Welcome to the latest edition of the WTUN newsletter featuring a roundup of news, updates and events happening across the network.
Special Message: Tropical Cyclone and Severe Flooding in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka
On behalf of the World Technology Universities Network, we extend our sincere sympathy and solidarity to the Thaksin University community in the wake of the devastating floods affecting Songkhla and Phatthalung. For those who recently attended the World Technology Universities Congress at TSU, the unimaginable level of destruction is even more difficult to comprehend.
We commend the university’s swift and compassionate response in implementing urgent measures to support students, including tuition relief, extended payment deadlines, scholarships, and welfare initiatives. These actions reflect Thaksin University’s strong commitment to safeguarding education and caring for its community. As a global network, WTUN stands firmly beside Thaksin University. Please be assured that your colleagues across the world are keeping you in our thoughts and remain ready to provide encouragement, collaboration, and support as you work toward recovery and resilience.
Our deepest concern is for the safety and well-being of all who have been affected by these events, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka.
Professor Michael Affenzeller and Dr Chawin Chantharasenawong on behalf of WTUN.
World Technology Universities Congress 2026
Save the Date!
The WTUN Student Competition is Open
We are seeking new sustainable and innovative, technological solutions to address the goals, and we invite project proposals from student teams (undergraduate, postgraduate or a combination and preferably multi-disciplinary).
We invite students to submit ideas in the form of a proposal and short video that will be assessed by our panel of judges.
Winning Entries:
Winning teams (prize per team member to max team size of 4) will receive:
1st place: £300
2nd place: £150
3rd place: £100
In addition, the winning team will be invited to present their winning idea, virtually, at WTUC 2025. The winning team will present their project to delegates as part of the Congress programme.
For more information and to apply – www.wtu-n.net/student-competition
Atlantic Technological University
Can a Game Really Teach Children Health Literacy?
Last week saw the launch of the EU Erasmus+ HealthCraft Project outputs, an innovative, engaging way to teach health literacy to children aged 8–12 using Minecraft Education Edition.
HealthCraft is an EU-funded Erasmus+ initiative that promotes the health & wellbeing of primary school children through education and encouraging self-awareness. The ready-to-use resources provide teachers & parents with easily accessible tools to promote healthy habits. The resources make teaching & learning fun through innovative digital and gamification techniques using Minecraft Education Worlds and bite-sized videos.
The HealthCraft project is not just about educating children on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, but it also aims to develop key competences among both children and trainers using innovative approaches. The project acknowledges that children’s eating patterns and lifestyle are influenced by several factors, and it aims to address these issues through engaging and informative methods that can help children develop healthy habits. With the contribution of training videos and video games, HealthCraft seeks to revolutionize the way we approach health education and make it an enjoyable experience for both children and trainers. More specifically, we will leverage the popularity of Minecraft to create a fun and interactive learning experience that appeals to young children aged 8-12 years during their formative years, where the learning has the most profound impact on their development.
https://healthcraft.erasmusplus.website/
University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria
New Hydrogen Research Center at FH Upper Austria
Hydrogen is considered key to a secure and climate-friendly energy future. With its newly opened H2 research center, the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria is making a significant contribution to supporting domestic industry in implementing its projects and playing a leading role in hydrogen research. A total of €7.6 million has been invested in the infrastructure and construction of the hydrogen research center in Wels since 2023.
Student Exchange with a Twist: Why international IT students at the Hagenberg Campus are trying to control Africa’s water hyacinths.
Water hyacinths are native to South America – not Africa. So, at first glance, this wouldn’t seem like the typical topic for an international exchange program involving IT students from Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria (FH Upper Austria) at its Hagenberg Campus. But when African lakes are threatened by this biological “invader” and GPS-powered sensor technology offers a way to tackle the issue, the ideas of top IT students suddenly become highly relevant. Since late October, these students have gathered at FH Upper Austria’s renowned IT hub for a three-week innovation sprint.
The program, called “International Minor: Global Acting in IT,” is a collaboration between FH Upper Austria’s School of Informatics in Hagenberg and four partner institutions: Belgian Campus in Pretoria (South Africa), PXL University of Applied Sciences in Hasselt (Belgium), Fontys ICT in Eindhoven (Netherlands), and Universidad de Lleida (Spain). Students from these universities spend three weeks at each partner institution, working together on a shared project.
Find out more about this project
Short Term Programmes at FH Upper Austria (Apply Now)
International Teaching Days in Business and Management
About the Event
Date: 18th – 20th May 2026
Target Audience: Academics teaching in relevant fields/ Researchers/ Students from different study levels/ Non-teaching staff
Language: English
Participation Fee: Free of charge for teaching attendees and students; 150 EUR participation fee for non-teaching staff
Location: University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria – Steyr Campus
fh-ooe.at/en/international/exchange-students/events/international-teaching-days
University of Bradford
2024/25 Research and Innovation Annual Report
The University of Bradford have launched their 2024/25 Research and Innovation Annual Report.
“The annual report highlights the impact our research is having on both local and global stages. At the University of Bradford we see things differently and work together to drive sustainable social, cultural and economic development.
Our report showcases 20 of our top stories from the past year and how we’re using our ‘different’ to make a difference”.
Read the full report HERE
Do you know someone in your university who would be interested in this newsletter? Forward the email to colleagues or share the link with your networks.
All members are invited to contribute to this newsletter through their Operational Board Member (found here). Please contact your Operational Board member with stories or events which will be of relevance to the shared vision and commitments of the WTUN and its members, inspiring opportunity for engagement on commonalities, sharing knowledge, or collaboration.
All calls for content can be shared with the WTUN Secretariat at wtun@bradford.ac.uk.
To discuss joining the World Technology Universities Network, please contact the WTUN Development Manager:
Denise Whitehead
Email: wtun@bradford.ac.uk