About the Ambassadors
Aurora Alliance Ambassadors are student representatives who actively promote the values, initiatives, and opportunities of the Aurora Alliance within their home universities. They serve as a bridge between the alliance and the student community – raising awareness, encouraging engagement in Aurora programs, and contributing to the development of a more inclusive, innovative, and internationally connected higher education environment. Ambassadors also collaborate with peers across partner institutions, bringing local perspectives to the shared goals of Aurora Alliance.
Antonios
Karaiskos
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My name is Antonios Karaiskos, I am 23 years old, and I am currently a sixth-year student at the Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. As an international student, I enjoy meeting people from various cultures, and therefore I consider the opportunity to serve as an ambassador to be an invaluable experience. I believe that interacting with students from different universities will significantly improve our studies through the implementation of many innovative methods into our study programmes.
antonios.karaiskos@student.upjs.sk
antonios.karaiskos@student.upjs.sk
Lenka
Jakubócová
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I am a PhD student at the Faculty of Public Administration of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Department of Public Policy and Public Administration Theory. My academic and research interests focus mainly on innovation, regional policy and the functioning of regional innovation ecosystems. I am very pleased to have the opportunity to be part of the Aurora Alliance – not only from a personal and professional growth perspective, but mainly because I see its potential to expand the possibilities and opportunities for students of the Faculty of Public Administration, as well as our entire university. I believe that international cooperation, knowledge sharing and active participation in joint projects can significantly contribute to the development of the academic environment.
lenka.jakubocova@student.upjs.sk
lenka.jakubocova@student.upjs.sk
SOFIIA
GIPTENKO
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I am a second-year master’s student at the Faculty of Public Administration of Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. I have spent a large part of my student life taking part in activities that allow me to meet new people and gain new experiences. I enjoy communicating with others, discovering different cultures, and bringing together people with similar interests.
I see the Aurora Alliance as a space that gives students access to new experiences, connections, and opportunities. As an Aurora Ambassador, I would like to serve as a link between Aurora and UPJŠ students, helping them discover and make use of the opportunities offered by the Alliance.
sofiia.giptenko@student.upjs.sk
I see the Aurora Alliance as a space that gives students access to new experiences, connections, and opportunities. As an Aurora Ambassador, I would like to serve as a link between Aurora and UPJŠ students, helping them discover and make use of the opportunities offered by the Alliance.
sofiia.giptenko@student.upjs.sk
MANJESH GOWDA
BYALADAKERE GANGADHARA
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I am a second-year Master’s student specializing in Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence at UPJŠ, with over three years of prior industry experience in IT and software development. My academic and research interests center on applied machine learning, automated data pipelines, and healthcare technology.
As an Aurora Ambassador, I am passionate about fostering international student collaboration, promoting cross-border research initiatives, and building strong bridges between academia and technology across European partner universities. I look forward to supporting incoming and current students while championing Aurora’s mission of societal impact and global engagement.
manjesh.gowda.byaladakere.gangadhara@student.upjs.sk
As an Aurora Ambassador, I am passionate about fostering international student collaboration, promoting cross-border research initiatives, and building strong bridges between academia and technology across European partner universities. I look forward to supporting incoming and current students while championing Aurora’s mission of societal impact and global engagement.
manjesh.gowda.byaladakere.gangadhara@student.upjs.sk
MATÚŠ
JURKO
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I am a Master’s student of Botany and Plant Physiology at UPJŠ. Although I am academically dedicated to the natural sciences, alongside my studies I have been running my own company focused on managing EU-funded projects for two years. I enjoy bridging analytical thinking from the laboratory with strategic communication from the business world. Thanks to my fluency in English and Russian, as well as a wide network of international friends and my own experience with the Erasmus program, I feel very comfortable in an international environment.
As an Aurora Alliance Ambassador, I want to use these skills to connect students from different countries, support innovation, and build a modern, interconnected European university community.
matus.jurko@student.upjs.sk
As an Aurora Alliance Ambassador, I want to use these skills to connect students from different countries, support innovation, and build a modern, interconnected European university community.
matus.jurko@student.upjs.sk
