BALANCE Project meeting in Kajaani in Finland

From 11 to 14 March 2026, representatives of the Faculty of Management of Comenius University Bratislava – Martin Krajčík, Nora Hlivárová, and Eva Kostrecová – participated in the second in‑person working meeting of the international project consortium of the BALANCE project. The meeting was hosted by Kajaani University of Applied Sciences (KAMK) in Finland.

The main objective of the meeting was to assess the project’s progress to date and to finalise Work Package 2 (WP2), which focuses on the analysis of existing knowledge and student engagement and is led by the Faculty of Management of Comenius University. A key outcome of the discussions was the approval of the final version of the analytical report, which will serve as an expert foundation for the subsequent implementation phase of the project within Work Package 3 (WP3).

The meeting programme was structured into several strategic blocks. Following an introductory campus tour, partners participated in working sessions (Strategy Sessions I–III), during which they discussed the results of the student questionnaire survey, shared their approaches to student involvement in project activities, and coordinated the next steps of the project. An important part of the discussions also focused on aligning methodological approaches, planning dissemination activities, and defining tasks, timelines, and responsibilities of individual partners.

Special attention was devoted to the transition to the implementation phase of the project (WP3), including the proposal to establish a network of student ambassadors and to strengthen the role of mentors and educators in supporting a healthy lifestyle and student well‑being. The meeting also provided space to identify new opportunities for cooperation, including the preparation of joint scientific publications in international journals indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases.

Alongside the working programme, participants had the opportunity to become more familiar with the host university, its infrastructure, and its approach to working with students, as well as with the cultural and social environment of the city of Kajaani. Informal activities, such as a joint city tour and partner networking events, contributed to strengthening cooperation and building relationships within the international consortium.

The participation of the Faculty of Management of Comenius University in this meeting significantly contributed to enhancing its international profile in the areas of research and educational cooperation. The knowledge and experience gained will be utilised in the implementation of further project activities, in engaging students in the project, and in the development of both professional and outreach outputs.

The BALANCE project thus continues to promote international cooperation and supports the active involvement of students in topics related to health, well‑being, and the quality of life of young people.