Una Europa Student Award showcases student art in Edinburgh

2026 marks the third year of the Una Europa Student Award art contest. Like the years prior, this year’s competition encourages students from all 11 alliance universities to get creative and share their vision for what a University of the Future might look like through mixed media and visual art submissions. 

See previous winners and enter the 2026 contest below.

In the competition’s inaugural year, six winners were chosen in alignment with Una Europa’s six guiding principles: 

• sustainability and climate protection
• diversity and inclusion
• research and innovation
• student and staff mobility/exchange
• teaching and learning
• global engagement beyond Europe.

Joshua Ibanda, University of Edinburgh student and Mastercard Foundation Wits-Edinburgh Sustainable African Futures (WESAF) fellow, won the Student Award prize in the topic of Sustainability and Climate Protection. Studying for a Master’s in Sustainable African Futures, Joshua created a striking artwork depicting the Una Europa partner universities as 11 symbolic pots.

“The idea behind my artwork is a sustainable futurism linked to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals”, explains Joshua. "The pots, which symbolise oldest forms of sustainable science and technology, are tilted at an angle; this allows water from the pots to pour into the sea of knowledge which is at the bottom of the picture. The pouring symbolises community outreach, global partnerships, and inclusivity."

"The tilting of the pots symbolises the idea that academics at the University of the Future should be challenged at all times. This will motivate academics to 'pour the water'. I hope that academics at the University of the Future should nurture and instil a culture of tilting learners’ minds to become more innovative. This will allow students to look for sustainable solutions to solve wicked sustainability challenges and climate disasters."

Following his Student Award win, Joshua, now pursuing a PhD in Sustainable African Futures, also sat on the jury to select the Edinburgh winner for the following edition of the Student Award.

The 2025 Una Europa Student Art Contest invited students to submit visual artworks on the topic 'Alliance'.  

Edinburgh’s winner was East Asian Studies Masters student Cristina García Arranz with her textile artwork, 'Living Heritage'. Viewing the University as a place with a rich cultural heritage, Cristina decided to create a tree with symbolic meaning in each of its constitutive parts.

"First, the roots symbolise the deep historical roots of the University of Edinburgh, established in 1582," Cristina explains. "Second, the trunk represents the University community, whose diversity of backgrounds, cultures, identities, and experiences gives vitality and colour to the University. Third, the branches represent the different disciplines taught and researched at the University, each growing and expanding in multiple directions."

"Fourth, the green leaves represent the individuals who constitute the University community. Their different shades of green symbolise the continuous renewal of the University community as individuals come and go. Fifth, the red flowers symbolise moments of blossoming potential and achievement. Sixth, the dark green fruits represent the contributions brought by the University community to the world. Lastly, the spider web woven into one of the branches (top right) represents the intricate web of connections formed within the University community and beyond."

"To sum up, being part of the University of Edinburgh means being part of a living heritage."

The second prize of the 2025 Art Contest for Edinburgh was won by French and History of Art student Agatha Shepherd, who submitted an evocative black and gold ink artwork titled 'Of Dreams and Gravity' inspired by dialogue between undergraduate and mature students. 

"I found the themes of the contest to mirror my work", explains Agatha. "With a focus on unity and heritage, I believe that a collaborative work based on the educational community, defying the stereotypical generational boundaries of students, and encouraging connection, would truly work well in representing the ethos of the art contest and the university experience."

The winning artworks of the 2025 Student Art Contest are being showcased as part of a travelling exhibition at a number of Una Europa universities throughout 2025/26.

This year’s Student Award contest "Imagine it, film it, shape it!" invites students to submit an original video expressing their vision for the core values of higher education and the evolving role of universities.

Inspired by the topic? You have until 8 March 2026 to submit your video to showcase your creativity and for a chance to win a fully funded place to the next Una Europa Student Congress in the Hague!