This Blended Intensive Programme focuses on the design of technology-supported solutions that address practical challenges affecting communities, with particular attention to underserved or marginalised groups and their well-being. You will explore how engineering, communication, and sustainability perspectives can be integrated to create socio-technical interventions that improve well-being and contribute to sustainable development.

Using a human-centred design approach, you will collaborate with community representatives and local stakeholders to understand the context in which a challenge exists. This includes examining social structures, cultural practices, resource constraints, and power dynamics that influence the adoption, use, and long-term maintenance of new interventions.

Working in an interdisciplinary and international team, you will investigate a real-world challenge developed together with a partner organisation. Based on stakeholder insights and contextual analysis, you will develop feasible and context-appropriate concepts that align with community priorities. Throughout the project, you will evaluate the social, environmental, and economic implications of proposed solutions, including opportunities for circularity and resource-efficient approaches.

By combining online collaboration with an intensive on-campus experience at the University of Twente (Netherlands), the programme offers an engaging international learning environment in which you will work on meaningful sustainability challenges while developing your ability to collaborate across disciplinary, cultural, and professional boundaries.

Motivation letter is a personal statement and it might include a brief introduction of yourself, explanation why are you interested in the learning opportunity you are applying to, any relevant experience or skills that you have, your goals and how this opportunity will help you achieve them, This document should not be more than 400 words.

Motivation Letter

University of Twente

Humanitarian Engineering for Inclusive and Resilient Communities

Designing sustainable, technology-driven solutions for marginalised communities through human-centered innovation and social inclusion

European universities are currently facing major challenges within the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and research. Effective leadership, both at present and in the future, is indispensable at all levels within universities. In this context, ECIU seeks to engage its students as the next generation of leaders and managers. This challenge is unique in the world and is distinguished by its diversity in several respects, bringing together participants from different academic disciplines and from across ECIU member universities.

This student-focused challenge builds upon the longstanding Leadership Development Programme for ECIU staff, which has been successfully delivered for over twenty years. This challenge is specifically designed for students who may not yet possess formal leadership experience but who demonstrate a strong interest in acquiring and developing such skills. The insights and competencies acquired through this challenge are intended to be transferable to participants’ ongoing and future involvement in ECIU activities.

The challenge has different focuses:

- The exploration and further development of personal leadership styles,
- Examination and discussions of the latest developments in (European) higher education policy,
- Understanding and exploration of vision and strategy development, organizational cultures and leadership styles within universities,
- Experimental learning through an institutional immersion at the University of Trento, including site visits to innovative projects
- Engagement in challenge-based learning by carrying out a real-life project independently in teams.

This challenge is closely aligned with the ECIU University Vision 2030, which articulates a holistic view on the interconnection of higher education, research, and innovation, emphasising the integration of these domains with both regional and the European ecosystems, with the aim of generating sustainable, societal impact through in innovative approaches. During the challenge, students will work collaboratively on real-life problems confronting universities, particularly those associated with new, flexible and personalized educational pathways, as well as broader issues concerning the establishment of a truly European university and ecosystem that serves society.

The challenge is targeted at ambitious students with a strong interest in leadership and organizational development in the public sector, especially in higher education. Affiliation with ECIU or experience in university policy work is considered advantageous.

We expect the participating students to engage fully (being full-time present) at both the online sessions and the in-presence week in Trento. Physical presence during the Trento week is compulsory, as the sessions will not be streamed. Furthermore, students must commit sufficient time to collaborative work on the challenge - during the Trento week as well as in the subsequent period.

The seminars are taught in English. The sessions are highly interactive in nature, incorporating (small-group) discussions and exercises. Accordingly, proficiency in both written and spoken English are a prerequisite for participation.

CV (Curriculum Vitae) is a document that summarizes your educational and professional history. It must provide a detailed overview of your academic and work experience, skills, achievements, and qualifications.

Member universities may require additional information from applicants. Please read the application information section carefully and include any extra required information in this section.

Other

Transcript of Records is an official document issued by your home university. It specifies the name of the institution, the academic programme you are enrolled in, the list of courses taken up until the current period, the exams or tests you passed, the grades and the credits you earned. 

Transcript of Records

University of Trento

a group of people sitting at a table with laptops

Navigating the Future of Universities in Europe

ECIU Student Leadership Development Programme - Transforming Universities in Times of Transition

Critical and innovative thinking

### **Develop Sustainable Nanotechnology Solutions with a Global Team**

This course challenges you to co-create innovative, eco-friendly products using nanotechnology tools. Working in international and multidisciplinary teams, you’ll tackle real-world challenges with guidance from expert teachers. Your mission: to design a green product that contributes to solving society’s most pressing issues.

**Why Nanotechnology?**  
Nanotechnology plays a pivotal role in sustainable development, offering solutions for **clean water, air, and energy**—key pillars of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. By integrating advanced technology with a multidisciplinary approach, this course equips you with the skills to address global challenges collaboratively.

**What You’ll Do:**

- **Focus on three key areas:** Develop sustainable products targeting **water** purification, remediation, and reuse; **air** purification; and **energy** solutions.
- **Apply what you learn:** Use life cycle analysis and recyclability principles to design impactful solutions.
- **Collaborate globally:** Work in an international team to solve problems and learn to navigate cultural and time-zone differences.

**Skills You’ll Gain:**

Through a challenge-based learning approach, you’ll master teamwork, time management, and product development. You’ll also learn to apply academic knowledge to real-world problems, ensuring your solutions are both innovative and actionable.

Join this Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) course and be part of a global effort to create a sustainable future through nanotechnology! For more information, contact Arturo Susarrey Arce (a.susarreyarce@utwente.nl).

Image of leaves and hand with hexagon tech overlay

Sustainable Nanotechnology

Help co-create sustainable solutions using nanotechnology tools.

Energy and sustainability

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Inter-personal skills

Media and information literacy

Intra-personal skills

Global citizenship

The overall goal of this course is to outline the identity of the biomedical engineering discipline and to generate awareness of key aspects of biomedical engineering by focusing on the key roles of the biomedical engineer in:

- Healthcare Innovation – Biomedical engineers analyze today’s healthcare problems to recognize technological limitations and to envision the potential impact of new technology.
- Technology Research – Biomedical engineers develop new concepts, tools and skills for measuring, analysis, modeling or controlling of quantities, or realization of materials.
- Technology Transfer – Biomedical engineers synthesize new technological concepts and stake-holders interests into validated and innovative solutions for health care problems.

In this course you will learn through active engagement in online and face-to-face learning activities aiming at your professional development, especially your competences in meeting societal challenges, ensuring impact of your ideas and work, and communication and collaboration with fellow professionals and stakeholders. You will be challenged to connect insights acquired from several course materials to the practice of research presently performed at the TechMed institute and to reflect on your own professional development.

Technology for Health

Engage our real world TechMed problems to discover and sharpen your Biomedical Engineering talents for a future profession developing Technology for Healthcare Solutions with Societal Impact.

In this micro-module, you are challenged to design an educational escape room that teaches the core principles of Challenge-Based Learning (CBL): Engage, Investigate, and Act. The escape room will serve as a hands-on tool for educators seeking to implement CBL effectively in their own classrooms.

University of Stavanger

Design an Educational Escape Room

An educational escape room designed to teach the core principles of Challenge-Based Learning (CBL)

European universities are currently facing major challenges within the rapidly evolving landscape of higher education and research. Effective leadership, both at present and in the future, is indispensable at all levels within universities. In this context, ECIU seeks to engage its students as the next generation of leaders and managers. This challenge is unique in the world and is distinguished by its diversity in several respects, bringing together participants from different academic disciplines and from across ECIU member universities.

This student-focused challenge builds upon the longstanding Leadership Development Programme for ECIU staff, which has been successfully delivered for over twenty years. This challenge is specifically designed for students who may not yet possess formal leadership experience but who demonstrate a strong interest in acquiring and developing such skills. The insights and competencies acquired through this challenge are intended to be transferable to participants’ ongoing and future involvement in ECIU activities.

The challenge has different focuses:

- The exploration and further development of personal leadership styles,
- Examination and discussions of the latest developments in (European) higher education policy,
- Understanding and exploration of vision and strategy development, organizational cultures and leadership styles within universities,
- Experimental learning through an institutional immersion at the University of Trento, including site visits to innovative projects
- Engagement in challenge-based learning by carrying out a real-life project independently in teams.

This challenge is closely aligned with the ECIU University Vision 2030, which articulates a holistic view on the interconnection of higher education, research, and innovation, emphasising the integration of these domains with both regional and the European ecosystems, with the aim of generating sustainable, societal impact through in innovative approaches. During the challenge, students will work collaboratively on real-life problems confronting universities, particularly those associated with new, flexible and personalized educational pathways, as well as broader issues concerning the establishment of a truly European university and ecosystem that serves society.

The challenge is targeted at ambitious students with a strong interest in leadership and organizational development in the public sector, especially in higher education. Affiliation with ECIU or experience in university policy work is considered advantageous.

We expect the participating students to engage fully (being full-time present) at both the online sessions and the in-presence week in Trento. Physical presence during the Trento week is compulsory, as the sessions will not be streamed. Furthermore, students must commit sufficient time to collaborative work on the challenge - during the Trento week as well as in the subsequent period.

The seminars are taught in English. The sessions are highly interactive in nature, incorporating (small-group) discussions and exercises. Accordingly, proficiency in both written and spoken English are a prerequisite for participation.

**Why Join?**  
Universities are navigating rapid global transformations that demand new strategies, innovative mindsets and strong international cooperation.

The International Staff Week 2026 at the University of Trento offers a dynamic learning experience for administrative and technical staff working in international mobility and research support.

Through a Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) approach, participants will collaborate in international teams to explore how universities can remain future-ready, resilient and sustainable.

**What to expect**

- Hands-on Challenge-Based Learning activities
- Two thematic tracks: International Mobility or Research
- Peer learning with colleagues from European and international universities
- Strategic perspectives on the future of higher education
- Networking and cultural activities in Trento and surrounding areas

Please note: this activity is open only to university staff members.

Member university

University of Twente

Member university

University of Twente

Learning opportunities of University of Twente