BUP Student Conference 2025
The 2025 BUP Student Conference was held in Tallinn between 23-26 April, hosted by Tallinn University. In total 78 students from 46 BUP participating universities took part in the event. All ten BUP countries were represented at the event. The central tenet of the event is to offer bachelor and master students from the Baltic Sea Region the opportunity to come together and interact with fellow students and experts in an interdisciplinary and regional setting with a sustainability focus. This year's conference was entitled 'Water and the Baltic City: Building Climate Resilience'.
Lecturers, facilitators and guides represented Tallinn University, Estonian University of Life Sciences, University of Tartu, Stockholm Environment Institute Tallinn Center, Department of Environmental Protection (Tallinn City Government) and Uppsala University.
Objectives of the training
This event aimed to give bachelor’s and master’s students from BUP participating universities the opportunity to meet, discuss and gain knowledge about sustainability challenges in an academic, interdisciplinary and regional context.
Further objectives of the conference were to introduce and expand the students' skills in different academic activities and to reflect on the role of water in building climate resilience in urban environments. Through workshops, lectures and excursions, the students were encouraged to become problem-solving thinkers.
The Student Parliament session is a vital part of the conference, offering students the opportunity to run as a candidate for the position of BUP Student Representative on the BUP International Board. It was a chance for students to make their voices heard and approved motions are forwarded to the BUP International Board. The session also provided an opportunity for students to develop their organisitation skills and moderate discussions. During the event two new BUP Student Representatives were chosen. Read more about them in this news article about the BUP Student Representatives.
Students and experts at the BUP Student Conference in Tallinn. Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Evaluation Student Conference
The evaluation was completed by 68 students on the final day of the conference.
Overall, the feedback highlighted many positive aspects of the event. The program of lectures, workshops, and excursions was well received, with particular appreciation for the combination of indoor and outdoor sessions. A standout moment for many participants was the keynote lecture by Simon Bell on 'The Role of Urban Blue Spaces for Human Health and Wellbeing'.
The social activities, including the cultural party and opportunities to make new friends and memories, were also highly valued.
Feedback on accommodation and meals was more mixed, though generally positive, with average ratings of 7.5/10 for food and 8/10 for accommodation.
Quotes from the evaluation
”I liked the different workshops and being able to apply my creativity during them.”
”I loved meeting new people, getting to know Estonian culture. Also loved lectures and getting to know the struggles of Tallinn. I really enjoyed the bog excursion.”
”I liked to talk to different people from different cultures and from different sectors of study.”
”It surpassed my expectations. A lot of hands-on workshops, excursions and practical, applicable knowledge, not just theoretical lectures, even though these were excellent and interesting as well.”
Results of the event
The students gave a rating of 8/10 in response to the question of to what extent the Student Conference has been worthwhile in attending in terms of studies, future aspirations and career.
One of the main suggestions for improvement in next year's Student Conference was to allow for more flexibility in the daily schedule. However, this view was not shared by all, as several students expressed appreciation for how the limited time was fully used.
The BUP places strong emphasis on cooperation and networking within the Baltic Sea Region. Many students responded positively to these aspects in the evaluation, highlighting new contacts, connections, and intercultural insights gained during the event.
A main objective for BUP events is for them to have an interdisciplinary focus on tackling sustainability issues, which was reflected in the event program. This aspect was also highlighted in responses to the question about what students will take away from the Student Conference, with quotes such as:
”Knowledge on new fields of study and research methods.”
”I really appreciated talking about the subject with people from different academic backgrounds.”
”That water is crucial for climate and urban resilience. Cooperation is valuable and understanding other people’s views is key in building communities.”
”An understanding that there’s many different countries but the people are still the same and people care to make our planet better which ever profession you’re aspiring to be.”
Organiser voice - Dr. Tiina Elvisto
”In preparing for the conference, we aimed to include speakers as well as workshop and excursion leaders from all Estonian universities affiliated with the BUP, along with institutions based in Tallinn, the host city. We invited leading experts in landscape architecture, social sciences, and natural sciences to shape a diverse program that reflected multiple dimensions of sustainability. As the event organizers, we were very pleased with the quality and content of the presentations, workshops, and excursions delivered by our colleagues.
As a student-centred event, our guiding principle was that students should take the lead in shaping and implementing the conference activities. We reviewed the program with them several times and allocated responsibilities accordingly. Feedback showed that, of all aspects of the event, student organizers especially valued the practical experience they gained in organizing and conducting a conference.”
Participant evaluations
- The participants rated their expectations before the event at 6.9/10.
- Participants gave the event an overall 8.5/10 rating.
- Communication between the event staff and participants was rated before the event, 8.8/10, and at the event, 9.4/10.
All overall ratings were made on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is considered negative and 10 is considered positive.
Voices of participants
Abdelrahman Abdellatif - Participant from Riga Technical University
Before the conference, I was unsure what to expect but hoped to build networks and explore Baltic Sea Region challenges. I looked forward to learning new skills through engaging workshops.
The workshops were the best part of the conference, offering valuable and practical skill-building opportunities. They sparked creative ideas and broadened my perspective on sustainability.
I’ll carry forward the warm, inspiring environment created by the organizers, which fostered collaboration. I also gained a deeper appreciation for researchers’ roles in promoting happiness and environmental safety.
Josephine Peschel - Participant from Lund University
I had never attended a multi-day conference like this before, and I did not know what to expect. I hoped to gain insights surrounding the conference topic and learn more about it in the Baltic Sea region. I was also hoping to experience a cultural exchange and meet new people interested in these subjects.
I appreciated the combination of different activities and the effort put into the scheduling of activities. The cultural party and the city tour were highlights, allowing us to learn a lot about each other and about Tallinn.
From the event I will bring with me all the lovely people I met and discovering a new country and city together with them. The excursions we did and the effort put into the conference by the organisers, hosts, professors and professionals, and the students from Tallinn University.
Zoriana Chereshnia - Participant from Khmelnytskyi National University
My expectations before the conference were mostly to obtain general knowledge on the topic, although I was very much intrigued by the mentioned in the programme excursions.
To me the best part of the conference was the distribution of students between different groups on all of the workshops and excursions, as it gave the opportunity not only to get closer with participants but to learn about their perception on the topic intertwined with their specific field.
The conference gave me knowledge on how water resources contribute to the welfare of people and the ecosystem. I find it to be beneficial in my field of planning and improving chemical manufacturing for the safety of all.
Images from the event
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Prof. Simon Bell, Estonian University of Life Sciences, gave the much appreciated keynote 'The role of urban blue spaces for human health and wellbeing'.
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Some of the students during one of the interactive workshops held during the conference.
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Assoc. Prof. Tiina Elvisto, conference designer and chief organiser, from Tallinn University welcomed the students.
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Jürgen Karvak, University of Tartu, held the workshop titled ‘Urban water body ecology’.
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Students representing Finland in front of some national snacks and drinks that were shared during the cultural party.
Photo: Kiana Islamian
In many of the workshops the students got to work in groups made up of participants from different countries and academic backgrounds.
Photo: Esme Kassak
Some students photographed during the workshop 'Nature conservation works in the coastal area of Kopli Bay: restoration of habitats' held by Herdis Fridolin and Esme Kassak from the Department of Environmental Protection, Tallinn City Government.
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
Prof. Jaanus Terasmaa and Dr. Triinu Jesmin introducing their workshop ‘Rethinking Urban Waters: A Serious Game Workshop on Nature-Based Solutions for Climate-Resilient Cities’.
Photo: Paula Liisa Ani
The departing Student Representative Niumi Dissanayake, Poznan University of Technology, opened and held the Students' Parliament.