Daniela Lud presents EU-FarmBook at ENLIGHT Impact Conference in Groningen, the Netherlands
At the ENLIGHT Impact Conference in late March in Groningen, Daniela Lud showcased EU-FarmBook as a successful example of how universities can engage for and with societal actors.
From March 27 to 28, over 170 experts and participants from various European universities and organisations came together in Groningen to explore how universities can strengthen their societal impact in the areas of education, research, knowledge transfer, and societal engagement.
Following the 2024 ENLIGHT Impact Ambassador Award, which she received alongside her EU-FarmBook colleagues Inge De Bo and Eduard Mauri from Gent University, Professor Lud of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences and in charge with impact assessment of EU-FarmBook was invited to present the Horizon Europe project as a model of impactful academic collaboration for and with societal stakeholders. EU-FarmBook is an open online platform in development that provides practice-oriented resources from the agriculture and forestry sectors to support innovation and knowledge exchange. In her presentation, Professor Lud highlighted the value of diverse teams in effectively reaching a broad range of target groups and stressed the need for participatory approaches. Quoting 19th-century Irish educator and philosopher Sophie Bryant, she remarked, “Freedom is the condition of all development,” adding, “We must give the actors shaping the platform the space and freedom to contribute meaningfully.”
The conference aimed to share strategies for fostering a stronger impact culture in higher education and shaping the future of the European education landscape. ENLIGHT is a collaboration among ten European universities committed to transforming European higher education by removing barriers to learning and empowering students to engage globally and tackle pressing global challenges.
“The ENLIGHT Conference was an inspiring event that made a strong case for impact in teaching, research, and knowledge transfer,” said Lud. The event reaffirmed the essential role universities can play in bridging the gap between research and practical application through multi-actor projects. Impact-oriented projects like EU-FarmBook can foster the uptake of innovations that support the transition to sustainable practices.
