From 20 to 22 May, Breda University of Applied Sciences hosted the very first KreativEU International Student Festival. For three days, our campus and city became the meeting point for over 90 students from all 11 universities within the KreativEU European University Alliance. A milestone — not just for BUas, but for the entire consortium.

Three days in Breda 
Wednesday kicked off with a welcome drinks evening at the Space Bar on our campus. Students arrived from across Europe and met each other for the first time — goodie bags in hand, name stickers on, and plenty of conversation already flowing (check out the first video on the right).

Thursday started on campus with a flag-raising ceremony outside the Horizon Building. The KreativEU flag was raised by three representatives: Jorrit Snijder (President of the BUas Executive Board), Rebeka Juhászová (President of the KreativEU Student Union) and Edoardo Pettinari (Vice-President of the KreativEU Student Union).

The flag ceremony
After an opening session and campus tours led by our own BUas student ambassadors, the group headed into the city for an afternoon of activities: a guided walking tour through Breda, a boat trip along the singels, and a tasting at Big Belly — wrapping up the tour at the Food Hall.

Campus & Breda tour
Friday opened with something special: an AI ethics game developed especially for this festival by BUas AI trainers' team. The KreativEU students were the very first to play it. Deliberately mixed groups — with students from different countries sitting together at each table — sparked exactly the kind of conversations you'd hope for: nuanced, personal, and at times surprisingly heated. Joining the session were also a number of students currently enrolled in BUas's Global Leadership track, adding even more depth to the discussion and creating new international connections along the way. The session was warmly received — and if this was just the first playtest, we're excited to see where the game goes next!

Afterwards, partner organisation BRESS Sports took over for outdoor games in the sunshine, complete with a photo booth. Meanwhile, the KreativEU Student Union, a group with representatives from each KreativEU university, participated in a Lego Serious Play workshop — building and reflecting together in a hands-on, creative format.

AI Ethics Game, Sports with BRESS & Lego Serious Play 
The festival closed with the ESN Gala at the Grote Kerk, Breda's stunning 700-year-old church. Hosted by ESN Breda, a longstanding BUas partner organisation celebrating their 10th anniversary, the evening was a fitting finale. Dressed in gala attire, students celebrated the end of three extraordinary days surrounded by history, music, and new friendships.

More than a programme
What made this festival meaningful wasn't just the schedule. Throughout the three days, participants stayed in touch via a shared group chat. By the final evening, students were exchanging LinkedIn profiles and filling each other's camera rolls with memories. The connections made here go beyond the festival — they're the start of a European professional network these students will carry throughout their careers.

More content from the festival can be found on the KreativEU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreativeu_university