How can universities move beyond educating students for the future and instead empower them to actively shape it?
This question will drive the discussion during the EAIE 2026 session “Real-world learning reimagined: students as co-creators in innovation ecosystems”, where representatives connected to the Qⁿ Alliance will contribute to a timely conversation on the future of higher education.
Taking place on 11 September from 09:00 to 10:00, the session has been selected as part of the EAIE Student Voice Initiative, highlighting the growing recognition that students should not simply participate in educational programmes but play a central role in designing, improving and transforming them.
For the Qⁿ Alliance, this vision is not new. Student co-creation is deeply embedded in the alliance’s ambition to build an inclusive, innovative and challenge-driven European university ecosystem. Through its unique 5Helix model, Qⁿ brings together academia, business, public institutions, civil society and media to create meaningful learning experiences that connect education with real societal challenges.
The session will explore how higher education institutions can integrate students into the development of innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives, ensuring that learning extends beyond the classroom and generates tangible impact for communities and regions. Examples from European university alliances and partner institutions will demonstrate how students can contribute as innovators, problem-solvers and change-makers.
These discussions resonate strongly with Qⁿ Alliance’s strategic priorities. The alliance promotes permeability between universities and their surrounding ecosystems, encouraging students, academics and professionals to collaborate across sectors and disciplines throughout their learning journeys. By fostering challenge-based learning, entrepreneurship, research collaboration and societal engagement, Qⁿ aims to prepare learners not only for employment but also for active participation in shaping a sustainable and inclusive future.
The session will be facilitated by Toñi Caro with the participation of Piet Van Hove and Wessel Meijer, who will invite participants to share ongoing initiatives and exchange ideas through interactive roundtable discussions. The objective is to identify practical approaches that strengthen student engagement and accelerate the modernisation of higher education across Europe.
As a European alliance committed to the social, green and digital transformation of higher education, Qⁿ welcomes opportunities to amplify student voices and showcase innovative educational models that place learners at the centre of knowledge creation, innovation and societal impact. Through events such as EAIE 2026, the alliance continues to contribute to the broader European conversation on the future of universities and the role students play in shaping it.
Session Details
Real-world learning reimagined: students as co-creators in innovation ecosystems
EAIE 2026
11 September | 09:00–10:00
We look forward to joining students, educators and university leaders from across Europe to explore how co-creation can transform higher education and strengthen innovation ecosystems for the benefit of society.
qn-alliance.eu 