A groundbreaking initiative of the EXPER Project encouraging youth engagement in sustainability and innovation has reached a major milestone in the Canary Islands. The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), in collaboration with Consulta Europa Projects and Innovation SL, successfully concluded the second phase of the “University We Want” Essay Call. Designed to ignite discussions on the future role of universities in the green and blue economy, the initiative has spurred fresh perspectives from young minds.
Open to students in their final years of secondary education and early high school, the competition unfolds across two phases. Participants were invited to articulate their vision for the transformation of higher education, future priorities, and strategies for resilience in the face of contemporary social challenges. Essays focused on three key themes: the blue and circular economy, the importance of research for society, and the ideal university.
“This initiative is not just about writing—it’s about fostering a more profound understanding of research and science among students,” said Víctor R. Martínez from Consulta Europa. “We aim to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and resilience, preparing them for the evolving academic and professional landscape, mentioned Laura Gaspar Ramírez from ULPGC.
The programme took place as part of the celebrations of the final EXPER conference in Gran Canaria, Spain, on March 11, 2025, where three winning schools and their teachers were honoured at the ULPGC premises. The event was held in conjunction with the Disa Foundation, which generously provided prizes for the students.
Beyond the awards ceremony, participants had the unique opportunity to engage with leading researchers from the EXPER consortium, including experts from Canary Islands Institute of Technology (ITC), EMERGE, ULPGC, University of Rostock (UROS), University of the Azores (UAC) and Terinov. The discussions delved into pressing topics such as the blue and circular economy, broadening students’ understanding of sustainability-driven innovation.
Artur Gil, Vice-Rector for Science, Innovation, and Knowledge Transfer at UAC congratulated students for their participation in the activity and encouraged them to be the future generation of researchers in Spain. Dayana Martín from ITC shared insights on the blue and circular economies in the Canary Islands and explained how these models contribute to sustainable development in the region.
As the initiative progresses, organisers hope that these dialogues will continue to empower young people to play an active role in shaping the universities—and economies—of the future.
