August marked an important milestone for the emPLANT community: the end of one student journey and the beginning of another.

As part of their integration week, our 11 new emPLANT students had the opportunity to discover the programme, meet their classmates and connect with representatives from all the universities of the emPLANT consortium. The week culminated on August 27, with a special Welcome and Farewell Ceremony bringing together new students, graduating students, alumni and representatives from across the consortium.

Celebrating the graduating cohort

The ceremony was first and foremost a celebration of the students completing their emPLANT journey. After two years of intensive studies, international mobility and research, it was time to look back on their achievements and celebrate the work they had accomplished.

One of the highlights of the day was the 180-second thesis competition. Eight graduating students took on the challenge of presenting their Master’s thesis in just three minutes, sharing their research with the audience in a concise and engaging way.

Their presentations led to the selection of the three best theses of the cohort, recognizing the quality of their research as well as their ability to communicate complex scientific topics in an accessible way.

The ceremony also brought together members of the wider emPLANT community, with alumni returning to campus to celebrate this important milestone alongside the graduating students and the new cohort.

We were particularly pleased to welcome two alumni from emPLANT+ Intake 2 (2022–2024), who returned to share their experience two years after graduating. They reflected on how the programme has influenced both their professional and personal lives, offering the current students a valuable perspective on what comes after emPLANT.

Their stories were a powerful reminder that the programme does not simply end with a degree: the experiences, friendships and international connections built during these two years continue to have an impact long afterwards.

Welcoming our new students

While one cohort was saying farewell, another was just beginning its journey.

Our 11 new emPLANT students took part in an integration week designed to help them get to know the programme, their new academic environment and, most importantly, one another.

Representatives from each university in the emPLANT consortium joined them during the two-day Welcome and Farewell events, giving the students the opportunity to meet the people and institutions that will accompany them throughout their Master’s journey.

Following this shared introduction to the emPLANT community, the students will now continue their first year at the two universities hosting the first year of the programme, before pursuing their chosen mobility pathway within the consortium.

A community that keeps growing

Bringing together graduating students, new students, alumni and representatives from across the emPLANT consortium made August 27 a particularly meaningful moment. It was a celebration of one generation’s achievements, while welcoming the next and sharing experiences across cohorts.

From one intake to the next, the emPLANT community continues to grow, connecting students, alumni and universities across countries and generations.

Congratulations to our graduating students, thank you to our alumni, and a very warm welcome to our new emPLANT students! We wish you all an inspiring journey and look forward to seeing where your emPLANT adventure takes you. 🌱