European university alliance ACE²-EU
The mission of the ACE²-EU European University Alliance is to equip students, academic staff, researchers and external partners with the knowledge, skills and competences needed to jointly address the challenges of today and tomorrow. The Alliance is built on practice-oriented and collaborative education, active engagement and the development of entrepreneurial skills.
The key areas of ACE²-EU activity include developing shared, student-centred and challenge-based learning approaches, including the creation of new interdisciplinary study programmes; advancing joint research and innovation activities; fostering entrepreneurship; and strengthening the research community. The Alliance also promotes cooperation with society and a wide range of stakeholders, fosters intercultural understanding, and develops a shared digital environment to support the achievement of its goals.
ACE²-EU brings together nine higher education institutions from nine European countries: the Latvian Academy of Culture (Latvia), Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria), Lietuvos inžinerijos kolegija (Lithuania), Medical University of Gdańsk (Poland), Polytechnic University of Santarém (Portugal), Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu (Romania), Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (Spain), Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany), and Goce Delčev University (North Macedonia).
The ACE²-EU project runs from November 1, 2024, to October 31, 2028.
Follow ACE²-EU on social media for the latest news and updates: ACE²-EU webpage / LinkedIn / Instagram / Facebook / YouTube
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Dāvis Sīmanis, Rector of the Latvian Academy of Culture |
Alliance Initiatives
SPACE Centre (Societal Partnerships And Cultural Engagement Centre)
International Microlearning Opportunities for Students
ACE_RISE International Volunteering Programme
Opportunities for Academic Staff, Researchers and Administrative Staff
About alliance
News
ACE²-EU Volunteers Contribute to an International Art Exhibition in Riga
27.10.2026
This autumn, the ACE RISE (Reach, Inspire, Serve, Engage) volunteering programme of the ACE²-EU European University Alliance has brought two students to Riga from the alliance’s partner institutions: Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu in Romania and Santarém Polytechnic University in Portugal.
International Students Explore Gastronomic Heritage and Development Opportunities for Vidzeme Market
13.10.2026
From 5 to 9 October, the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) hosted the international ACE²-EU European University Alliance microlearning programme “Taste of Culture: Cultural Heritage in Transition”, bringing together 30 students from nine partner universities to explore creative approaches to preserving and revitalising gastronomic cultural heritage. The programme centred on the development of Vidzeme Market in Riga, challenging students to explore ways of strengthening its identity, attracting new audiences and transforming the market into a vibrant urban space and community meeting place.
LAC Representatives Seek Solutions for a More Inclusive and Respectful Society at International ACE²-EU Workshops
08.10.2026
From 28 to 30 September, Santarém Polytechnic University hosted the Knowledge Creation Team Workshops of the ACE²-EU European University Alliance, focusing on Social Well-Being and Respect & Dignity.
Students from Nine Countries Explore Gastronomic Cultural Heritage and Its Future in an International Programme
06.10.2026.
From 5 to 9 October, the Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC) in Riga is hosting the ACE²-EU European University Alliance microlearning programme “Taste of Culture: Cultural Heritage in Transition”, bringing together students and academic staff from ACE²-EU partner universities to explore food-related cultural heritage and its role in a changing urban environment. The programme has been developed and is led by LAC lecturer and researcher Lolita Ozoliņa, whose research interests include cultural heritage, place identity and branding, and Ieva Vītola, leading researcher at the LAC Institute of Arts and Cultural Studies and a researcher of traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage. The programme has brought 33 students from nine ACE²-EU partner universities to Riga, representing Austria, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, North Macedonia and Latvia.
LAC TEAM
Dana Daugule
Elizabete Palasiosa
Lolita Ozoliņa
partnering universities
Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (CUAS), Austria offers more than 50 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in health and social sciences, business and management, engineering and technology. The university is characterised by its practice-oriented approach to education, small student groups and close cooperation with companies and organisations. CUAS has approximately 3,300 students from more than 60 countries.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/austria-cuas/
Lietuvos Inžinerijos Kolegija (LIK), Lithuania is a specialised higher education institution offering Professional Bachelor’s and short-cycle study programmes across various fields of engineering, as well as conducting applied research. It is the largest higher education institution of its kind in Lithuania and the only one in the country offering Professional Bachelor’s-level education in aeronautical engineering. LIK is characterised by practice-oriented studies, close cooperation with industry and a strong specialisation in engineering.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/lithuania-lik/
Medical University of Gdańsk (MUG/GUMed), Poland is one of Poland’s leading medical universities, with nearly 7,000 students. It offers programmes in medicine, pharmacy, health sciences and biotechnology, with a strong emphasis on integrating education, research and clinical practice. Students benefit from modern clinical and teaching facilities, including a medical simulation centre, while degree programmes taught in English are also available to international students.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/poland-mug/
Santarém Polytechnic University (IPSantarém), Portugal is a public higher education institution comprising five schools located in Santarém and Rio Maior. It offers programmes in agriculture, sport, education, business and technology, and health sciences. The university combines practice-oriented education and applied research with close cooperation with regional businesses and communities, while actively promoting international collaboration and student mobility.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/portugal_ipsantarem/
Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu (UCB), Romania is a public university offering studies across four faculties in the fields of engineering, economics, education, law and public administration, as well as medical and behavioural sciences. The university offers more than 20 Bachelor’s and 20 Master’s degree programmes, as well as doctoral studies, combining education with research, innovation and international cooperation.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/romania-ucb-2/
Universidad Francisco de Vitoria (UFV), Spain is a private university in Madrid offering Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral programmes across a wide range of fields, including communication, business, law, education and psychology, health and medical sciences, engineering and technology. The university is characterised by an interdisciplinary and student-centred approach to education, with a strong emphasis on professional development, innovation and connecting education with the needs of society and the labour market.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/spain-ufv/
Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI), Germany is a university of applied sciences in Bavaria with more than 8,000 students. It offers programmes in engineering, computer science, business and management, as well as sustainability. The university is characterised by strong links between education, applied research and industry, with particular expertise in mobility and vehicle safety, artificial intelligence, renewable energy and sustainability.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/germany-thi/
Goce Delcev University (UGD), North Macedonia is a comprehensive university based in Štip, offering studies in the social, natural and technical sciences, medicine, humanities and the arts. The university comprises 12 faculties and three art academies and offers more than 70 study programmes. UGD is characterised by student-centred and practice-oriented education, strong links between studies and the world of work, active use of digital technologies in education, and international cooperation.
Read more: https://www.ace2eu.eu/north-macedonia/
Values
1. Transnational Cooperation
We forge connections across Europe and beyond, creating a network of collaboration that transcends borders.
2. Creativity, Co-creation & Innovation
We collaborate to co-create impactful, practical solutions for a sustainable future.
3. Inclusiveness & Equality
We embrace diversity and promote working, learning and research cultures that are inclusive, safe, and welcoming.
4. Human Rights & Dignity
We are dedicated to developing new pathways for humanity to flourish.
5. Solidarity & Social Commitment
We strengthen bonds with our communities.
6. Sustainability and environmental stewardship
We embrace the holistic interconnection of ecological, social, and economic systems.
7. Responsibility & Transparency
We recognise that our actions have a profound impact on the lives of individuals and the environment around us.
vision and ambition
The principal aim of our common vision, ambition, and associated long-term joint strategy in the context of the European Universities Initiative and the European Universities strategy is to establish a European higher education inter-university campus which has the potential to transform the capacity and quality of institutional cooperation between ACE2-EU member institutions and bring it to the next level, fostering deeper integration, enhancing collaboration, and increasing our overall impact and influence within the European higher education landscape. Our inter-university campus will become a legally recognised European University with European and global reach, reputation, and impact focussed on “Addressing Future Challenges and Delivering Sustainable Societal Transformation Today”.
PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Welcome to Latvia and the Latvian Academy of Culture! This guide is designed to help you feel at home in Rīga and make the most of your study experience. Inside, you’ll find practical tips on transport, housing, and healthcare, as well as insights into Latvian culture, food, and student life - everything you need to begin your journey with confidence.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them. Project 101177596. The project is co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia.
