On Thursday, 17 July 2025, the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) hosted an engaging and insightful workshop titled ‘Bridging the Gaps in STEM Student Attraction and Retention: The Role of European University Alliances’. The event was part of the IN-RED 2025 Congress and brought together representatives from three major European STEM university alliances — EELISA, ENHANCE and EUt+ — for a vibrant exchange of ideas, strategies and success stories.
Moderated by Julien Maheut (ENHANCE Work Package Leader at UPV), the session aligned with one of the core missions at the ENHANCE Alliance: understanding the current challenges and needs of education and strengthening STEM pathways.
From Riga to Cartagena: Creating Pathways into STEM
Rafael Toledo Moreo, Rector’s Delegate at the University of Murcia (UPCT) for the EUt+ General Secretariat, shared how Riga Technical University (RTU) is bridging the gap between secondary and higher education through its Engineering High School. The goal? Creating an educational ecosystem where students are exposed to university-level STEM resources early on will make the leap into science and technology careers feel less daunting and more natural.
A Network of Talent and Research Across EELISA
Ana Horta Bellido, a PhD candidate at the Technical University of Madrid and a member of EELISA, presented the alliance’s strategy for establishing a robust Research and Talent Network. Her presentation highlighted the concrete steps to deepen research collaboration and foster career development opportunities across partner institutions, a strong foundation for nurturing long-term engagement in STEM fields.
Getting Practical: Barriers, Enablers and Real Solutions
To wrap up, Juan Antonio Marín-García, Director of the Teaching Transformation Area at UPV, led an insightful group session. Participants identified the main barriers and enablers influencing students’ decisions to pursue and stick with STEM studies. The session provided an opportunity for reflection, connection, and collective problem-solving.
Two speakers offered valuable advice to students considering STEM subjects. Daniel Monsálvez, a lecturer at University of València, highlighted the power of support networks: ‘If students find a support system that helps them stay motivated, they eventually realise that their initial perceptions about studying a STEM degree were only in their heads.’ Ana Horta Bellido added, ‘Think of STEM as a playground — from technology to chemistry, find what suits you and you’ll discover plenty of opportunities.’
This workshop left no doubt: Alliances such as EELISA, ENHANCE, and EUt+ are not just envisioning change in STEM education – they are actively creating inclusive and collaborative pathways to support the future of learning.
