U!READ kicks off: Six books to reflect on U!REKA’s values

The first session of U!READ, U!REKA‘s book club, took place on 29 October, bringing together seven participants from two of the European university alliance’s partner institutions: four representatives from Polytechnic University of Lisbon and three from Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, including academic staff, administrative staff and one student.

For this session, participants were invited to bring a book that they associated with U!REKA’s values: inclusion, co-creation and boldness.

The selection included books from a variety of genres and fields, ranging from literary and creative works to publications exploring social and political issues.

Books shared by the participants

Democracy – Eleven writers and leaders on what it is – and why it matters, by Margaret Atwood, Mary Beard, Erica Benner, Kaja Kallas, Aditi Mittal, Vjosa Osmani, Adela Raz, Elif Shafak, Lola Shoneyin, Yuan Yang and Lea Ypi.
The Cathedral of the Sea, by Ildefonso Falcones (original Spanish title: La Catedral del Mar).
Homeland, by Fernando Aramburu (original Spanish title: Patria).
Brother of Sleep, by Robert Schneider (original German title: Schlafes Bruder).
Blindness, by José Saramago (original Portuguese title: Ensaio sobre a Cegueira).
Three Illustrated Stories (unofficial English translation), by Almada Negreiros (original Portuguese title: Três Histórias Desenhadas).

During the discussion, participants identified the U!REKA’s values within the books in different ways. In some cases, they were reflected in the stories and characters; in others, they were connected to the authors themselves, their personal journeys and their engagement with society.

Beyond the books themselves, the meeting offered an opportunity to exchange reading habits and experiences. Participants shared their enthusiasm for reading, while also acknowledging the challenges of finding the time and opportunity to read amid their daily routines.

The next U!READ session is scheduled for 26 November and will be hosted by colleagues from Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. Further information will be shared soon.

About U!READ

U!READ is a collaborative U!REKA initiative that promotes monthly online shared reading sessions for the Alliance’s academic community. Through books, it aims to give a voice to participants’ individual experiences and foster intercultural dialogue.

Each session revolves around a book or a shared theme, creating a space for connection and the exchange of ideas from an interdisciplinary perspective, where different experiences, cultures and ways of thinking come together.

U!READ kicks off: Six books to reflect on U!REKA’s values