ELISA Days is a time of year that fills the Alliance with energy and a strong spirit of collaboration. While students, academics, staff and external collaborators embrace the EELISA spirit within their home institutions, some choose to go a step further—venturing beyond familiar campuses to seek new experiences abroad.
Whether through seasonal schools, international events, lecture series, or competitions, mobility experiences have the power to turn perspectives upside down, even if only for a short time. New cities, new connections, new ideas—each journey becomes a transformative chapter, often marking a clear before and after for those who take part. This is the story of Raquel, Sebastian, and Giovanni:
Sebastian – Taking part in the Student-Led Bootcamp
Sebastian has been participating on EELISA activities across Europe for years. From winter and summer schools in Paris and Switzerland to participating on the EELISA Prototype Contest at FAU, his own home institution,. From his point of view, each experience offered hands-on learning, multicultural teamwork, and exposure to new academic perspectives. Beyond flagship events, he has also taken part in other EELISA Days activities this year, such as EELISA Pub Quizzes, which he feels reinforced a sense of community and belonging. This November, he chose to be part of yet another special EELISA event: the EELISA Student-Led Bootcamp in Istanbul.
Participating in the student-led bootcamp was a particularly unique and inspiring experience. It had a completely different character compared to traditional, professor-led programs. Students approach topics differently, often with more openness, curiosity, and a strong focus on understanding each other as people. For me, this bootcamp was less about lectures and more about building a community across Europe. I truly enjoyed that. What impressed me most about the overall EELISA ecosystem is how powerful and vibrant it is. It brings together highly motivated, impact-driven individuals who genuinely want to move things forward and who share a belief in the European idea. In times like these, that feels more important than ever. Personally, I am a strong advocate of the European spirit, and it is incredibly encouraging to see so many students across the continent who believe in the same values, regardless of language or cultural differences. This bootcamp demonstrated how strong we can be when we pull together, stay true to our shared values, and work towards a common future.
Looking back, Sebastian believes that EELISA has become a formative environment for him, where collaboration, diversity, and shared values come to life. The student-led bootcamp, in particular, highlighted the power of peer-driven initiatives and the strength of a community built on openness and trust. With a strong belief in the European spirit, these experiences reinforced the idea that working across borders is not only possible but essential.
Raquel Piquet- Joining the Student Reporters for the First EELISA PhD Symposium
Raquel was UPM’s chosen student to become part of the EELISA Student Reporters Initiative. She and a team of thre other EELISA Students traveled to Budapest to cover the very first PhD Symposium organized by the Alliance. This event brough thogeher doctoral students from all EELISA Institutions for a two-day programme of presentations, workshops, and networking. For her, thr PhD Symposium signified an unique and dynamic event, and an enriching opportunit for doctoral candidates to present their reseach.
The symposium further encouraged networking and dialogue among PhD students, doctoral-school representatives, and external stakeholders, fostering new collaborations and strengthening a shared European research community. Overall, it combined research dissemination, training, interdisciplinary interaction, and the development of joint initiatives, reinforcing the identity and cooperation within the EELISA alliance. – Raquel Piquet
She explains, after interviewing many participants, that they see the symposium as an opportunity to connect, share, and gain fresh perspectives on research and collaboration. For them, these conversations, new contacts, and the exchange of ideas across universities and countries reinforce the value of a shared European research community. By combining academic presentations, professional development, and networking, the event strengthened both the identity of the EELISA PhD community and the bonds between its members, leaving participants inspired and motivated to continue their collaborative journeys across Europe.
Giovanni Nottoli – Seeing through different eyes with Moving Stories Unboxed
As part of Scuola Normale Superiore’s Moving Stories Unboxed, Giovanni became an interviewer for the day. He engaged with students and researchers, inviting them to share personal stories about mobility, past experiences abroad, current exchanges, and reflections on studying or working in a new country. By asking simple but open-ended questions, he facilitated meaningful conversations, collected testimonies, and helped create a space for connection and reflection around international mobility within the EELISA community
One of the most interesting parts for me was hearing what others thought about Italy and about the Scuola Normale, with its campuses in Pisa and Florence. Some students noticed things I had completely stopped paying attention to: how the canteen works, how lectures are organised, and the general university’s atmosphere. Others pointed out strengths or small issues that I hadn’t considered. Listening to their impressions made me look at my own institution in a new way. It was a nice reminder that we often become blind to the places we see every day.
For Giovanni, the day unfolded as a continuous exchange, with each conversation adding a new layer to his understanding of mobility, and revealing how personal challenges and small everyday discoveries often shaped the most meaningful experiences abroad. By the end of the event, what stayed with him was not a single story, but the collective sense that sharing experiences—openly and without filters—can quietly reshape how we relate to universities, cities, and one another.
THE STUDENTS BEHIND THESE STORIES
Giovanni Nottoli – PhD candidate at Scuola Normale Superiore
Raquel Piquet – Engineering student at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Sebastian Tröster – M.Sc. Health and Medical Data Analysis and Entrepreneurship at Friedrich-Alexander de Erlangen-Nuremberg