ENGAGE.EU Summer School 2026 at Ramon Llull University
Topic: Barcelona as a hub of innovation and culture: The legacy of global events
Dates: Online session preceding the summer school: 16 June
On-campus session: 13-24 July 2026
Location: La Salle-Universitat Ramon Llull – Barcelona, Spain
Language of instruction: English
Application deadline: extended until 16 April 2026
Credits: after successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded 4 ECTS
About ENGAGE.EU Summer Schools
ENGAGE.EU Summer and Winter Schools are intensive programmes taught by professors and lecturers from ENGAGE.EU universities. In line with the general ENGAGE.EU goals, these programmes aim to provide a forum for interdisciplinary academic exchange and learning on current societal challenges.
Summer and Winter Schools aim to equip students with hard and soft skills needed to tackle these challenges and act as responsible future leaders. In 2026, a summer school will be hosted at La Salle-Universitat Ramon Llull – Barcelona, Spain on the topic of “Barcelona as a hub of innovation and culture: The legacy of global event”.
Academic programme
The ENGAGE.EU Summer School in Architecture, Innovation and Culture is an intensive, two-week summer programme in presence for bachelor’s and masters’ students from all fields of studies.
This initiative is aligned with the recognition of Barcelona as the World Capital of Architecture 2026, celebrating its rich history and innovative capacity in urban planning, culture, and technology. With a multidisciplinary approach and the collaboration of the School of Architecture, the International School of Commerce and Digital Economy, the Faculty of Philosophy, and the School of Digital Engineering, this summer school will be a platform to explore the transformation of Barcelona through events such as the 1888 Universal Exposition, the 1929 International Exhi- bition, and the 1992 Olympic Games.
The summer school will research how Barcelona has used architecture, culture, technology, and the economy to become a global hub for events and innovation. Participants will study historical milestones and contemporary initiatives, providing knowledge on sustainable urban development, digital innovation, and cultural heritage.
Participants will obtain:
- An in-depth understanding of the interaction between architecture, culture, technology, and economy in urban development.
- Practical knowledge through applied projects and mentoring from experts.
- Networks of contact with professionals and international participants.
Key Course Topics
The programme will be divided into four interdisciplinary itineraries:
- Economics and event management:
- Analyse economic strategies to attract and maintain global events.
- Case studies on Barcelona’s tourism and brand strategy.
- Culture and society:
- To investigate the role of Barcelona as a cultural capital, integrating art, design, and philosophy in urban narrative.
- Workshops on how global events have shaped Barcelona’s identity.
- Technology and innovation:
- Study the role of digital technology in modern urban planning and event management.
- Architecture and Urban Planning:
- Explore the architectural evolution and sustainable management of the city.
- Analyse urban planning strategies and their impact on the regeneration of the city.
In line with the general ENGAGE.EU goals, the students will be equipped with hard and soft skills needed to tackle societal challenges and act as responsible future leaders.
Additional activities
In addition to the academic component, the participants will have the opportunity to practically engage with the topic of the summer school by attending expert lectures by guest speakers. The course programme and practical experiences will be complemented by a mix of social, cultural, and international events, including various opportunities to network with students from other countries and explore Barcelona, the World Capital of Architecture 2026.
Practical information
Below you will find additional information related to your stay in Barcelona including the different aspects included in your stay during the summer school:
Course
- Integrated course with an international perspective
- Course materials
- Expert talks
- Internet access on campus
Meals
- Welcome dinner and final lunch provided to students free of charge
Cultural & Social Events
- Opening and closing ceremonies
- Opportunities for intercultural exchange through the social and cultural programme
Accomodation & Funding
Please note that accommodation is not included. La Salle-URL provides accommodations suggestions, but students are not bound to these options. Some of these providers offer special rates, which will be communicated to the accepted applicants after the selection process has been completed.
Nominated students may be eligible to receive ERASMUS financial support from their home universities. Please contact your coordinator to learn more about this.
Application: Your Profile
This ENGAGE.EU Summer school is targeted toward students of any citizenship who are enrolled in an a bachelor’s or master’s study programme at one of the ENGAGE.EU alliance universities. Since the summer school is an interdisciplinary programme, students from diverse backgrounds (such as business, economics, law, social sciences) are strongly encouraged to apply.
Application Documents and Procedure
In order to apply for the ENGAGE.EU Summer School, students need to fill out the online application form and upload the following supporting documents:
- Motivation: A 2-minute maximum video explaining your background (education, work experience, language skills, study/work abroad experience, other relevant skills and experiences), as well as your interest and motivation for the topic of the Summer School. The video format is free (slides recording with voice-over, recording of yourself speaking in front of the camera, etc.). Please note that this document needs to be in English. The motivation statement will be evaluated according to the following criteria: coherent and relevant argumentation, creativity, innovativeness.
- Academic transcript of records
Applications must be submitted by 16 April 2026, at midnight CET. All documents must be in English, except for the academic transcript of records (which can be in the language of your home university).
The application period for students will open on 30 March 2026.
All applicants who submit their complete application on time will be informed about the status of their applications via email by the end of April.
APPLY HERE
*Application on the eJourney platform: to apply for the Summer School, please click the “Apply” button at the end of the page. You will be redirected to the eJourney platform. Please select your university and use your usual university credentials to log into eJourney and access the application form.
If needed, you can find more detailed instructions here:
Selection procedure
Candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their academic records, academic progress, and motivation statement. A limited number of students per partner university will be accepted to the summer school.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at: infoENGAGE@url.edu