EFA26: Reflections for the Future

16 Jan, 2026

EFA26

You as co-author of EFA's Academy Days book of scholarship holders' stories!

About the Project

Building on two previous editions in 2024 and 2025 a new collection of personal stories from our scholarship holders will be created at the European Forum Alpbach 2026. The project invites participants to reflect on themes from the EFA26 programme and explore their personal as well as global significance.

Prof. Lucy English and her team, Lauren Jeffries and Daphne Francis from the Bath Spa University will support participants through story generation as well as creative inspiration and guidance during the Alpbach weeks.

Information Session

Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026, 1:30-2:30 pm

Location: CCA – Rogger-Saal

Contact: All communication via Whatsapp, send a request to join to seminars@alpbach.org

  • Themes: We encourage you to explore themes such as your view on how Europe can win on the decisive issues, a personal moment of truth, reflections on the themes discussed in seminars or studios, impactful experiences that happened throughout the Academy Days, the implementation of learnings, the role of collaboration and innovation in shaping Europe's future, and the actions needed to turn ideas into meaningful action.
  • Format: Creative or reflective writing (stories, poems, memoir, script, dialogue, etc.), fictional, professional, or academic articles/blog posts.
  • Length: one to approximately 15 book pages.
  • Language: Any language (please send drafts in English or German to the editors; final publication in your chosen language).
  • No Visuals: The book will be primarily text-focused

Start developing your story idea during your first days in Alpbach. Work on it during the second week, after the Academy Days have concluded. Polish your story and submit it to the editors via WhatsApp by 20 September. We will review your submission and contact you if we have any questions; we will not alter your content. Please note that the final selection is at the editors' discretion.

Editorial Team

Bath Spa University: Lucy English, Daphne Francis, Lauren Jeffries

EFA: Nadine Beisteiner

  • General information will be shared in the WhatsApp group (send a request to join to seminars@alpbach.org).
  • On-site Info Session: We will announce times for 1:1 support sessions during the week, around lunchtime in the CCA cafeteria, via Whatsapp.
  • Individual editorial support after EFA will be provided 1:1 via WhatsApp with one of the editors (until 20 September). 
  • Co-authorship: Your names will appear in the Table of Content and at the beginning of your story
  • Distribution: The book will be available on the EFA website as free PDF and as a paperback through Amazon Self Publishing (including ISBN; expected price: under EUR 5)
  • Code of Conduct: The EFA Code of Conduct applies. Content may be inspiring, critical, and thought-provoking, but should not be excessively provocative.
  • Compensation: Editors and authors will not receive any financial compensation. Any revenue generated through Amazon will be used to cover costs or donated.
  • Book Licence: The book will be published under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence. You are free to reuse your story in any form.
  • Use of AI: Please disclose any us of AI and ensure 100% human oversight.
  • Withdrawal: You may withdraw from the project at any time before publication. After publication, you may request the removal of your story at any time. A new edition will then be published without it (processing time: approximately three weeks).
  • Download the full books for free or view them on Amazon: 2024 & 2025

You are welcome to forward this information to scholarship holders and participants of the Academy Days who are interested in becoming co-authors.

Any questions?

Please contact Nadine Beisteiner at seminars@alpbach.org 

Impressions from EFA25

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