The ACE²EU Alliance—Applied, Connected, Entrepreneurial, and Engaged European University—was established under the European Universities Initiative (EUI), a flagship program of the European Commission, to foster collaboration, innovation, and cultural exchange across Europe.
The ACE²EU Alliance brings together nine universities from Austria, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. In 2025, the alliance will host its joint activity “Kaleidoscope Festival” in Ingolstadt, Germany. This three-day event at Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) will bring 12 students from each university to showcase the alliance’s cultural diversity and celebrate its shared European values.
This festival is rooted in SPACE center - Work Package 4 (WP4) Societal Partnerships and Cultural Engagement. The Culture Hub branch of SPACE center (CH) organizes cultural events and training to enhance understanding of the societies and cultures within the alliance, promoting European integration. The festival’s theme reflects key SPACE center Social Impactors (SI): 1. Inclusion & Multilingualism &Multiculturalism 2. Social Well-Being. 3. Respect & Dignity. 4. Gender Equality
The first Kaleidoscope Festival “Multilingualism & Multiculturalism” aims to expose students, faculty, and stakeholders to the broad spectrum of European university, cultural, and linguistic environments. By embracing joint learning opportunities, participants will benefit from ACE²EU’s diverse educational approaches and shared pedagogical frameworks.
CUAS School of Management has engaged students into ACE²EU activities from the very start of the alliance operations. Student-led festival contribution will be curated by Mariia (Marcel) Osovska, a 4th-semester Intercultural Management (ICM) student from Ukraine. An artist and experienced curator, Marcel is guiding her team to create a dynamic cultural showcase.
“It is a great honor for my team and myself, as an ICM student and an art curator, to contribute to Kaleidoscope Festival in a “language” and tool of international diplomacy – art. It is a language understood globally, often without any words used, allowing for bridging of cultures, fostering inclusion and celebration of diversity of the European community.” Mariia (Marcel) Osovska.
The CUAS contribution to the festival will align with the theme of “Multilingualism and Multiculturalism”, a core focus of the BA Intercultural Management program (ICM). CUAS professors Dr. Karin Martin and Dr. Colin Heller developed Multilingualism as an integral part of the competency framework of ICM business graduates, making this initiative a natural extension of the curriculum.
“Multilingualism in the School of Management curricula plays a practical role in addition to teaching theoretical principles. The strong practical focus enabled students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-life challenges and use multilingualism as an advantage for their future careers. For example, the importance of inclusive leadership that values linguistic diversity is discussed. Multilingualism in education provides a holistic approach to multilingual management in order to develop culturally and linguistically competent leaders. Students are increasingly choosing this topic from the catalogue of examination topics for their Bachelor's or Master's degree examinations”. FH-prof. Dr. Colin Heller, Program Director ICM.
Key CUAS contributions include:
- A Multilingual Poster Presentation, designed to highlight language diversity and language management in business contexts. Originally exhibited at the CUAS library in 2024, this component will include both physical and digital formats with voiceovers and student-generated content.
- Second contribution will be Visual Art and Performances, with students presenting artworks and performances exploring diversity management themes.
CUAS students will oversee all aspects of the project, from developing the exhibition design and recruiting participants across the University, to collaborating with representatives from other alliance universities and liaising with the SPACE Centre Headquarters in Riga, Latvia. This hands-on, challenge-based methodology enhances students’ project management and teamwork skills while fostering connections among students and faculty across Europe.
By participating in ACE²EU activities, CUAS students are shaping the future of European higher education and promoting the European Union’s vision for a more connected, inclusive, and engaged academic community. The initiative emphasizes multiculturalism, multilingualism, and social inclusion, reinforcing shared European identity and values.
For more information, visit:
CUAS International ACE²EU Initiative
ACE²EU Official Website
CUAS School of Management SPACE WP4 Team:
- Dr. Colin Heller (Culture Hub)
- Dr. Marika Gruber (Social Impactors)
- Mélissa Pébayle
- Dr. Svetlana Buko (WP4 CUAS Coordinator)
SPACE Centre Headquarters: Latvian Academy of Culture (LAC), Riga, Latvia
Head: Professor Dr. Ieva Zemite
