at bachelor's, master's or PhD level at one of the 11 Una Europa universities.
• Able to make the link between our 2026 theme – sustainability – and your field of study or research topic. We encourage interdisciplinary perspectives, from candidates studying in any domain.
• Comfortable communicating in English. There is no expectation of perfect fluency, however you will be listening and discussing with other participants in English.
• Excited to connect with students of all ages, backgrounds, cultural experiences, and levels of expertise.

Complete the application form by 1 March for the chance to join us in The Hague this June!