Learning Compassionate Care: A Transnational Teaching Initiative for Resilience, Dialogue and Systemic Thinking
Academic Year 2026/2027
Key Information
Eligibility
This call is open to Luiss students enrolled in any Bachelor’s Degree programs, including the first 3 years of Law, during the 2026/2027 academic year.
Available Slots
Up to 20 places are available for the academic year 2026/2027.
Application Period
Applications can be submitted from 16 June to 30 June 2026, no later than 4:00 PM (CET)
Timeline
Application deadline: 13 July 2026
Selection results: by 31 July 2026
Confirmation of participation: within one working day after receiving the selection results
Course Overview
The Learning Compassionate Care Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course is jointly organized and delivered by the University of Mannheim, Tilburg University, and Luiss Guido Carli University within the framework of the ENGAGE.EU Alliance. The course will take place over one semester, from 7 September to 30 November 2026, and will be held in English.
The course aims to enhance students’ relational awareness and provide tools to foster compassion and interdependence. Through a combination of scientific foundations and experiential learning, participants will be guided by mentors through a structured process of self‑reflection and personal–professional development. The course supports the acquisition of skills that can be applied both within and beyond the academic context, contributing positively to students’ personal and professional growth. Learning will be approached as a relational and dialogical process, strengthening intercultural competencies and promoting respect and responsibility.
The course consists of 12 live sessions held on Mondays from 8:30 to 10:00 AM. In addition to the live sessions, students are required to complete on-demand learning modules and work within their assigned buddy teams – small inter-university groups collaborating both during and between sessions. After each session, students will complete reflection activities and collaborative exercises within their teams.
Successful completion of the course corresponds to the award of 4 ECTS credits.
General Rules
Selected students will participate in the course during the a.y. 2026–2027. Upon successful completion of the course, and provided that all university requirements regarding attendance, deadlines, academic integrity, and related regulations are met, the corresponding credits will be recognized in the student’s Luiss academic record. Luiss students will have 4 ECTS recognized under “Other Activities”, provided that they have not already fulfilled this requirement through other accredited activities.
Participation is permitted only for students who are on track with the courses included in their study plan and who have no pending administrative issues with Luiss.
While every effort will be made to provide complete, accurate, and timely information, Luiss reserves the right to change, amend, modify, or revoke the abovementioned course. Luiss is not responsible for any cancellation or modification resulting from events beyond its control. Should the course be cancelled or modified for such reasons, Luiss will inform all interested students in a timely manner.
ENGAGE.EU
ENGAGE.EU is a European university alliance that brings together ten European leading institutions in the fields of social sciences, economics, and humanities, with the aim of preparing citizens and professionals to tackle the major societal challenges of our time.
The alliance fosters strategic cooperation among European universities by facilitating mobility, joint research, innovative teaching practices, and interdisciplinary initiatives. Through ENGAGE.EU, students, researchers, and academic staff can collaborate to generate impact at the local, European, and global levels, actively contributing to a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient society.
The Learning Compassionate Care is jointly offered by the following participating universities of the ENGAGE.EU European University Alliance:
- University of Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
- Luiss – Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli, Rome, Italy
- Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands
Admission and Required Documents (in English)
The following documentation is required to apply to this Call:
- Proof of enrollment in the First or Second Year of Bachelor’s Degree in the Academic Year 2025/2026
- Bachelor’s transcript of records
- Curriculum Vitae
- Motivation letter (max 700 words)
Application Procedure
Applications can be submitted from 16 to 13 July 2026 by 4:00 PM. In order to apply, students must complete the application form and upload the required attachments through the web self-service area on the Luiss website.
Only applications accompanied by all documentation and received by the application deadline will be considered. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance of the application deadline and to double-check the data entered into the application. In case of doubts about the documents to upload or to receive further information about the requested documents, students are invited to contact the ENGAGE.EU Office (engage.eu@luiss.it) before the application deadline.
The ENGAGE.EU Office reserves the right to request further details or supporting documents from applicants.
For further instructions how to apply, please read THIS DOCUMENT.
Attachment Requested
The application must be completed through the Luiss Web Self Service, following the instructions provided on the course webpage. All required attachments must be submitted in English, in PDF format, readable, scanned (not photographed), and named as follows: DOCUMENT_SURNAME_COURSE (e.g., PASSPORT_SMITH_COIL).
Files submitted in formats other than PDF will not be processed by the system and therefore will not be evaluated.
List of the Attachments:
- Letter of motivation (max. 700 words), outlining your motivation to attend the course, any previous experience related to the course topic, how you expect to contribute to the course, and the outcomes you aim to apply to your academic, personal, and professional development
- Bachelor’s transcript as proof of enrollment
- Curriculum Vitae including education, extracurricular activities, international experiences, work experience, and relevant skills related to the course
- ID card or passport
- Additional certificates that may strengthen your application (optional)
Selection
An Academic Commission nominated by the Dean of the Undergraduate School will select students on the basis of a non-disputable evaluation.
The Academic Commission will rank eligible candidates on the base of the following criteria:
Criteria | Basis of Evaluation | Evaluation Scale | Weight |
Motivation for participation | Letter of motivation | – Personal motivation is clear and credible – Expected outcomes for personal, academic, and professional development – Expected contribution to the course, teamwork, and reflective activities | 60% |
Academic and personal suitability | Transcript of records (Bachelor’s) | – Enrollment in 1st or 2nd year – GPA considered in case of tied results | 10% |
CV | – Academic background – Previous theoretical and/or practical experiences related to the course topic | 30% | |
Sum |
|
| 100% |
The Academic Commission may decide to interview the candidates.
Communication of results
In compliance with current provisions on personal data protection, rankings will not be published. Students will be informed of the result of their own application only. Information such as other candidates’ position in the ranking will not be disclosed.
The communication will take place by e-mail to the applicants’ Luiss student email account by 31 July 2026. Thus, students are strongly invited to check their Luiss email account every day while the selections are ongoing.
Acceptance
Selected students will be required to confirm their acceptance through written notification within one working day from the communication of results. In case of refusal or missing notification by the deadline, the following candidate in the waiting list will be recalled. Recalled students will be required to confirm their participation by written notice within one working day.
Any refusal submitted after a candidate has accepted the offer for a slot will be forwarded to the Deputy Rector for Teaching and Quality, who, in collaboration with the Dean of the Undergraduate School and the Director of Academic Affairs, will assess the justification provided. Refusals deemed inadequately justified will be reported to the Graduation Commission.
Useful contacts
Should applicants need any additional information, they may contact engage.eu@luiss.it.
Appendix – Privacy Notice
Please carefully read THIS PRIVACY NOTICE before applying.