The second cohort of the joint Erasmus+ imAGEin Master's program (biology of aging) is off to a great start!
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on the September 10, 2026
The international Erasmus+ ImAGEin program, coordinated by Université Côte d'Azur, welcomed the students of its second cohort for three exceptional orientation days.
From September 2 to 4, Université Côte d’Azur welcomed the 29 students of the second cohort of the joint Erasmus Mundus (EMJM) imAGEin master’s program to Antibes for their “Welcome Week”—three days dedicated to learning about the program, meeting the people who will be supporting them, and, above all, integrating into the imAGEin community.
“imAGEin”: An innovative two-year joint master’s program
The imAGEin joint master’s program brings together the expertise of five leading European universities: Université Côte d’Azur (France), the University of Cologne and CECAD (Germany), Sciences Sorbonne Université (France), the University of Seville (Spain), and the University of Coimbra (Portugal).
This program addresses the growing scientific and societal challenges associated with an aging population. By focusing on the biology of aging, imAGEin aims to contribute to the development of innovative and sustainable approaches to improve healthy life expectancy and reduce the socioeconomic impact of an aging population.
The imAGEin curriculum combines international mobility with a personalized study plan. The program is structured around two one-year study cycles: students spend their first year at one of the five partner universities and their second year at another partner university, depending on the track they have chosen. The three tracks offered focus on basic research, applied biomedical research, and innovation and biotechnology.
This two-university structure allows students to develop a set of complementary skills and to benefit, throughout their studies, from the specific expertise, research environments, and academic communities of the various partners.
By combining multidisciplinary scientific training, international mobility, and diverse research opportunities, imAGEin prepares students to contribute to our understanding of aging and to the development of innovative solutions to address one of the major challenges facing societies around the world.
Welcome Week: A Unique First Experience for Carefully Selected Students
Selected from a large pool of applicants, these talented students from 16 different countries are embarking on an ambitious two-year academic journey. For some, this is their first experience in France—or even in Europe. Beyond getting to know their new academic environment, this orientation week provided an opportunity to build connections, discover a new culture, and meet the people who will share this international adventure with them over the next two years.
One of the highlights of this orientation week was the chance to bring together two generations of imAGEin students: the new class of 2026–2028 and the pioneering class of 2025–2027 (which was attending its “Summer School” during the same week).
Through workshops, poster sessions, thematic discussions, and networking activities, these first few days provided an opportunity to build connections, foster collaboration, and strengthen the rapidly growing imAGEin community.
New students had the opportunity to meet those who had already taken their first steps in the program, share experiences, and ask questions about life, mobility, and research within imAGEin. Bringing together the program’s pioneers and those who are now writing its next chapter, this gathering served as a reminder that imAGEin is much more than a degree: it is an international community that is being built and growing, generation after generation.
A week to remember through many memorable moments:
- The “Meet Me in 180 Seconds” initiative allowed each new student to introduce themselves to the entire community—not only through their academic background, but also through their interests, experiences, jobs, passions, and the stories that make each of them unique. What a great way to start putting faces, personalities, and stories to the new class!
- At the same time, the first graduating class shared their experiences with internships and first-year lab rotations, giving new students a first glimpse of what lies ahead on their own journey.
- The program also featured an inspiring talk by Bertrand Friguet, professor emeritus of biology at Sorbonne University, who shared his reflections and insights drawn from his own career in aging research, while encouraging students to consider the many paths their own professional journeys might take.
A Community of Experts in the Making
Over the course of these three days, academic presentations, discussions, interactive activities, and informal gatherings all contributed to a common goal: building connections from the very beginning. Because imAGEin is not limited to the study of the biology of aging across Europe. It’s about learning together, sharing experiences, discovering new perspectives, and building an international community that grows stronger with each new generation of students.
EUR LIFE would like to thank all the local coordinators, their representatives, and everyone who helped make this orientation week a memorable start for our new students.
Welcome to the imAGEin Class of 2026–2028—your adventure begins here!
