HEI-TRAIN
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) strengthens higher education as part of its efforts to promote innovation in Europe through various projects of the EIT Higher Education Initiative. This includes HEI-TRAIN – an initiative that links artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion to make higher education institutions future-ready.
HEI-TRAIN aims to strengthen higher education institutions through entrepreneurial thinking and AI-supported innovations. The project targets students, staff, and underrepresented groups such as women, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Planned activities include the establishment of International Freelancer Schools (IFS), the development of tailored curricula, as well as mentoring and start-up offerings, with the goal of building digital and entrepreneurial competences and creating long-term societal impact.
Project Objectives
HEI-TRAIN aims to transform higher education institutions through the following measures:
- Development of interdisciplinary educational programs on AI and entrepreneurship
- Establishment of International Freelancer Schools (IFS) that specifically support women, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
- Creation of a modular partner network to improve the connection between academia, research, and industry
“HEI-TRAIN provides a response to the urgent need for inclusive, future-oriented education. The project links artificial intelligence with entrepreneurship and specifically supports underrepresented groups such as migrants and refugees.“
Dr. Tetiana Gorokhova
HEI-TRAIN - HEI Transformation for Entrepreneurship and AI-Driven Innovation
Project Duration: 04/2025 to 04/2027
Contact Person
Dr. Tetiana Gorokhova
tetiana.gorokhova@cais-research.de
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Research Focus at CAIS
The project explores how higher education institutions can transform AI competence into inclusive entrepreneurial activities. The International Freelancer Schools (IFS) serve as a “living lab” for underrepresented groups such as women, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
To this end, the research project employs design-based, mixed-methods studies to evaluate the effectiveness of IFS pilot initiatives. Planned activities include baseline and final surveys on AI competences, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and inclusion; semi-structured interviews; learning diaries; learning analytics; and the analysis of task-related artefacts. Comparative case studies across partner sites and a 6-12-month tracer study to assess early adoption and income effects complement the methodological approach.
Project Objectives and Expected Outcomes
The research project pursues the following objectives:
- Development of a practice-oriented playbook for inclusive, AI-supported entrepreneurship at higher education institutions
- Creation of a KPI framework in line with the EIT HEI objectives (competence gain, project quality, early freelance activity)
- Publication of scientific results in the form of a methods paper, journal articles, conference contributions, and provision of an anonymised dataset
- Derivation of institutional recommendations for the integration of IFS-like offerings and their scaling within regional S3 priorities
CAIS Researcher Dr. Tetiana Gorokhova is part of the international HEI-TRAIN consortium and represents CAIS within the project.
The researchers involved in the HEI-TRAIN project met in November 2025 at CAIS for the kick-off meeting.
Network
HEI-TRAIN is coordinated by Mykolas Romeris University (Lithuania). In total, the project brings together eleven full and associated partners from Germany, Ukraine, Latvia, and Lithuania. Supported by EIT Food and coordinated by EIT RawMaterials, the project was launched in April 2025.
Project Partners:
- Mykolas Romeris University (Lead Partner), Lithuania
- State Higher Educational Institution “Pryazovskyi State Technical University”, Ukraine
- Dmytro Motornyi Tavria State Agrotechnological University, Ukraine
- ISMA University of Applied Science, Latvia
- CAIS gGmbH, Germany
- Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine
- Techfin, UAB, Lithuania
- Prom-Life, LLC, Ukraine
- Alessio Parrino, Germany
- BBH Investments LLC, Latvia
Associated Project Partners:
- Mariupol City Counsil (temporary displaced to Dinpro, under Ukrainian Law), Ukraine
- Executive Committee of the Melitopol City Council (temporary displaced to Zaporizhzhia), Ukraine
News from the Project
Team HEI-TRAIN
