Employability with impact i3 says goodbye in this last workshop

On May 29, the third and final workshop of the 2025–2026 employability track of the EmPACTi3 cross-border project took place at the FICOBA exhibition center in Irún.

The event brought together students, faculty members, and partner organizations to present the outcomes of the projects developed throughout the academic year and to reflect on the insights gained from this experience in university–territory collaboration.

Led by Euskampus Fundazioa, the University of the Basque Country/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (EHU), and the University of Bordeaux (UB) within the framework of the Euskampus Bordeaux Cross-Border Campus, EmPACTi3 has, over the past two academic years, fostered the creation of multidisciplinary teams bringing together students, academics, and local stakeholders from both sides of the border. These teams have worked using the Challenge-Based Education (CBE) methodology, with the aim of co-developing innovative solutions to key socio-environmental transition challenges, including ocean sustainability, the energy transition, and the circular economy.

Unlike previous workshops, which focused primarily on the design and monitoring of challenges, this final session took on a distinctly reflective and celebratory character. From early in the morning, participants engaged in presentations, discussions, and exchanges that highlighted both the achievements of the projects and the collaborative processes that made them possible. Early in the morning, participants gathered to share experiences and engage in activities designed to reflect on the progress achieved so far.

The day began with a welcome coffee, bringing together attendees from Bordeaux, Iparralde, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia, and Araba. Activities then unfolded in two parallel sessions. In one room, a group of students rehearsed their pitch presentations—short interventions lasting under three minutes. As part of the EmPACTi3 programme, students had previously taken part in two training sessions on scientific communication, focusing on pitching techniques and the creation of scientific posters. Meanwhile, in the plenary room, students, partner organizations, and faculty members participated in a collective reflection exercise. This session explored the skills developed throughout the project, its contribution to students’ professional growth, and the potential to apply these learnings in future academic and professional contexts.

The second part of the morning was devoted to the plenary session presenting the 17 projects developed throughout the academic year by teams composed of 39 students. Through posters and short pitch presentations, each group shared the results achieved, the challenges encountered, and the lessons learned during months of collaborative work. This work included bachelor’s and master’s theses, course-based projects, as well as PhD research, all addressing real challenges proposed by local organizations. All presentations highlighted the added value of the one-week cross-border mobility periods, during which students were able to immerse themselves in the local context and work directly on-site with host organizations. The session also showcased the programme’s hallmark diversity, combining disciplinary, cultural, and linguistic perspectives. Basque, French, Spanish, and English were used interchangeably throughout the day, reflecting the rich multilingual and intercultural environment that defines the EmPACTi3 community.

To conclude the gathering, participants took part in a creative and celebratory activity, reflecting—across multiple languages—on the “baggage” they were taking away from the experience and the horizons where they hope to apply what they had learned. Their responses, written on small paper airplanes crafted by each participant and then launched in pairs, formed a collective mural symbolizing both the journey undertaken and the future personal and professional paths enriched by this cross-border experience. The day ended with a group photo of all EmPACTi3 participants, followed by an informal lunch that provided further opportunities for exchange and discussion around the students’ posters.

Videos featuring testimonials from the key individuals and partner organizations involved, along with detailed information on each of the projects from the EmPACTi3 2025–2026 edition, will be available soon.