From 28 June to 3 July 2026, Avans University of Applied Sciences will host the Summer School Climate Resilience in Breda, the Netherlands. During this intensive week, students from across Europe come together to explore the impact of climate change and develop strategies for a resilient Europe towards 2050. The programme focuses on key domains such as health, ecology, economy and agriculture, combining theoretical insights with practical application.
The Summer School is organised in collaboration with its partners TH Köln in Germany, University of Huelva in Spain, Karlstad University in Sweden, JUNIA school of science and engineering in France, the University of Žilina in Slovakia and the Czech University of Life Sciences in the Czech Republic. This strong European partnership with both PIONEER and non-PIONEER partners ensures a diverse and truly international learning experience.
Participants engage in workshops led by experts, collaborative group assignments and interactive sessions designed to strengthen critical thinking and system thinking skills. Included in the programme is an excursion to Brussels, where students visit European agencies such as the Emergency Response Coordination Centre and gain insight into European climate adaptation policies. The week concludes with presentations of the students’ adaptation strategies, showcasing their team efforts and contributions to building a more resilient future.
According to Paul Santman, coordinator of the Summer School at Avans, the programme responds to an urgent need: “The Summer School is one of the first educational short mobility events which dares to look further in the future, and tries to prepare our European society for a changing climate. It may seem like a small red dot on the horizon, but increasing forest fires, droughts, floods and storms in the past few years show this future is rapidly approaching. With this event, we aim to equip students to face these challenges head-on.”
By integrating education, research and international collaboration, Avans aims to prepare students for complex societal challenges. The programme stimulates innovative thinking and encourages students to develop actionable solutions for climate adaptation.
The Summer School Climate Resilience is grateful for the financial support it receives from the European Union’s ERASMUS+ programme.
Leave a Reply