The 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐮𝐦 is pleased to launch a new international project supporting Burundi’s continuous development by strengthening higher education and supporting engineering educators.

From 16−18 December 2025, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa hosted in Lisbon the kick-off meeting of the 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 - 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. The meeting brought together project partners to align objectives, discuss implementation plans, and establish a strong foundation for effective collaboration in the coming years.

Co-funded by the European Union through Erasmus Plus, the BRIGHTER Project brings together ENTER Educators Professional Development (ENTER Network), ISEL — Instituto Superior De Engenharia De Lisboa/Politécnico de Lisboa, ESN STUBA, 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢'𝐬 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 KIT- Digital Innovation HUB. Through this joint effort, the project aims to strengthen 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐢, contributing to sustainable development and innovation within the higher education sector.

Together, the consortium partners contribute complementary expertise to support the continuous growth of higher education in Burundi, with a strong focus on competence development and the strengthening of quality assurance processes.

On August 31, 2026,the BRIGHTER Project Burundi Renewable Innovation Growth and Higher Education for Renewable Energy Systems hosted a workshop for educators in Burundi on “Outcomes-Based Education Pedagogy for Teaching Engineering.”

The training was facilitated by Professor Pritpal “Pali” Singh, PhD, Professor at Villanova University, USA, who shared practical strategies to shift from a content-focused approach to a student learning outcomes-focused approach.

The workshop focused on how to develop clear and measurable learning outcomes, align teaching with assessment, and ensure that students acquire strong knowledge and demonstrable skills.

Through interactive discussions and case studies, educators explored new ways to improve the quality and relevance of engineering education in Burundi.

Better teaching. Measurable learning. A brighter future.

From 2 to 4 September 2026, the BRIGHTER Project held its 1st Year Management Board Meeting in Burundi, bringing together project partners, higher education leaders, public authorities, representatives of the European Union, industry stakeholders and members of the academic community.

The three-day programme combined institutional and stakeholder visits, the official iPER Recognition Ceremony, a comprehensive review of the first year of project implementation, and the definition of priorities and actions for Year 2.

Strengthening institutional and stakeholder cooperation

The first day of the meeting, on 2 September, was dedicated to institutional visits and stakeholder engagement in Bujumbura.

BRIGHTER representatives visited partner higher education institutions and met with university leadership, academic teams and relevant institutional units. Parallel meetings with industrial stakeholders focused on employability, green-transition skills, university–industry cooperation and opportunities for greater stakeholder involvement in project activities.

High-level meetings also provided an opportunity to discuss the alignment of BRIGHTER with national education and energy priorities, the relevance of the project for Burundi and its long-term sustainability.

These exchanges helped the consortium gain a deeper understanding of the realities, needs and perspectives of each institution, while identifying opportunities for collaboration, capacity development and the future establishment of infrastructures supporting the objectives of BRIGHTER.

Official iPER Recognition Ceremony

A major highlight of the programme took place on 3 September 2026 at UB/IPA in Bujumbura, with the official ceremony for the presentation of iPER – International Professional Education Register distinctions to academic staff from higher education institutions across Burundi.

Approximately 300 participants were expected for the public ceremony, including iPER awardees, invited guests, Guests of Honour, university representatives and BRIGHTER project members. The ceremony combined official institutional addresses with elements of Burundian cultural heritage, including traditional performances.

The event brought together distinguished representatives and key stakeholders from the fields of education, research, industry and development, including Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research, representatives of the European partner institutions, the Rector of the University of Burundi, the President of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon, the President of the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi, as well as rectors and representatives of the different BRIGHTER project partner institutions.

During the ceremony, Prof. José Carlos Quadrado, BRIGHTER Project Coordinator, presented the iPER initiative on behalf of ENTER, highlighting its significance for individual educators, universities, the development of higher education in Burundi and the strengthening of future capacity in areas such as renewable energy.

Representatives of participating universities were invited to receive the distinctions in the presence of national authorities and project representatives, followed by the recognition of all participating educators and an official group photo.

The different interventions converged around a common message: BRIGHTER represents an important opportunity to strengthen the knowledge, skills and institutional capacities required for Burundi’s future development, particularly in the field of renewable energy and the green transition.

Through the professional development and international recognition of higher education teaching staff, the project strengthens universities' capacity to educate future generations of graduates equipped with the competencies needed to support innovation, sustainable development and economic transformation.

Training educators today means developing the skills needed tomorrow to successfully address the challenges of the energy transition.

The presentation of the iPER distinctions therefore represents both international recognition of educators’ commitment and professionalism and a concrete expression of BRIGHTER’s commitment to promoting high-quality, competence-oriented higher education aligned with innovation and the future needs of society and the labour market.

Reviewing the first year and preparing Year 2

Following the public ceremony, the BRIGHTER partners began the formal 1st Year Management Board working sessions.

The consortium jointly reviewed the achievements, constraints and lessons learned during the first year of implementation and examined progress across the project’s main areas of activity.

Discussions addressed:

• Project management, coordination, reporting and administrative follow-up;
• financial management, documentation, eligibility of costs and reporting timelines;
• Green Digital Innovation and Transformation;
• Capacity Building and Employability;
• Project Quality, Monitoring and Sustainability; and
• Communication and Visibility Actions.

These sessions provided an opportunity not only to assess progress but also to identify risks, address implementation challenges, strengthen quality assurance mechanisms and agree on priorities for the next phase of the project.

From assessment to action: defining priorities for Year 2

The final Management Board session took place on 4 September in Gitega, following an institutional visit to UPG, one of the BRIGHTER partner universities.

The discussions focused on translating the lessons of the first year into a clear implementation framework for Year 2. The Management Board reviewed and confirmed key priorities, partner responsibilities and the implementation calendar, together with project risks, quality-assurance follow-up and the evidence-collection plan.

The meeting concluded with the formal adoption of the Year 2 Action Plan and confirmation of reporting deadlines, providing the consortium with a shared roadmap for the next stage of implementation.

The programme was complemented by visits and opportunities to experience Burundi’s cultural heritage, further strengthening personal and institutional relationships among consortium members.

The 1st Year Management Board Meeting demonstrated the value of combining strategic project coordination, institutional capacity building, engagement with public authorities and industry, international professional recognition and direct knowledge of the local context.

It also reaffirmed BRIGHTER’s broader ambition: to connect higher education, innovation and the green transition in order to build sustainable capacity within Burundi and prepare institutions, educators and future graduates for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

BRIGHTER – Building Renewable Innovation, Green Technologies, Higher Education and Research.

As part of the BRIGHTER project, international delegation representing European partners of the project visited Burundi for the first time with the aim to learning, exchange, and strengthening cooperation with several institutions and innovative initiatives in the country:

🇸🇰 Peter Klimacek, Mgr., Peter Janiga, Prof. Dr., and Miroslava Farkas Smitkova, Prof. Dr., from the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava (STUBA);

🇵🇹 José Carlos Quadrado, Prof. Dr., Coordinator of the BRIGHTER project, together with Antonio Belo, Rector of the Polytechnic University of Lisbon;

🇵🇹 João Rocha, Prof. Dr., representing the ENTER Network.

The delegation carried out a series of visits to several partner institutions, including the Institute of Applied Pedagogy (IPA), IUNICA, the École Normale Supérieure (ENS), and the University of Burundi, Kamenge Campus, with particular attention given to the Institute of Digital Technologies (ITN).

These visits provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the realities, needs, and perspectives of each institution, while fostering valuable exchanges regarding available resources, ongoing and future projects, as well as opportunities for collaboration and mutual contribution.

The delegation also visited the spaces designated to host the future laboratories of the BRIGHTER project, as well as existing laboratories, in order to assess opportunities for developing and establishing infrastructure suited to the ambitions of the project.

Beyond the university environment, the mission also brought the delegation to NYAKIRIZA, an initiative focused on solar energy that shares several areas of interest with the BRIGHTER project. This meeting opened a valuable space for discussion on coordinated approaches, potential cooperation, and partnerships based on complementary expertise and resources.

The visit also continued to the Charging Station, providing an opportunity to learn more about innovative local initiatives and explore new avenues for cooperation.

✨ These meetings and visits perfectly reflect the spirit of the BRIGHTER project: connecting institutions, sharing experiences, strengthening capacities, and jointly developing innovative solutions for higher education that is more effective, inclusive, and future-oriented.

🤝 Together, we are strengthening today’s partnerships to build tomorrow’s opportunities.