29 June – 03 July 2026, Košice
The Technical University of Košice (TUKE)organised a third edition of Ulysseus Summer Institute, this time focusing on the theme of Home: The X-Factor in Future Cities from 29 June to 3 July 2026. The aim of the event was to address housing affordability, homelessness, energy security, well-being, and the role of young people in shaping resilient and inclusive urban environments, across five themes: Housing Governance, Caring City, Climate Resilience, Intelligent City, and Urban Vitality. The summer school, initiated by the Faculty of Economics (EkF) at TUKE in cooperation with Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (FEI) as well as Faculty of Civil Engineering (SvF), welcomed world-renowned experts in urban development to Košice, sparking stimulating discussions and providing valuable insights for the development of Eastern Slovakia's metropolis.

The summer school was an activity of the European University Ulysseus, organised under the auspices of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) and prepared in cooperation with partner university: Université Côte d'Azur (UniCA; France). Moreover, as such, the activity was a practical outcome of the first joint Ulysseus research group RUE focused on the economy and smart cities.
Esteemed experts such as Carlos Moreno (author of the 15-minute City concept), Peter Nijkamp and Karima Kourtit (Netherlands), Neil Reid and Mark Tirpak (USA), Bruce Newbold (Canada) and Abdul Shaban (India) brought the highest level of current and specialised knowledge to the event. Ulysseus was actively represented by researcher Guilhem Lecouteux (UniCA), and a team from the EkF TUKE (Lenka Maličká, Tomáš Želinský and Marek Gróf), FEI TUKE (Peter Papcun and Erik Kajáti) and SvF TUKE (Silvia Vilčeková, Martina Zeleňáková and Natália Junáková). Mentor from practice representing the Dedo Foundation (Elena Zagorová) shared her experience and knowledge.

The summer school hosted a total of 26 students of all study levels from 11 universities: 7 students from Ulysseus member universities (4 from University of Seville, Spain; 2 from Université Côte d'Azur, France; 1 from Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland) and other partner universities of TUKE (3 from Prague University of Economics and Business and 2 from University of Pardubice, Czech Republic; 1 from Technical university Dresden, Germany; 2 from Technical University of Cluj Napoca, Romania; 2 from Rzeszów University of Technology and 1 from University of Life Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 4 from CNM Paris, France and 4 from Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania).
The group of international participants was complemented by two representatives of Ulysseus student organisation UlySA, local team at TUKE – Klaudia Muzeláková (EkF) and Patrik Polák (TUKE Faculty of Arts).
They came from 4 continents (Africa, America, Asia and Europe) and 16 countries (Afghanistan, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Tanzania, and Yemen).
The summer school was organised as a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) supporting the internationalisation and mobility of students.

The programme offered a diverse mix of high-quality lectures, workshops, fieldwork, and practical activities, allowing participants to explore various aspects of urban development in Košice.

Introductory online kick-off meeting introduced the topic and organisation of the following onsite part of the event.
The event was officially opened at the University science park TECHNICOM by the TUKE rector, Peter Mésároš and dean of the Faculty of Economics, Michal Šoltés, as well as distinguished guests. Invited experts introduced the summer school theme through lectures.
The first day culminated at TUKE University Library in an international conference from Magnetize Series by Business Košice titled Magnetize Conference 2026: Building Homes & Keeping Talent. The conference program featured speakers such as Joost Nieuwenhujizen, Managing Director of the European Federation for Living (Amsterdam, Netherlands/online), Peter Nijkamp, Karima Kourtit, Abdul Shaban, Neil Reid, Bruce Newbold, Mark Tirpak and representatives of UlySA (Theo Bloemen/online and Patrik Polák).
During the week, participants had the opportunity to take part in a roundtable discussion on the future of housing, organized by Creative Industry Košice, which brought together representatives from the public sector (the City of Košice), as well as the private and academic sectors.

Lectures, workshops but also intensive team work sessions (as part of the Hack the City block) fulfilled the following days taking part mainly in the University Science Park TECHNICOM. Students had the opportunity to consult with invited experts daily during the Meet the Professors block. The programme also included fieldwork: visits to partner companies (IBM Košice, Integrated Health and Social Services Centre Košice – organization Everyone for Family, non-profit organization, and the ETP Slovakia Community Centre in Lunik IX), selected laboratories within the TUKE campus, and a guided tour of the city of Košice.
On the fourth day, during the Bootcamp block, teams finalised their proposals for the X-factors of Košice and attended open class organised by European university Ulysseus with innovative lecture by the globally renowned Professor Neil Reid (The Beer Professor) from the University of Toledo (USA) at the Hostinec Brewery.

The week-long efforts culminated on the final day, with teams presenting their findings and proposals. Discussions with experts and invited guests followed the teams’ presentations.

Coline Andrade (CNAM Paris, France): “I had the opportunity to participate in the "Home: The X-Factor in Future Cities" Summer School in Slovakia—specifically, in Košice—and it was an exceptional experience, both academically and personally. This week of exchange and discovery allowed me to deepen my knowledge of a timely and essential topic linked to my current academic path, while immersing myself in a different culture and meeting people from diverse backgrounds (Canada, Tanzania, India-Mumbai, etc.). The Summer School’s theme, centered on the concept of housing in the cities of the future, was of particular interest to me. The program was divided into five distinct yet interconnected topics: Housing Governance, Urban Vitality, Climate Resilience, Smart Cities, and the Caring City. I chose to focus on Urban Vitality; this track demonstrated that, beyond the physical city itself, there are significant underlying issues—such as quality of life and personal fulfillment within an urban environment. The courses offered were varied, stimulating, and perfectly complementary. They encouraged us to reflect on how cities can evolve to address the social, environmental, and human challenges of today and tomorrow. The various speakers—hailing from diverse disciplines, backgrounds, and countries—offered rich and inspiring perspectives. Their expertise, combined with their willingness to engage with us, contributed significantly to the quality of the experience. Beyond the academic sessions, the group work was a real asset. Collaborating with international students allowed me to discover different ways of working, approaching issues, and developing collective solutions. The diversity of backgrounds and cultures enriched every discussion and demonstrated the importance of international cooperation in addressing contemporary challenges. This Summer School was also a fantastic opportunity to discover a different culture. Living for several days in an environment unlike my own in France enabled me to observe new lifestyle habits, interact with locals, and gain a better understanding of the host country's unique characteristics. These moments outside the classroom were just as educational as the coursework itself; they helped me develop an open mind, adaptability, and curiosity. The personal connections I made will undoubtedly remain among the most memorable aspects of the experience. I had the chance to meet students from various countries, each bringing their own history, culture, and perspective on the world. Despite our differences, we quickly established a genuine group dynamic and built strong relationships based on sharing, mutual support, and camaraderie. Our interactions—whether during workshops, meals, or organized activities—were incredibly enriching, and I hope they will continue long after the Summer School ended. This experience also boosted my confidence, particularly regarding my ability to communicate in an international setting, work in a multicultural team, and step out of my comfort zone. It reinforced my belief that European exchange programs offer immense value, both personally and academically. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Erasmus+ and to all the organizers, instructors, and speakers who made this Summer School possible. Their dedication, warm welcome, and excellent organization played a major role in the success of the experience. In conclusion, I have gained far more than just academic knowledge from this Summer School. I am returning with new skills, countless memories, international friendships, and a broader perspective on the challenges facing the cities of tomorrow. This experience will remain a significant milestone in my academic journey—one that I can incorporate into my current degree—and I would unhesitatingly recommend it to any student who has the opportunity to participate in a similar Erasmus program. I would like to thank Katarina, as well as all the teachers and organizers, for their attentiveness, their help, and the warmth they shared throughout the week.”

Shayesteh Hamidkhaniha (University of Seville, Spain): “I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to you and the entire organizing team. The Summer Institute 2026 was truly an incredible and enriching experience. Everything was absolutely wonderful, and the intensive week we spent in Košice was immensely helpful for our academic and professional growth in this field. It has truly left a lasting impression on me”

Speaker Mark Tirpak (Virginia Tech, USA): “Thank you so much for the chance to assist with the Summer Institute! I would love to stay involved with any future offerings, and I'm very much enjoying continuing to think about Slovakia as I begin my summer teaching at Virginia Tech — many of my students this summer are studying construction management, so I'm curious if any will respond to the challenge of housing costs and availability in Košice (noting the additional puzzle of apparently 15,000 owned but vacant units in the city currently). Thanks, as well, for connecting me with CIKE via the roundtable discussion on Wednesday. If you need any assistance from me via distance, etc. in the coming weeks or months, I'm happy to help!”

The Summer School “Home: The X-Factor in Future Housing” created a stimulating platform for exploring new perspectives, innovative concepts, and future-oriented approaches to housing. Through a dynamic combination of lectures, workshops, fieldwork, and collaborative discussions, the intensive programme brought together students, researchers, experts, and international partners to reflect on the evolving meaning of home and its role in shaping sustainable and inclusive living environments.
The final presentations demonstrated that the “X-factor” of future housing extends beyond the physical aspects of buildings and spaces. It lies in the ability to create places that respond to changing societal needs, support community development, enhance quality of life, and strengthen the connection between people and their living environment. The ideas and proposals developed by the young researchers provided inspiring and practical perspectives that can contribute to the further improvement of the TUKE campus and its integration within the urban context of Košice.
The successful realization of the Summer School was made possible through the strong commitment and collaboration of the Technical University of Košice (TUKE), its partner universities—particularly those involved within the European University Ulysseus initiative—international experts, and the valuable support of sponsors and project partners.
We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to making this event a success. Their expertise, engagement, and enthusiasm created a meaningful environment for knowledge exchange, interdisciplinary cooperation, and the development of innovative ideas for the future of housing. We believe that similar initiatives will continue to help us explore the key factors that define successful homes and sustainable living environments in the years to come.
 

Special thanks go to our event partners and sponsors: The Regional Science Academy (TRSA), RSAI, Creative Industry Košice, VISIT Košice, Cyklokuchyňa Košice and IBM.

The vision of Ulysseus European University for 2030 is to develop an excellency-recognized and internationally attractive open to the world, persons-centred and entrepreneurial European University for the citizens of the future. By doing so, our ambition is to contribute to shape the European Higher Education and Research Areas, and hence the future of Europe.
Ulysseus, one of the 65 alliances of European Universities selected by the European Commission to become the universities of the future, opens up opportunities for students, teachers, and researchers from partner universities for their education, mutual mobilities, and new cutting-edge research projects. The Ulysseus European University was established in 2020, and its current members are the University of Seville (Spain, alliance coordinator), University of Genoa (Italy), Université Côte d’Azur (Nice, France), Technical University of Košice, MCI | The Entrepreneurial School® (Innsbruck, Austria), Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Helsinki, Finland), University of Münster (Germany) and the University of Montenegro (Podgorica, Montenegro).
The Ulysseus European University in Slovakia is supported by resources from the European Union and the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
Further information about the Ulysseus European University: www.ulysseus.eu

• The event was co-financed from Erasmus+ programme funds
• For more information about the event and its outcomes: summerinstitute.tuke.sk
• More information on Ulysseus European University: www.ulysseus.eu

Photo credits: Daniela Surmiková, Katarína Valentová, and Matúš Vasilenko.
Contacts: Peter Džupka (peter.dzupka@tuke.sk), Katarína Valentová (katarina.valentova@tuke.sk)