Dr Don O’Neill spotlights French language through EU-CONEXUS
The cultural festival, themed “Welcome to the Hotel Mediterranean,” is the culmination of nearly two years of preparation. It transformed Limassol into a vibrant stage for art, culture, and dialogue centred on the Mediterranean’s diverse identity, explored through a packed schedule of activities and events. A group of sixteen staff and students from SETU represented the university and took part in meetings alongside the festival.
The festival kicked off on 13 May with an official opening ceremony at Frederick University followed by an open-air student art exhibition at Molos Seaside Park. The exhibition showcased creative works that explored themes of migration, hospitality, and coastal life. SETU students Anna Bekmansurova, Eimear Ryan Power and Patricia Cavanagh had their work exhibited as part of the festival. This platform highlighted the strength of SETU’s arts programmes, with students proudly representing the university on an international stage through their creative contributions and active participation.
Reflecting on the opportunity to exhibit her work Anna Bekmansurova, Visual Art student, SETU commented:
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend the EU-CONEXUS Festival in Limassol. It was an honour to represent SETU by showcasing one of my artworks. This experience allowed me to network with students from different European universities, all united by a shared passion for sustainability and creative expression. It made me think of the importance of international collaboration in contemporary world. It has motivated me to continue exploring themes of important world issues and sustainability, and the role of art and culture and how they could help solve some of these problems. This festival gave me hope that even though there are different forms of art and different meanings to art, there’s also this idea that art can convey messages and make people think about ecological and sustainability problems, and maybe, at some point, even slightly make a change. I’m really thankful for the support that made this amazing experience happen”.
Patricia Cavanagh, Visual Art student, SETU, added “It introduced me to other cultures and students from far and wide. I enjoyed the visual and social aspects of Limassol as a growing city combining old and new. The interactions with other international students helped my social skills enormously and has given me courage to consider travelling more in the future. I feel this trip has contributed to keeping my creativity alive and inspiring my artworks”.
Patricia Cavanagh, Visual Art student, SETU
Alongside the exhibition, interactive workshops invited participants to engage in urban walking tours, sustainable design projects and photography sessions that reflected on the evolving Mediterranean landscape. A programme highlight was the IamSTUDENT Congress which brought over 70 students from nine universities together to have their say about the future of student experiences that EU-CONEXUS should offer.
Sustainable Design Workshop
Following on from that, an evening performance at the Molos Amphitheatre hosted a moving theatre performance inspired by real stories of displacement, highlighting personal journeys within the broader migration narrative. The schedule also featured sports activities along the coast, including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking and dragon boat races, blending cultural celebration with physical activity. The festival’s final day offered a unique underwater exploration of Amathus, Cyprus’ first underwater archaeological park, before closing with a festive party on the Molos Promenade. Student bands from partner universities, alongside the local group Rumba Attack, filled the night with music.
SETU Software Development student, Ihor Melashchenko commented “thanks to the mobility programme, I immersed myself into a new culture, made new friends and tried out lots of new things. I really appreciate this opportunity and look forward to participating in similar programmes in the future”.
Marketing student, Conor Moriarity said, “I loved meeting students from other universities and learning about their education systems. It’s amazing to experience different cultures!”
Workshop as part of IamSTUDENT CongressFor Kyle O’Toole, a first-year Arts student, the experience was particularly thought-provoking:
“The benefits of this EU-CONEXUS mobility have been immense. Growing up near the coast in Wexford, coastal activities have always been part of my life, but this trip gave me a much greater appreciation for the challenges of maintaining these areas. I was also introduced to many new cultures through meeting people from the eight other partner universities involved with EU-CONEXUS. Most importantly, I gained a deeper understanding of community by forming bonds with individuals across Europe that I believe will last well into the future. Without EU-CONEXUS, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity, and I’m extremely grateful—especially as international alliances and mutual respect are so vital today.”
This edition of the EU-CONEXUS Festival successfully combined artistic expression, sustainability, and community spirit—offering participants a vibrant, immersive experience of the Mediterranean’s past, present, and future.
Back row L-R Kyle O’Toole, Arts student; Tom Grinsell, Student Services; Conor Moriarty, Marketing student; Mary Boylan, Student Services. Front Row L-R Anna Bekmansurova, Visual Art student; Ryan Doyle, Arts student; Ihor Melashchenko, Software Development student; John Kennedy, Arts Student & EU-CONEXUS student board member; Patricia Cavanagh, Visual Art student.