EU*Connect is CIFE's interactive platform for introducing today's and tomorrow's European citizens to EU issues and enabling the exchange of experiences between young professionals and students from Ukraine, Moldova, France and Germany.
For four years now, CIFE's digital campus has connected young people from Ukraine, Moldova, France and Germany with a two-fold objective: To provide EU expertise for young Ukrainians and Moldovans, and to make French and German participants aware of the particular challenges of Ukraine in the context of war, its quest for EU accession and reconstruction.
Applications for the fifth edition of the programme 2026/27 will open soon.
Apply for the first ever EU*Connect Summer Academy!
After four successful cohorts and more than 350 committed participants, we are pleased to invite EU*Connect Alumni to the first face-to-face meeting in Germany!
Apply until 30 June 2026 to be part of the adventure from 14 to 19 September 2026 at the European Academy Otzenhausen and finally live-connect with your fellow online students and experts of the Digital Campus.
This first EU*Connect Alumni Summer Academy has been made possible thanks to the support of the European Academy Otzenhausen, the Franco-German Youth Office (FGYO) and the Foundation Asko Europa Stiftung.
The EU*Connect Alumni Summer Academy will combine interactive sessions to connect with other participants, discussions with experts, a simulation game and excursions related to EU’s current topics.
Among the highlights:
- Joint discussion on recent developments in EU-Ukraine relations
- Simulation game on EU accession negotiation
- Visit of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe in Strasbourg
- Visit of the remembrance path “Höckerlinie”
- Fishbowl discussion: How can young people shape the future of Europe?
Please note that participation is limited to EU*Connect Alumni of the four editions of the programme.
About 26 participants will be selected among all applicants.
Applications can be submitted until 30 June 2026 via the application form.
Programme Highlights
For EU*Connect, CIFE partners with the Institute for Public Administration and Civil Service (IPACS) of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the Young European Federalists of JEF Berlin-Brandenburg. The programme, funded by the Franco-German Youth Office and CIFE, is 100% digital and free of charge.
CIFE has a long-standing experience in developing academic courses for international students and has trained hundreds of young citizens from accession and neighbourhood countries.
During the 5-month-long programme, participants will take part in lectures, training, and discussions. Key topics are the fundamentals of the European Union (institutions, decision-making, law), the role of the EU in current conflicts, the process of EU accession, and the specific challenges of Ukraine in the context of war and reconstruction. All classes will be held in English.
Workload and Timetable
EU*Connect will deliver 80 hours of teaching with a weekly workload of 2 x 2.5 hours (5 hours/week in total). The courses take place twice a week, usually on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5 pm to 7.30 pm (France/Germany Time) and from 6 pm to 8.30 pm (Ukraine/Moldova Time). This enables most students and young professionals to fit their professional and academic schedules together with EU*Connect.
Courses will start at the end of October 2026 and finish at the end of March 2027. At the end of the course, a written examination will be offered in March 2027 for participants interested in obtaining a certification. Upon successful completion, participants are awarded a certificate and 20 ECTS.
EU*Connect Curriculum
The EU*Connect curriculum is structured into 6 modules:
- The EU Today: Major Historical Steps and its Institutional Framework
- EU Policies and Legal FrameworkThe EU and its Neighbourhood
- Enlargement and Beyond
- Global Security, Conflicts and the EU
- Ukrainian Challenges in the Context of War and Integration to EU Environment
- Practical Skills: Designing and Managing an EU Project
Each module consists of two to five course units, taught by renowned professors and experts. The courses can be divided into several meetings.
The courses take place via videoconferencing (Zoom) and allow direct interaction with the lecturers and other participants from the 4 countries.
What's more, the platform allows you to use different tools to share your experiences and learning.