ENGAGE.EU Summer School 2026 at Luiss University
Topic: Data Science, AI, and Ethical Management in the Digital Ecosystem
Dates:
- 8-17 July (in person)
- 7 July (10-11.30AM; online kickoff session)
Location: Luiss University – Rome, Italy
Language of instruction: English
Application deadline: extended until 16 April 2026
Students’ nomination: End of April 2026
Credits: after successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded 4 ECTS
About ENGAGE.EU Summer Schools
The ENGAGE.EU Summer School is an intensive, two-week undergraduate summer programme taught by professors and lecturers from ENGAGE.EU universities. In line with the general ENGAGE.EU goals, the programme aims to provide a forum for interdisciplinary academic exchange and learning on current societal challenges. It aims at equipping students with hard and soft skills needed to tackle these challenges and act as responsible future leaders. Students from all ENGAGE.EU partner universities have the chance to actively participate in this summer programme. Additionally, a social programme is offered to foster networking opportunities.
Core theme
The ENGAGE.EU Summer School in Data Science is an intensive, two-week programme designed to provide students with unique educational experience in the rapidly evolving field of data science. Hosted by Luiss University in July 2026, the programme combines high-level academic input with practical, hands-on activities.
Participants will explore the main challenges and opportunities in data analysis and learn how advanced technologies are reshaping strategic decision-making, organisational processes, and digital ecosystems. Through interactive lessons, academic discussions, and project-based work, students will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical skills to analyse and interpret data effectively, preparing them to lead and manage transformation in data-rich environments.
Aligned with ENGAGE.EU’s mission, the Summer School equips students with hard and soft skills to tackle societal challenges and act as responsible future leaders.
Attendance and active participation in both academic and professional sessions are pre-requisites for the successful completion of the Summer School.
Programme Structure and Overview
The in-person session covers a wide range of cutting-edge topics, including:
• Fundamentals of Data Science
• Data-Driven Management & Decision Making
• Digital Ecosystems
• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Natural Language Processing (NLP)
• Data Privacy and Security
• Ethics and Governance of AI
Format:
• Two-week in-person programme and a kick-off online
• Interactive lectures, workshops, and hands-on projects
• Contributions from faculty members of at least three ENGAGE.EU partner universities
• Opportunities for interdisciplinary perspectives and real-world insights through collaboration with external organisations.
Learning Approach:
• Combination of academic lessons and practical activities
• Group work and discussions in diverse, multi-competence teams
• Assessment methods defined in cooperation with Luiss faculty (e.g., project work, presentations, essays).
Week 1 – Welcome, Lectures, Prompthaton, Career Development
The first week opens with a Welcome Session and Campus Tour, followed by introductory lectures from Prof. Xavier Vilasís Cardona (URL) and Vincenzo Lomonaco (Luiss), who guide students through foundational concepts, hands‑on experimentation, and ethical considerations of LLMs and multi‑agent systems.
Alongside the academic programme, students take part in the Prompthaton, collaborating to design and refine prompts to solve challenges or prototype ideas. A Career Lab enriches the week by connecting course themes to professional pathways, and a social gathering closes the week on a community‑building note.
Week 2 – New Perspectives, Industry Exposure, Project Development and Presentations
The second week begins with daily lectures from Prof. Rainer Baier (WU), David Rostam Afschar (Mannheim), and Shagun Sarraf (NHH), each bringing a different angle to the themes explored in Week 1. A breakfast and tour at Villa Blanc adds an engaging moment to the learning experience.
Students also begin their project work, forming teams, outlining ideas, and starting to shape their approaches. A midweek company visit gives them the chance to discover how organisations work with digital technologies, offering practical insights that help inform and inspire their projects.
In the final stretch, students continue developing their projects with dedicated work sessions and two closing lectures by Prof. Giovanni Stilo (Luiss), which help consolidate the ideas explored throughout the programme.
The experience culminates in the presentation of projects to a jury, where teams share what they have created and receive thoughtful feedback. A closing ceremony with certificate awards marks the end of the programme and celebrates the journey students have taken together.
Explore the agenda in more detail here.
Please note that minor changes to the programme and the agenda may occur.
Practical information
Lunches and coffees will be covered during the event, as well as an aperitif on the final day of the first week.
Travel and accommodation expenses are not covered, but successful applicants may be eligible to receive financial support (Erasmus+ or similar) from their home universities. Please contact your university’s ENGAGE.EU contact point to learn more about this.
After the selection process, participants will receive an info-pack with specific details on short-term mobility in Rome, including useful tips, information and recommendations for accommodation at Luiss-partnered facilities.
Student Profile
In order to be eligible, you must:
- Be currently, and for the entire duration of the program, enrolled in an undergraduate study program at one of the ENGAGE.EU partner universities.
- Demonstrate a strong interest in the topic of the Summer School.
You are not expected to be an expert in the subject area.
Application Documents and Procedure
In order to apply for the ENGAGE.EU Summer School, you need to fill in 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).
For further information, please contact: engage.eu@luiss.it.
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
Submitted applications will be assessed by each ENGAGE.EU university.
Candidates will be evaluated based on their academic performance and motivation statement. A limited number of students per partner university will be accepted to the Summer School.
Final decisions may also consider a range of criteria for cohort composition, including but not limited to disciplines’ balance, and institutional diversity.
Results will be communicated to the selected students by end of April, 2026.
Students will have 3 working days to accept their spot.
Scholarships
Selected students will receive a scholarship to support their participation in the ENGAGE.EU Summer School. For details on the exact funding amount or for any questions, please contact your local ENGAGE.EU contact point.
Further information will be provided by your home university once your selection for the Summer School has been confirmed.
Please note that Luiss students will not receive funding, as their participation does not involve any mobility or accommodation costs.