E³UDRES² Voices:

Irene Auffret

January 2026 | #staff

As Senior Project Manager of E³UDRES², Irene Auffret guides an alliance built on co-creation, openness, and shared European values. With deep experience in entrepreneurial education and bottom-up innovation, she works closely with students, staff, regional partners, and international communities. In this interview, Irene reflects not only on her role — but on how everyone can shape E³UDRES² together.

Irene started her journey in E³UDRES² within the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Working Group (WP5), and as the alliance grew into a strong European University which is today, her own role changed into her current position as Senior Project Manager.

When you think back to those first days, how would you describe your career journey alongside the development of the E³UDRES² alliance?

When I started in the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Working Group, it felt like stepping into a creative laboratory full of energy, curiosity, and a shared ambition to rethink higher education. At that time, E³UDRES² was already more than a vision carried by people courageous enough to imagine a different future for European universities.

Since the alliance has grown from six to nine full members, I have the chance to contribute more intensely in a different role integrating my profound past experience in international Project Management as well as my business development mission as an individual consultant for regional individual businesses and start-ups.

My work shifted from hands-on operations to coordination, structuring, and connecting a broad range of stakeholders, and I am more than ever committed to supporting the increasing complexity of the alliance, as well as the agreed processes and strategic direction. What has remained unchanged since my very first day at E³UDRES² is my motivation: to create impact together with highly motivated, visionary, and deeply committed people, and to shape the future of Higher Education Institutions collectively. It has been—and continues to be—a journey defined by learning, collaboration, and growth, and I am proud to be part of it.

What impact does E³UDRES² bring to regional and international communities?

The impact that E³UDRES² brings to regional and international communities is reflected in the growing hard and soft skills of students, staff, and other external partners. As their competencies develop, the region – along with its educational institutions and industry – grows as well. This strengthens the local economy, enhances regional resilience, and contributes to a society in which citizens live happier, more fulfilling lives. It also fosters a peaceful, diverse culture grounded in shared European values.

How can people — students and staff — actively participate in E³UDRES²?

In E³UDRES², our students are encouraged to actively participate in various activities such as Hackathons, Bootcamps, and iLivingLabs, to name just a few. They are also invited to deepen their expertise in specific topics or explore entirely new subjects — for example “entrepreneurship” through the E³UDRES² YOSHI Entrepreneurship Course — or benefit from an Open Lecture on e.g. AI. And of course, they can simply enjoy themselves by joining E³UDRES² Science Pub Quizzes or taking part in the next European Researchers’ Night, the E³UDRES² Science Festival, where researchers share their knowledge in informal settings to ensure they are approachable to everyone, such as cafés or cinemas (as it happened with the collaboration with Pint of Science) as well as activities co-organised with local students' associations. Students are also welcome to apply for the “Awards of Excellence”, the "Female Entrepreneurship Award" and other awards that are specifically designed to support students in their individual career development.

Most importantly, our students are warmly invited to join the E³UDRES² Student Board, where they can actively shape and promote the vision and mission of the European University and contribute to smart and sustainable regional development.

E³UDRES² staff members clearly benefit from staff exchanges, concrete day-to-day experience-sharing, and continuous knowledge transfer, participating in shared lectures, in activities of the Open Innovation Hubs, and the Centers of Excellence. They gain inspiration through open lectures, stakeholder visits, daily meetings, guest lectures, sessions on intercultural competencies, staff training opportunities, and much more.

Irene Auffret - E³UDRES²

What do you see as the most exciting opportunities for E³UDRES² in 2026 and beyond?

One of the most exciting opportunities for E³UDRES² in 2026 lies in strengthening collaboration between students and companies. The recently launched micro-internship model is a key milestone: an online internship format in which students work together with companies to develop and co-create concrete solutions.

Another important opportunity is the expansion of our joint teaching offer. By increasing the number of shared lectures across our Alliance, both students and teaching staff will benefit significantly from broader expertise, interdisciplinary perspectives, and stronger international exchange.

Why would you recommend E³UDRES² to others?

I recommend E³UDRES² to everybody not only within Universities but also to enterprises, regional development agencies, and citizens of any age, for me, it represents a powerful tool and a true innovation booster for higher education. It will enable the next generations to grow into more resilient, more international, more innovative, and more competent individuals who are better prepared to succeed in an increasingly complex world. As a result, industry will benefit from highly skilled and well-educated graduates, and the economy will continue to grow—contributing to a stable, healthy, and fulfilling life for all of us.

Interview by: USTP, University of Applied Sciences St. Pölten

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