This challenge introduces you to the essential steps of a frugal construction project, from initial design to hands-on implementation. It's structured in three parts:

- You'll begin with online lectures and readings covering key concepts such as bioclimatic design, eco-materials, and energy efficiency.
- Next, you’ll work in small groups to explore a specific topic in more depth, carrying out independent research and preparing to apply your findings.
- Finally, you’ll take part in a real-world building project on a public construction site near Rennes, where you’ll draft your own construction proposal and gain direct experience with materials and techniques.

Participation in all three phases is required. You’ll collaborate with students from INSA Rennes and the National School of Architecture in Brittany (ENSAB), working in multidisciplinary teams.

Throughout the module, you’ll be supported by faculty members with expertise in eco-design, bioclimatic architecture, sustainable urban planning, eco-materials, and home automation. During the on-site phase, you’ll also work alongside professionals from the construction industry, gaining valuable insights into how theory translates into practice.

Check out the following short video offering a recap on last year's iteration to find out more! [http://videos.insa-rennes.fr/video/0653-athabl-presentation-v2mp4/](http://videos.insa-rennes.fr/video/0653-athabl-presentation-v2mp4/)

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

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

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.

INSA Group

Frugal Building: From Design to Construction

Take part in an eco-construction project in Brittany, France

Energy and sustainability

Inter-personal skills

Are you eager to navigate the rich tapestry of European languages and cultures, enhancing your communication skills and intercultural competence? If so, this micro-module is designed for you!

In this engaging and dynamic course, you will explore the fascinating concept of intercomprehension – the ability to understand a language without having studied it formally. This skill is invaluable in our interconnected world, where grasping multiple languages opens doors to diverse opportunities. You’ll delve into 12 languages, including French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Catalan, Romanian, English, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, tailoring your learning to match your linguistic background.

But it’s not just about languages. This module immerses you in the cultural nuances that shape communication and worldviews. Working in multilingual and multicultural teams, you will gain hands-on experience in collaborative projects, enhancing your intercultural awareness. You’ll also get the chance to participate in a unique escape game that will challenge you to apply everything you've learned in a fun, interactive setting.

Throughout the course, you’ll maintain a reflective journal to track your progress and insights, enhancing your self-reflection skills. This practice will help you critically evaluate your learning process and adapt your strategies for better outcomes.

By the end of this module, you will have strengthened your linguistic abilities and your capacity to work effectively in diverse teams, a skill highly valued in today’s globalised job market. Join us and embark on a journey that will expand your horizons, deepen your cultural understanding, and equip you with practical skills for the future.

Intercomprehension and Intercultural Skills in Romance and Germanic Languages

Understand Languages You Have Never Learnt in an Intercultural Context

Critical and innovative thinking

Intra-personal skills

Global citizenship

The student time in this challenge will be approximately 45 hours, with 30 hours of "classes" (onsite or online) with knowledge transfer, practical work and team work.   

The challenge includes 2 synchronous online sessions in the beginning and one session at the end of the challenge when the results are presented to the challenge provider. For the students choosing the option of the mobility week (week 4), there will of course be a number of synchronous and on-site activities, like visiting INSA and the labs, the university hospital and the challenger providers offices in Toulouse.   

The challenge will be carried out in small, intercultural and interdisciplinary teams. They will have to work together, but can agree on their time schedule and will work asynchronously during the challenge.  

Assessment will be divided in formative assessments during the challenge with small tasks to be done and a sommative assessment at the end of the challenge in the form of the prototype of the connected smart e-bike of the group and a presentation in English in front of a panel.

VESACCO: Smart e-bikes for health and green travel

Resilient communities

Transport and Mobility

The Smart Machining micromodule is designed to equip you with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills in the field of advanced manufacturing. By taking this micromodule, you will delve into the sophisticated techniques that underpin smart machining.

The course is divided in two parts: three modules of 6 hours each and a project for analysing the experimental data. Each module is composed of 2 hours of online classes and 4 hours of assignment with the professor. The project is composed of 8 hours of synchronous work and the students should be able to work on the project between each week to evaluate its personal task in the group. The evaluation is part based on the assignments and part on the project work. By the end of the module, we expect that the students are convinced that the data can be useful to improve productivity on industry in practice.

By the end of the module, students will possess an understanding of smart machining technologies and their practical applications. This knowledge will empower them to contribute to the advancement of manufacturing processes, making them valuable assets to any industry focused on innovation and efficiency. The skills acquired in this course will prepare students for roles in advanced manufacturing, process optimization, and industrial automation, positioning them at the forefront of the smart manufacturing revolution.

Industry 4.0: Smart Machining

Analysing and improving the industrial machining process

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Have you ever wanted to know more about how blood sugar and blood pressure is measured?  This micromodule focuses on digital health and uses innovative teaching  tools to focus on connected health devices, remote medical monitoring and the surveillance of human health at home or in a medical environment. It will enable a wide audience to discover the world of digital health, which is particularly interesting for students who will have a  link with healthcare in their future professional life, but also for everybody interested in health.

Students will work in multidisciplinary and intercultural teams to discover medical monitoring systems, the assembly of a virtual  reality object (electronic card), and the transmission and  analysis of medical data. Volunteers will be equipped with a blood sugar or pressure device to interpret their own data.  The students will choose in international teams  the sensor they would like to work on (blood sugar or blood pressure sensor).  They will produce 3D scans of the device and learn the basis of 3D modelling of an object. They will also disassemble their device in virtual reality.   The work can be done fully online, but a mobility week is proposed to allow international students to do practical work onsite at INSA Toulouse.

CARE (Medical Connected Sensors and Virtual Reality)

Discover medical monitoring systems, the transmission and analysis of medical data, and disassemble a sensor using VR

Imagine walking through your city on a scorching summer day, the heat reflecting off buildings and pavements intensifying with every step. This isn't just an inconvenience—it’s a growing reality for urban populations worldwide. Climate change is accelerating the frequency and intensity of heatwaves, and cities are bearing the brunt of it. The urban heat island effect, caused by dense infrastructure and limited green spaces, turns our cities into heat traps, making life increasingly uncomfortable and, for some, dangerously unsafe.

Faced with these challenges, the focus has shifted from simply reducing emissions to actively adapting our urban environments. How can we design cities that protect their inhabitants during extreme heat events? Enter climate shelters—innovative spaces designed to offer immediate relief from thermal stress. These can be public parks shaded by tree canopies, air-conditioned libraries, or cooling stations equipped with water fountains. Climate shelters don’t just address physical discomfort; they represent a shift in urban planning, prioritizing human well-being and resilience.

Cities like Barcelona, Paris, Rotterdam, and Brussels are leading the way, pioneering strategies to integrate climate shelters into their urban fabric. But what makes these solutions effective? And how can other cities adapt these ideas to their unique contexts?

This course invites you to explore these questions, delving into the science of urban microclimates and the art of designing adaptive urban spaces. By understanding the principles behind climate shelters, you'll gain insights into how thoughtful design can transform cities into havens of comfort and sustainability. Whether you're an aspiring architect, urban planner, or simply passionate about resilient cities, this course equips you to be part of the solution to one of our most pressing global challenges. Join us in reimagining urban life for a warming world.

Toulouse, located in the south-west of France, is at the forefront of the urban climate crisis, regularly hitting 40C and above during the summer. As such, Toulouse Métropole has been working in collaboration with local researchers for a number of years in order to initiate its climate transition. As part of this ECIU challenge, students will be invited to consider the potential deployment of a network of climate shelters in the city.

This work will help students grow skills across a vairety of disciplines including:

- Microclimatology for outdoor climate shelters and the study of the Toulouse climatic context
- Building thermics and building renovation for indoor climate shelters
- Energy for the energy supply of HVAC systems
- Geography and/or sociology for the accessibility of this network
- Architecture and/or urban planning for the integration of these spaces into a larger urban project

Developing a Network of Climate Shelters in Toulouse, France

The content of the module is divided into three parts:

1. Methodological lessons weeks 1 to 3
2. A 10-week Challenge
3. A final presentation and personal report on the learning experience (CBL approach)

The three elements are described below:

Method package:

Week1 (W1) – W3

- Design thinking & Challenge Thinking
- Pitching, innovation
- Intercultural competences
- Interdisciplinary approaches

W4 (3-7th of March): Open Week (optional): Hosting ECIU students for discussion, industrial visit, on-site visit, workshops on CBL and sustainable cities with experts

Challenge: W2 – W11:

- Brainstorming ideas for challenges
- Finding teams with common interest for a challenge and different Foursight profiles
- Write an essay with your motivation for the challenge (250 words) - Apply for a challenge or define a challenge
- Engage in the challenge as a team through Design Thinking methods - Define the main users of your potential answer to your challenge
- Investigate the possible outcomes of the challenge based on the user's needs
- Choose a proposal as an answer to your challenge
- Define in detail your proposal for a more sustainable city

Oral exam: W12: Presentation of the challenge, the final proposal to solve the challenge and the different steps which have led to the proposal.

Pedagogy: face-to-face, hybrid, distance learning for the method package, and hybrid for the challenge approach.

Green Innovators

Transform Your Campus

By taking part in this challenge with the international company ACTIA, you participate in an ambitious project driven by the need to imagine new way of moving in metropolises for a more sustainable society. By engaging with international experts, you will explore solutions based on new technology with the possibility to make a real demonstration on an innovative electrically assisted tricycle. 

Are you a student in computer science, telecommunications, or electronics? If you are, then this challenge is for you with rich seminars on the topic of smart mobility, advanced technologies for localization, communication and service with the opportunity to work with an international team not only with teachers and researchers but also with concerned industrial and startup.

So become an actor of the new usage of shared vehicles for a sustainable society.

Shared Access for Family Electrically-Assisted Tricycle

Using Ultra Wide Band Technology - A new way for smart mobility

**Discover the Role of Lipids in Biotechnology**

This micromodule offers a hands-on exploration of microbial lipids and their potential as sustainable resources. Designed for students with a background in chemistry or biochemistry, the course provides a comprehensive overview of the biotechnology process, from theoretical concepts to practical application.

You will begin with self- and group-directed research, working collaboratively to answer a scientific question about lipids. This involves exploring current methods for lipid extraction and analysis and designing your own experimentation protocols. Through guided online sessions, you will refine your approach, integrating feedback from peers and professors to develop a clear plan for laboratory work. The course culminates in a week-long on-site lab experience at INSA Toulouse (from 3 to 6 of June 2025), where you will put your protocols into action. Using a yeast strain with biotechnological applications, you will extract and analyze lipids, gaining practical experience in laboratory techniques. This process will help you connect theoretical knowledge with hands-on experimentation, fostering a deeper understanding of the biotechnological pipeline.

By the end of the module, you will have honed your research and problem-solving skills, developed the ability to synthesize complex information, and experienced the dynamics of working in a multidisciplinary, international team. This micromodule not only deepens your expertise in biotechnology but also prepares you for real-world challenges in sustainable innovation.

Exploring the Potential of Microbial Lipids as Sustainable Resources

Combine your theoretical understanding with practical experiments

This module is structured in two main parts, covering two important aspects of quantum computing: communication and computation.

The communication part focuses on a secure quantum communication protocol, BB84. You'll be asked to understand and implement this protocol, and even to experiment with an actual demonstrator. The computation part introduces all the basic building blocks of computation, focusing on the Grover search algorithm. This search algorithm makes an explicit link with classical computing while demonstrating the advantages of quantum computers.

By the end of this module, you will have acquired a basic knowledge of quantum computing and communication that we hope will motivate you to take the next step into this dynamic field of computer science.

Quantum Communication and Computing

A Short Introduction

• Skills to be Gained: Master the TRIZ methodology through the FINDER platform, learn how to utilize cutting-edge AI technologies (GPT-4, deep learning, GANs, NLP), and develop advanced problem-solving techniques.

• AI’s Impact on the Targeted Field: Gain insights into how AI and LLMs enhance innovation processes and streamline the creation of groundbreaking solutions in industrial settings.

• Practical Application of Theoretical Knowledge: You will work hands-on with FINDER to tackle real-world challenges, applying TRIZ and AI technologies such as GPT-4 and GANs to generate actionable, industry-ready solutions.

• Interdisciplinary and International Collaboration: FINDER facilitates global teamwork and cross-sector cooperation, enabling participants to collaborate remotely with peers and industry experts.

TRIZ and AI-Driven Innovation

Unlock Advanced Problem-Solving at the Intersection of TRIZ, AI, and Industrial Revolution

ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition (Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Énergie), has conducted extensive research on the environmental impacts of consumer products, industrial goods, and other manufactured items. Their findings reveal that nearly 50% of our environmental footprint is tied to greenhouse gas emissions from products, making eco-design a critical strategy for reducing environmental harm. This micro-module offers a hands-on introduction to eco-design, equipping you with the knowledge and tools to make a tangible impact.

We will cover:

- How to conduct an eco-design study, with practical examples to guide your learning.
- How to use tools for environmental assessment, including life cycle analysis methods to measure and track progress toward sustainability goals.
- How to plan a product/environment-oriented policy, turning theory into actionable solutions for real-world application.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped to critically assess products, reduce their environmental footprint, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Object Environmental Footprint and Eco-Design

Rethinking an Object for a Sustainable Future

Circular economy

In a unique online environment, 50% synchronous and 50% asynchronous, you will be learners from different countries working together in French on 2 projects:

- Discovering Lyon in France and many other cities

- Studying here and there.

A French tutor will guide through a wide range of activities that will help you realize your project in groups encouraging you to use French.

For example, the class will encourage you to talk about yourself, to describe a city, to share your points of interests in a city, to talk about your learning environment, your studies, your friends, the food, your night outs etc.

This micromodule will focus on an intercultural approach that will help you put the things you learn into an international perspective. It will thus give you tools for a future international experience or exchange.

Language Studies - French (A2 Level)

Participate in an interactive online A2-level French class

Language learning

**Detailed program**

Online sessions (02/17/2025– 03/24/2025)

• 02/17/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Kick-off meeting (description of the challenge, presentation of the teamchers, the challenge provider, introduction of the topic of atmospheric pollution and odour)

• 02/24/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Guest speakers – Part 1: About air quality and atmospheric pollution (R. Duarte, University of Aveiro). Part 2: Citizen science and how to reach a community? (G. Santinha, University of Aveiro)

• 03/03/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Challenge provider, Atmo – Approaches to evaluate odours, the language of odours.

• 03/10/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team Working + Guest speaker from the European council\* – Why and how to put regulations around air quality? Feedback about the addition of odours in the definition of air pollution and in the regulations.

• 03/24/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team Working

\*Please note that the content of the session is subjected to change

Suggested sub-topics to be studied:

- Sub-topic 1: Context & regulations

- Sub-topic 2: Odours

- Sub-topic 3: Citizen engagement

Onsite sessions (04/07/2025 – 04/11/2025 at INSA Rouen, France, the capital of Impressionism and only 1 hour 15 minutes from Paris by train!

• 04/07/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Reception, meeting and teamwork + virtual reality on air quality

• 04/08/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Team working + Atmo animation on the theme of sense discovery, with an introduction to the methodology of the nose language

• 04/08/2025 (18:00-20:00): follow training with citizens in Rouen about the recognition of odours.

• 04/09/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Team Working + meeting with industrial players in the metropolitan area.

• 04/10/2025 (09:00 – 17:00): Team working + Atmo station visit in Rouen city center

• 04/11/2024 (09:00 – 17:00): Team working + presentation of the results via a poster with a jury composed of teamchers and experts - Deliverable 1

All materials, meals and visits are offered to the students participating in this challenge.

Online sessions (04/15/2025 – 04/29/2025)

• 04/15/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team Working on poster updates – Deliverable 2

• 04/22/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Team working on the study

• 04/29/2025 (18:30 - 20:00): Presentation of the study to be used by the student on a panel of 30-50 persons at their home university- Deliverable 3- Evaluation and assessment - Concluding remarks on the Challenge.

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

Atmospheric Pollution and Odour Management in European Cities: Where Are We?

Towards a global and uniform approach to support air quality management with and for citizens

Music plays a vital role in creating shared experiences and bringing people together. However, organizing and broadcasting a cultural event is no easy task. Festivals and municipalities must rethink how they design accessible, sustainable, and engaging experiences for all audiences—including people with disabilities, children, and underprivileged communities.

This is where our challenge comes in. Stepping into the role of creative engineers, students will collaborate with local stakeholders to develop innovative solutions that make music accessible to everyone. How can we design inclusive experiences that allow people with mobility restrictions or sensory impairments to fully participate in a festival? How can a city ensure that a cultural event reaches all its citizens, regardless of their background? How can we reduce the environmental impact of large-scale music events?

Over just a few days, student teams will tackle these critical questions, combining creativity, technology, and user-centered design to develop concrete, practical solutions. Their work will not only offer fresh perspectives but also provide actionable strategies for local decision-makers.

Engineering Solutions for Inclusive & Sustainable Live Music

Creathon INSA Hauts-de-France 2025

In today’s fast-paced, competitive world, innovation is not just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. But how can you consistently deliver breakthrough ideas and solutions? Enter TRIZ, the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving, a globally recognized methodology that has helped industries tackle their toughest challenges for decades. This micromodule is your chance to dive into this transformative approach and unlock its potential for your academic and professional journey.

What makes this course unique? Unlike traditional innovation methods, TRIZ provides a systematic way to think creatively and solve problems effectively. Enhanced by Artificial Intelligence, this course offers a modern twist to a timeless methodology, giving you a competitive edge in today’s AI-driven industries.

By studying this micromodule, you’ll gain:

- A clear understanding of TRIZ principles and their practical applications.
- Problem-solving skills that will distinguish you in your field.
- The ability to approach challenges with confidence and structure.

This course is designed for learners who want to maximize their innovation capabilities. Whether you’re an engineering student, aspiring entrepreneur, or a curious mind, the skills you gain here are invaluable for standing out in an increasingly demanding job market.

Invest in yourself and your future. Join this micro-module to explore the cutting-edge world of TRIZ and Artificial Intelligence. Equip yourself with tools that turn challenges into opportunities.

Ready to start your journey? Access an online AndroïdApp that will be used in this course here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.netlify.trizapp.twa&pcampaignid=web\_share

Don’t just keep up with innovation—lead it.

Inventing in a Digital World Using TRIZ and AI

Understand Structured Creativity and Transform it into an Actionable Process

In a unique online environment, 50% synchronous and 50% asynchronous, you will be learners from different countries working together in French on 2 projects:

- Discovering Lyon in France and many other cities

- Studying here and there.

A French tutor will guide through a wide range of activities that will help you realize your project in groups encouraging you to use French.

For example, the class will encourage you to talk about yourself, to describe a city, to share your points of interests in a city, to talk about your learning environment, your studies, your friends, the food, your night outs and so forth.

It will focus on an intercultural approach putting things in perspective.

It will also give you tools for a future international experience or exchange.

Participate in an interactive online A2 level French class

This micro-module is a collaboration between 6 ECIU universities: UAB (Spain), KTU (Lithuania), UiS (Norway), UniTn (Italy), INSA (France), and UT (the Netherlands). This means you get to gain knowledge from experts of all these different universities! This is therefore a unique opportunity that offers multiple perspectives and an intercultural experience.

### **Why learning about interculturality matters**

Interculturality is a crucial skill in today’s globalized world, enabling effective communication and collaboration across cultural boundaries. It fosters empathy, helps navigate differences with respect, and is essential for addressing global challenges like climate change and migration. In academic and professional settings, intercultural competence is highly valued, supporting teamwork in diverse and international contexts. Personally, it enriches your worldview, enhances self-awareness, and opens you to new perspectives. By embracing interculturality, you contribute to a more inclusive and collaborative global society.

### **What you'll learn**

This online micro-module is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of interculturality through a structured blend of expert-led lectures and interactive discussions. The course is divided into three thematic blocks, each building on the previous one to create a cohesive learning experience:

**Block 1: Understanding cultural differences**  

You’ll start by exploring foundational theories of culture, learning what defines and distinguishes cultures around the world. This block highlights the importance of cultural diversity in today’s globalized world, helping you develop an awareness of how cultural differences shape interactions and perceptions.

**Block 2: Global perspectives**  

In this section, you’ll examine the effects of migration, media representation, and the concept of global Englishes. These topics will give you a broader perspective on how cultural narratives evolve and influence societies across the globe. You’ll gain insights into how these factors contribute to both challenges and opportunities in intercultural communication.

**Block 3: Practical intercultural skills**  

The final block focuses on practical workshops to equip you with effective communication techniques for interacting across cultures. You’ll learn how to navigate cultural nuances in professional and personal settings, ensuring your interactions are respectful, clear, and impactful.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a deeper understanding of cultural theories, a global perspective on societal changes, and the practical tools to engage effectively in intercultural settings. This combination of theoretical and hands-on learning prepares you to adapt in diverse environments and address the complexities of global communication

Member university

INSA Group

Member university

INSA Group

Learning opportunities of INSA Group