In November and December 2025, the HEI-TRAIN project successfully completed its first phase. The goal of the project is to strengthen entrepreneurial, innovative, and AI-supported skills at universities. The international consortium for the project consists of nine partner institutions from Germany, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia. Guest researcher Dr. Tetiana Gorokhova represents CAIS within the project.
The first phase included three important events that will shape the strategic direction of HEI-TRAIN for the coming years:
1. Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP) Workshop 2025 in Krakow
The IVAP workshop marked the official launch of the new cohort of HEI projects under the EIT Higher Education Initiative and brought together participants from over 60 universities and partner organizations from across Europe. The program included further development of project implementation, the design of roadmaps, the identification of key challenges, and impact assessment using analytical tools. The workshop was complemented by exchange formats on diversity and inclusion, poster presentations, and discussion rounds.
2. Final Pitching Session of the International Freelance School for Women (IFS)
The Final Pitching Session marked the end of the first IFS training cycle and is designed for women, migrants, and displaced persons. It resulted in seven AI-supported business projects in various fields, including education, social services, cultural and creative industries, and online business models.
3. Innovation & Startup Festival
The Innovation & Startup Festival marked the end of the first HEI-TRAIN cycle and showcased educational innovations, student entrepreneurship, and international cooperation. Participants discussed the role of AI in entrepreneurial environments and used the event to network and disseminate the results of the first project phase.
The contribution of CAIS in the first phase
In the first phase, CAIS took on the task of conducting comprehensive research, including the analysis of AI skills, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and inclusive learning approaches. Based on qualitative and quantitative data, recommendations for integrating IFS-like models into higher education are being developed. Initial results confirm the effectiveness of the approach and its potential for scaling within university ecosystems.
The results of the first phase support the next step of the HEI-TRAIN project, which will continue until April 2027.
Further information on the HEI-TRAIN project can be found on the website:
https://eit-hei.eu/funded-projects/explorer/hei-train/