腦瞳憫

11 June 2025

Starting in autumn 2025, 腦瞳憫 (LiU) will host two international leadership programmes within the framework of the Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP).

A lecture with students who are taking a summer course at LInk繹ping University.
Through STRIDE and ERIK, 腦瞳憫 strengthens its commitment to international collaboration, democratic learning, and sustainable development.

The programmes STRIDE and ERIK bring together young professionals from countries in the EUs Eastern Partnership to develop knowledge and networks that strengthen democratic institutions, digital governance, and gender equality.

The countries in the Eastern Partnership face both challenges and opportunities in governance and democratic participation. Key difficulties include institutional vulnerability, corruption, and limited trust between citizens and the state.

Mariana Gustafsson.
Mariana S Gustafsson, Associate Professor in Political Science.
Closer cooperation with the EU can foster reform processes and alignment with European norms, says Mariana S Gustafsson, Associate Professor in Political Science at Link繹ping University.

Technological development offers significant opportunities, but also ethical and security challenges.

Sustainable change requires engagement with peoples values. Young professionals play a crucial role as future leaders and change agents, adds Mariana S Gustafsson.

Gender equality and inclusive societal development

By systematically integrating a gender perspective into political processes, governance mechanisms, organisational structures, and within research and innovation systems, a more inclusive societal development is promoted.

Svjetlana Stekovic
Svjelana Stekovic, Senior Associate Professor in Engineering Materials.Photographer: Susanna L繹nnqvist
Its about ensuring that individuals, regardless of gender, are given real opportunities to influence the shaping of democracy and to safeguard their civil rights, says Svjetlana Stekovic, Senior Associate Professor in Engineering Materials at Link繹ping University.

She adds: The programme also involves men in this work to foster joint engagement and long-term change.

Through STRIDE and ERIK, Link繹ping University strengthens its commitment to international collaboration, democratic learning, and sustainable development contributing to equipping the next generation of community builders in Europes neighbouring regions.

The programmes

STRIDE

The programme STRIDE Strengthening Trust, Resilience, and Institutions of Digital Democracy in Europe (formerly SeGRID) targets future decision-makers in the public sector and civil society and will run until May 2027. Together with the University of Tartu in Estonia, LiU will offer over two years a combination of digital modules, an intensive summer week with study visits and networking in both Estonia and Sweden, as well as follow-up activities designed to initiate new collaborations. Participants will deepen their knowledge in areas such as digital democracy, AI and ethics, institutional trust, and inclusive societies. Through study visits and interactive workshops, they will gain concrete tools to drive change in their home countries.

ERIK

The programme ERIK – Equality, Rights and Inclusion Knowledge – is being implemented with a focus on gender mainstreaming in governance and leadership. The programme is led by LiU in collaboration with universities and organisations in Armenia, Moldova, and Poland and will run from November 2025 to November 2026. Participants will learn to develop gender equality plans in line with EU guidelines, as well as to follow up, evaluate, and integrate gender equality measures into their own organisations’ structures and processes. They will also receive practical training in drafting policy proposals, developing monitoring systems, and addressing gender equality in complex governance contexts.

Read more about the programmes

Contact

Latest news from LiU

Ryggtavlan p疇 en man.

Greater risk that the political right falls for conspiracy theories

People who lean politically to the right are more likely to fall for conspiracy theories. But regardless of ideology, we tend to accept political claims that align with our own beliefs. This is shown in a doctoral thesis from LiU.

A man kneeling down on a field holding a grass mat.

Artificial turf in the Nordic climate a question of sustainability

Artificial turf football pitches are better than natural turf from a sustainability perspective with some reservations. This is demonstrated by researchers at LiUy in a new study using life cycle analyses.

A cell phone hovering over a hand

The future of healthcare starts in your mobile

Imagine your smartphone becoming a diagnostic tool that helps you detect early signs of illness or monitor your health between doctors visits. That is the vision behind the ECIU University course Health in Your Hands.