How do you move from discussing innovation to actually experiencing it? The EUVECA Twente Hub provided a powerful answer by bringing together education, research and healthcare practice in a dynamic international exchange focused on future healthcare skills.
Hosted in the Dutch region of Twente, the programme connected Saxion University of Applied Sciences, the University of Twente and ZGT Hospital with partners from Germany, including the University of Lübeck and the University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein. Over two intensive seminar days, participants explored how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Extended Reality (XR), simulation-based learning and digital health solutions are reshaping both healthcare delivery and healthcare education.
The programme combined site visits, live demonstrations and interactive dialogue. Participants experienced AI applications embedded in hospital workflows, explored XR-supported learning environments and visited advanced simulation facilities where future healthcare professionals train in realistic, technology-rich settings. Discussions went beyond inspiration: partners reflected on how to integrate these technologies into curricula, how to ensure ethical and responsible use, and how to scale innovation sustainably across regions.
What made the Twente Hub particularly valuable was the strong alignment between education, research and clinical practice. By showcasing how universities and hospitals in Twente collaborate around applied technological innovation, the visit demonstrated how regional ecosystems can effectively prepare the future healthcare workforce. EUVECA provided the trusted framework that enabled open exchange, shared learning objectives and identification of complementary expertise across regions.
The collaboration strengthened mutual trust between the Twente and Lübeck partners and resulted in concrete follow-up plans for mobility, exchange and joint education and research initiatives. At the same time, the Twente Hub reinforced EUVECA’s role as a catalyst for connecting regional innovation agendas across Europe.
By transforming international exchange into tangible learning experiences, the EUVECA Twente Hub clearly demonstrated how cross-border collaboration can directly contribute to building the future skills needed for Europe’s healthcare systems.
Follow our work on the EUVECA project website www.euveca.eu and on our European Learning Platform www.edu4health.eu.
