EUGLOH Walks the Talk: Third Edition of Connected Walking Challenge Brings Alliance Together Once Again
This year’s challenge brought together 139 participants, who collectively recorded 25,095,022 steps, walked 17,567 kilometres—the equivalent of travelling from Paris to Sydney and back—cycled 1,388 kilometres, and avoided an estimated 4,132 kg of CO₂ emissions by choosing active mobility.
Hosted on the Kiplin app, participants formed teams of up to three members from their home university and earned points by walking, cycling, completing wellbeing activities and taking part in quizzes. A team photo competition celebrated the enthusiasm, team spirit and shared experience behind each group.
The competition showcased the strong commitment of the Alliance’s universities. The winning team, “Pastel de Nata Fuelled” from the University of Porto, finished first with 22,402 points, followed by “The Walkaholics” from the Universidad de Alcalá (22,059 points). “Walkin’ for sure” from Université Paris-Saclay completed the podium of the top three prize-winning teams with 20,850 points.
More than a walking challenge
Beyond the impressive figures, the initiative had a tangible impact on participants’ daily habits. Average physical activity increased from 7,639 steps per day before the challenge to 10,658 steps during the event—an increase of almost 40%. The challenge was fully inclusive and open to everyone, including wheelchair users. Alongside physical activity, participants completed wellbeing sessions and interactive quizzes, making the experience both educational and engaging.
Beyond the competition, participants highlighted the sense of community created across the Alliance.
Rodrigo Cardeira, from the winning team at the University of Porto, said:
“It turned out to be a fun mix of strategy and creativity that kept us active and motivated. But the absolute best part was the community. Seeing the same familiar names popping up every day created a genuine sense of connection—it made Europe feel a whole lot smaller and closer together.”
Sandra Sanz Molpeceres, from the Universidad de Alcalá, added:
“We really enjoyed taking part in the challenge and staying active every day. We also loved the workout sessions in the app and the team challenges. We're already looking forward to future editions!”
By combining physical activity, teamwork and wellbeing, EUGLOH Walks the Talk continues to strengthen connections across the nine partner universities while encouraging the EUGLOH community to turn healthy habits into everyday practice. The activity’s name is inspired by the English expression to walk the talk, meaning to put one’s words into action and reflects EUGLOH’s commitment to promoting its values through practical and engaging initiatives across the Alliance.