In November 2025, Kósa Panna, a student from the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences at Babeș-Bolyai University, took part in the EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges for Students on multilingualism in contemporary societies, hosted by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Bringing together 80 students from across the alliance, the week-long programme explored multilingualism through expert lectures, workshops, and field visits across the city. Working in diverse teams, participants examined how language shapes identity, culture, and social cohesion while developing ideas to address real-world challenges linked to multilingual societies. For Kósa, the experience became much more than an academic programme—it was a moment of personal growth and reflection.
Kósa Panna’s Experience
I never expected EUTOPIA to teach me not to worry about the chances I missed in the past, but instead to focus on the opportunities I have in the present and make the most of them. When I first arrived at EUTOPIA, I felt that everyone around me was smarter and more accomplished, and that I was just a small fish in a big ocean. At first, I even started blaming myself for not improving enough. But then I realised that comparing myself to others was pointless. What really mattered was being present, learning as much as possible, and making the most of the opportunity I had.
The biggest misconception about EUTOPIA is that it is just about travelling. That is partly true—you do get the chance to visit new places and experience a lot of the local culture. However, most of your time with EUTOPIA is actually spent in classrooms, learning and working with other students. Because of this, I would suggest that future participants think carefully about whether they are truly interested in the main theme of the programme, because you will spend a lot of time exploring it in depth.
If I had to describe my EUTOPIA experience in one word, it would be “transformative”, because it changed the way I think about myself, other people, and new opportunities.
One thing that completely pushed me out of my comfort zone was the whole experience itself. I had never been so far outside my comfort zone for such a long time. Adjusting to a new culture and being part of such a colourful and diverse group of people was challenging for me, but it was worth every moment of anxiety because it helped me grow.
I would repeat the EUTOPIA experience again tomorrow because it is a unique opportunity to meet inspiring people from different backgrounds, learn new perspectives, and challenge yourself both academically and personally.
What nobody tells you about EUTOPIA is how intense the experience can be—not only academically, but also personally. In just a few days, you build strong connections with people, learn a lot about yourself, and gain perspectives that stay with you long after the program ends.
The moment I realised that Eutopia had changed my life was when I returned home and noticed that I had started applying things I learned during that week in my everyday life. I became more open and more social, and my anxiety decreased significantly because I had learned so much about myself. Being part of such a diverse group of people forces you to define yourself in many ways, and that experience gave me a lot.
The most unexpected thing that happened to me during this experience was how kind everyone was. Both the teachers and the participants were incredibly open and supportive. That welcoming atmosphere made it much easier to share ideas and learn from each other.
I would recommend students from our university to apply to EUTOPIA events and programmes because it is an incredible opportunity to grow academically and personally.
You meet people from many different cultures, exchange ideas, and gain new perspectives that you might never encounter in your everyday university life.
The university helped make the experience successful in several ways. The application process was simple and straightforward, and communication throughout the process was clear and efficient. We also had excellent accompanying teachers, who were incredibly supportive and dedicated. I am very grateful for their commitment and the effort they put into helping us have such a meaningful and well-organised experience.
