All aboard the U!Train

As TU Graz student and one of the participants of the U!Train 2024, I can say with absolute certainty: The blended intensive programme “U!Train”, initiated by the university network Unite, was a one-of-a-kind experience that every participant agreed on. Starting with the actual programme layout – online preparatory lessons followed by on-site workshops at our Unite! partner universities Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya  as well as Grenoble INP – UGA, hands-on exercises and of course also a lot of fun, not only on the train ride from Barcelona to Grenoble – the content provided new points of view on topics which seemed to be just ordinary. Expanding knowledge on accessibility in public transport, the troubles that system planners of mobility grids face via trans-economic dependencies to the individual international skill enhancement. You name it, the programme was all you could ask for.

Prior to the on-site sessions, held in Barcelona, Spain and Grenoble, France, all participants first connected in a virtual setting to break the first ice and get a kick-off on the topics which were to be discussed throughout our programme. This preparatory timespan covered approximately one week and although it also included some homework tasks, this period provided time to get into the topic itself a bit more – guided by your own interest but also by the steady and ever available support of the lecturers. In parallel the last preparations for the journey to Spain were to be arranged and a route for the train travel needed to be found – which luckily everyone managed to find.

Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programs (BIPs) combine a virtual phase with 5-30 days of physical mobility. At least 10 participants from three universities work together to promote innovative teaching and learning methods and address societal challenges. Students receive at least three ECTS credits. Further summer and winter programs as well as BIPs of TU Graz can be found on the website “Summer and Winter Programmes of TU Graz”.

The time in Barcelona and Grenoble

On September 1st (or some days ahead) about 30 students, based at the nine Unite!-universities headed to Barcelona to meet there and work on the topics examined beforehand, highly motivated and eager to contribute to meaningful outcomes.

In Barcelona, the networking started even before the official programme started. Several participants met ahead of schedule, explored the city already together and thereby the group grew, ultimately including every single person. This spirit of not only limiting our shared experiences to the lectures and programme activities persisted throughout and helped the seeds of our young friendships to grow. By now, these seeds have been raised to strong roots, reaching from Italy and Portugal across the centre of Europe with Germany and Austria up to Finland and Sweden, to name a few and even made some paths cross a second time in late 2024.

Add-on to the professional work

Besides the lessons at the university, the “U!Train” provided time for self-reflection, expansion of international knowledge and collaboration on the one hand but also many organised trips like a one-day trip to the French alps or the visit of an historic French castle. Furthermore, as mentioned before, the learning and experiences never ended with the official part but was further “customised” by all students.

Personal highlights

My personal highlights cover basically the entire programme – starting with all experiences that I made along the way to Barcelona with the funded Interrail ticket, on the way back from Grenoble, via the discussed topics (sometimes more ambitious, sometimes less) in the lectures, up to the meaningful talks, moments and times that I got to spend with those amazing people from all over Europe. It really made me think about the fundamentals again, taught me gratitude and open-mindedness while feeding my hunger for new knowledge.

The European point of view enhanced all of this and made it a truly unique time in my life. Although I at first had expected more basic, technical discussions, the more far-reaching aspects and discussions with people from different professions enriched the time probably more than “ordinary” technical discussions.

Recommendations to probable applicants

Just Go Ahead! Apply and get involved in the unique setting with amazing people. The support from Unite!, the European Union via Erasmus+ and the International Office - Welcome Center at TU Graz was outstanding and allowed to go all-in on the contents while not having to care too much about the funding and travel expenses during the trip. The Interrail ticket was funded and even meals were partly covered. If you have further questions on the U!Train, feel free to get in touch with me or my fellow TU Graz colleagues Elisabeth or Aliya.

So, if you are interested in approaching the bigger picture, networking internationally and collaborating with like-minded, motivated people, this programme in particular, and probably Unite! in general, is a good community to join!

Got interested in the U!Train? The 2025 edition with the theme “Entrepreneurship with a Focus on Sustainability and Multicultural Collaboration” will again have space for 30 students from the Unite! partner universities, this time travelling from TU Darmstadt to TU Graz in late August and beginning of September 2025. Stay tuned for more information to sign up for this unique Blended Intensive Programme!