Innovation Challenges for Students
The EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges are dynamic, cross-university initiatives designed to engage students in addressing real-world problems through collaborative, challenge-based learning. These programs foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact across EUTOPIA's member institutions.
Key features include:
- Interdisciplinary Teams: Students from diverse academic backgrounds collaborate, bringing unique perspectives to problem-solving.
- Real-World Problems: Challenges are sourced from public and private stakeholders, ensuring relevance and impact.
- Skill Development: Participants enhance skills in critical thinking, communication, and project management.
- Cultural Exchange: Engagement with peers from different countries fosters intercultural understanding.
EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges are open to Bachelor’s and Master’s students from member universities. Calls for participation are announced periodically, and selected students receive support for travel, accommodation, and meals.
Why Participate?
- Hands-On Experience: Apply academic knowledge to real-world problems.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, mentors, and industry professionals across Europe.
- Personal Growth: Develop soft skills and gain confidence in a multicultural environment.
Upcoming Event
EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges for Students at VUB - Autumn School on Multilingualism
The next installment of the EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges for Students is here! From 17 until 21 of November, 80 students from across our alliance will unite in Brussels to tackle challenges multilingualism poses in our contemporary societies. Join the challenge at Vrije Universiteit Brussel!
Some challenges students will focus on during this week include:
- What challenges do highly multilingual societies face? Which innovations emerge in such diverse societies?
- How do multilingual societies cater to the communicative needs of their population?
- Which innovative approaches have been developed in multilingual societies to address the challenges of communicative diversity?
- How can language policy and planning remain manageable in a highly diversified linguistic setting?
- How do speakers themselves navigate their multilingual environment?
- How do multilingual societies stimulate innovative cultural production in e.g. literature, music, film?
- What challenges do artists face in multilingual societies? How do they find their public?
- How does cultural policy address multilingual realities?
- In a multilingual society, what separates people, and what creates cohesion?
Past Events
- Innovation Challenge at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (May 13–15, 2025)
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Focusing on the theme "Unmasking the Truth: Tackling Fake News Together," students addressed issues such as misinformation, deepfakes, and the impact of fake news on democracy. Over three days, participants collaborated in teams to develop innovative solutions to these challenges.
Click here to find out more. - Discovery Week at CY Cergy Paris University (November 13–17, 2024)
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Students worked on challenges related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including gamification for language learning and marketing strategies for eco-friendly products. Activities included team-building exercises, collaborative workshops, and final presentations at ESSEC Business School.
Click here to find out more. - Discovery Week at Babeș-Bolyai University (April 15–19, 2024)
- Participants engaged in team-building activities, design thinking workshops, and tackled challenges presented by Romanian companies. The week culminated in pitch presentations, where student groups presented their proposed solutions to a panel of experts.
Click here to find out more.