As part of the EXPER Project’s outreach activities targeting schools and youth engagement, Terinov, in collaboration with the University of the Azores, has launched the EXPER project’s call for essays, “The University We Want,” with students from the Tomás de Borba Secondary School in Angra do Heroísmo participating enthusiastically. The initiative aims to spark a vital conversation among young minds about the future of higher education and the critical role universities play in driving the green and blue economy.
Through this contest, 20 students from two 10th-grade classes in Sciences & Technologies and Languages & Humanities were encouraged to share their ideas on how universities can become more sustainable, innovative, and better equipped to prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow. With the growing importance of sustainability and innovation in the economy, the competition provided a unique platform for the youth to reflect on the type of university they envision—one that not only excels academically but also contributes to greener and bluer futures.
“Universities are key to shaping the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers,” said Fabio Santos from Terinov. “By engaging with young students today, we can build a collective vision of how educational institutions can play an active role in tackling the environmental and economic challenges that face our planet.”
The students’ contributions were varied and insightful, ranging from suggestions on how universities can integrate more eco-friendly practices in campus operations to proposals on strengthening curriculum links with real-world sustainability challenges. Their input is part of the EXPER Project’s broader mission to create synergies between education, innovation, and sustainable development, especially within island and coastal regions like the Azores.
This initiative aligns with EXPER’s commitment to fostering stronger connections between education and the evolving needs of the green and blue economy sectors. The contest also contributes to the ongoing dialogue on how to transform universities into proactive leaders in sustainability, innovation, and economic resilience.