How can we design more efficient, equitable, and sustainable healthcare systems in a rapidly changing world?

This challenge-based course invites students to tackle real-world problems at the intersection of health economics, policy, and innovation. Working in international and interdisciplinary teams, participants will explore how resources are allocated in healthcare, how technologies are evaluated, and how policies can improve access, quality, and sustainability of care.

Through a hybrid learning format, students will engage with asynchronous lectures, interactive and mentoring sessions with academic experts and external stakeholders. The challenge involves collaboration with healthcare organizations and policymakers.

Participants will develop key skills in critical and innovative thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving, while gaining foundational hands-on experience in analyzing complex health systems and proposing actionable solutions. Depending on the focus, topics may include digital health, health technology assessment, resource allocation, or inequalities in access to care. The course will conclude in a final pitch, where teams present their solutions to a panel of experts and stakeholders.

This challenge is ideal for students interested in health, economics, public policy, and innovation, who want to make a tangible impact and work collaboratively in an international environment.

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

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.

University of Trento

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Health Economics in Action: From Idea to Impact

Health Economic Challenge

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.

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

Are you ready to shape the future of research while championing ethical, cutting-edge science? The ECIU Challenge "Alternatives to animal-based scientific research" invites forward-thinking students from all academic backgrounds to tackle one of the most pressing dilemmas in modern science: pioneering new research methodologies that maximize health outcomes—such as advanced diagnoses and treatments—while phasing out dependency on laboratory animals.

This 3-ECTS blended learning opportunity bridges the gap between synthetic biology, ethics, and entrepreneurship. You will start with interactive online training sessions in October, followed by an intensive, fully immersive week in Trento this November. There, you will explore state-of-the-art university labs, collaborate in multidisciplinary, international teams, and co-create viable, real-world solutions.

Why should you apply?

- Drive Real Impact: Develop solutions that directly influence the planet, human health, and ethical scientific progress.
- Boost Your Entrepreneurial Skills: Learn to design a sustainable business model and master the art of the pitch.
- Win Special Prizes: The challenge provider and a panel of experts will award a special  prize to the most innovative and economically feasible proposal.
- Global Networking: Connect with top-tier academic facilitators, industry experts, and peers from across Europe.

Don't miss the chance to turn your innovative ideas into high-impact reality.

Alternatives to animal-based scientific research

Pioneering new types of research towards better health

**The micro-module consists of 3 courses**:

**Free Open Source Innovation**

“Open Source Innovation” is an interactive course that explores how open-source principles are reshaping business models and innovation across software, data, and hardware. Through case studies, discussions, and hands-on assignments, students will examine the strategic and technological impact of open licensing.

By the end of the course, students will understand the historical foundations of Free Software and Open Source, assess the business implications of different licensing philosophies, and evaluate how companies build ecosystems and value propositions around open technologies. They will gain practical tools to analyze open-source strategies and apply them in entrepreneurial or professional contexts.

**Basics of Management**

Basics of Management is an introduction to the fundamental principles and practices of modern management. The purpose of the module is to provide a set of integrated frameworks highlighting why firms exist, and how these business organizations are structured and function.

Drawing upon transaction cost thinking, each organisation is treated as a work in progress that has permeable boundaries and may always give birth to new enterprise. The module also aims at providing a practice-based introduction to understanding of business strategy and the relationship between business strategy and goals.Learning is facilitated and reinforced through the analysis of case studies and class discussions.

**Foundations of Product Management**

Product management is a discipline that oversees the strategic planning, development, and successful launch of products or services. It covers the entire lifecycle, from conception to ongoing improvement. Product managers act as bridges between engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams to ensure customer satisfaction, business goals, and market competitiveness. They drive innovation by identifying customer needs, planning strategically, fostering collaboration, prioritizing features, embracing iterative development, and executing effective go-to-market strategies.

The Foundation of Product Management is a course designed to introduce Absolute Beginners to the fundamental concepts and skills necessary to excel in the field of product management. Whether you have yet to gain prior experience or are looking to strengthen your foundational knowledge, this course will provide you with the essential principles and techniques to kickstart your journey as a product manager. We will explore key topics such as product lifecycle, unit economics, agile methodologies, product analytics, research methodologies, and more.

Management and Innovation Topics

Join the Industrial AI Challenge and bring innovation beyond the classroom. Now in its 6th edition, this challenge-based learning initiative organized by HIT and DISI offers students the opportunity to work on real business problems proposed by companies, developing AI-driven solutions while applying innovation and operations management approaches in practice. As part of Prof. Formentini’s “AI and Innovation” course, participants collaborate in multidisciplinary teams and engage directly with companies, gaining hands-on experience in problem solving, teamwork, and the practical use of AI technologies.

The challenge also provides a unique international experience. Over the last three years, it has attracted students from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business, fostering collaboration between Italian and American students. In 2025, seventeen Auburn students joined the program in Trento, working side by side with University of Trento students, visiting partner companies, and experiencing Italian culture.

The Industrial AI Challenge is more than an academic project: it is an opportunity to develop practical AI competences, strengthen innovation and operations management skills, and build the teamwork capabilities required in today’s global organizations. By participating, students gain exposure to real industrial contexts, international collaboration, and applied learning experiences that connect technology, innovation, and business impact.

If you are looking for a dynamic, hands-on, and internationally oriented learning experience, the Industrial AI Challenge is your opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and create solutions with real-world value.

The Industrial AI Challenge becomes international!

Reinforcing the Trento and Auburn partnership to provide our students new learning opportunities at the interface between AI and Innovation

This edition of Back to the Future invites students to explore energy security in the context of volatile fuel prices and climate change. Collaborating in international, multidisciplinary teams with SEADS, students will analyze how cultural imaginations and evolving habits influence energy demand, while exploring alternative sources such as microalgae and circular bioresources.

Students will learn to address these challenges using future-oriented learning methodologies, through two distinct phases: first, choosing the specific application field to explore; second, using scenario planning to analyze how the chosen field might evolve in the medium-term future. Finally, students will prototype technologically plausible and ethically grounded recommendations for rethinking energy beyond scarcity.

This challenge offers a unique opportunity to critically evaluate technology and use advanced thinking tools to experiment with responsible innovation and sustainability.

Back to the Future: energy security and Microalgae

Exploring circularity and multicultural future imaginaries

Medical physicists have a central role in modern healthcare systems, ensuring the reliability and quality of technologies, as well as the proper use of radiation to guarantee patient safety. Quality assurance of imaging devices, radiation safety, optimization of clinical protocols, and validation of medical technologies are traditionally their major responsibilities.

Recently, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and its progressive integration in healthcare has gained considerable attention due to its seemingly remarkable performance in supporting radiological workflows and medical diagnosis. Applications of interest in medical imaging include automated organ segmentation, disease classification, clinical outcome prediction, and synthetic image generation. Commercial AI solutions have been developed to improve efficiency, reproducibility, and diagnostic support.

Despite the growing interest, several studies have highlighted suboptimal performance in real-world healthcare and performance degradation over time.

This critical aspect emerges from a persistent mismatch between development and deployment conditions: commercial AI systems are often trained on polished datasets, whereas real-world clinical data are highly fragmented and heterogeneous. As a result, the current lack of standardized procedures prevents quantitative validation of the performance, robustness, and clinical reliability of these systems before deployment.

A key question remains unanswered: how can we objectively evaluate the performance of AI systems in modern healthcare?

Within this challenge, students will work in interdisciplinary teams to suggest a strategy for evaluating AI solutions through rigorous and feasible procedures ahead of clinical practice.

Can We Trust AI in Medical Imaging? Turning AI Promises into Clinically Reliable Solutions

Designing Validation Strategies for Healthcare

This challenge aims to explore the future of social innovation and entrepreneurship and involve students into an active learning environment, in collaboration with the Challenge Provider, ESIC. Students will be involved in an innovative learning environment, dealing with in-presence participatory workshops and lectures and online meetings and seminars with experts and academics. Specifically, participants will be instructed to approach the main contents of the course according to Futures Literacy perspective, to develop anticipatory and proactive scenarios. During the challenge students will get inspirational talks from professionals who have worked with international cooperation/NGOs and international organizations, and meet educators and practitioners involved in the third economy sector. The students from different academic backgrounds, organized in groups, will be encouraged to explore creative and challenging life contexts and to design training programs for future social entrepreneurs.Their projects will be evaluated and discussed during the final week in the presence of ESIC and ECIU representatives and could contribute to the future agenda of social economy sectors in Europe.

The 2026 edition of the Challenge will offer in-presence lectures by researchers of both Trento and Linkoping University, participatory workshops and online seminars with international experts and practitioners. Innovative learning models will be implemented in classes and assessments evaluation, encouraging students' creativity and critical thought; each group of participants will be supervised by Teamchers that will assist them in dealing with their projects and progressing in their learning paths. Finally, issues related to European innovation and cultural diversity could also be explored during the two weeks of international mobility (Trento and Norrkoping Campus) during meetings with community and institutional representatives that may contribute to enrich the participants’ educational experience.

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

Engaging with the Futures - Resilient Communities

Developing Futures Knowledge for Social Innovation

Resilient communities

Think. Code. Optimize. Repeat. is a challenge for students who love algorithms, data, and efficiency — and who enjoy turning theory into impact.  
In this 8-day challenge, participants will tackle real algorithmic problems proposed by companies such as *U-Hopper* and *Thinkin*, working in small teams to design, implement, and optimize their solutions. The goal: to find the most efficient approach to a complex computational task under real constraints.

The challenge is part of the Algorithms and Data Structures courses at the University of Trento, but is also open to motivated students from other universities with solid programming skills in C or C++. Each team submits its code to an online platform that automatically evaluates performance and correctness, maintaining a live ranking that reflects real-time progress.

Beyond the competition, the challenge is an opportunity to learn by doing — to experiment, iterate, and improve based on data and feedback. Participants will gain valuable experience in algorithmic design, performance optimization, teamwork, and problem solving.

At the end of the challenge, the best teams will present their strategies in a public event, sharing insights on how to turn theoretical knowledge into efficient, real-world solutions.

If you enjoy the thrill of coding, the beauty of optimization, and the satisfaction of making algorithms run faster — this challenge is for you.

Think. Code. Optimize. Repeat.

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Inter-personal skills

**Challenge objectives and learning outcomes**  
The main goal of this innovative activity is to equip law students with practical skills needed for future lawyers. This course aims to be an effective laboratory where students under the supervision of the academic staff as well as practicing lawyers (advocates, notaries, judges) will acquire their first practical experience solving real-life legal issues.  
Realization of this activity has not only crucial educational goal but also an important social and humanitarian component since legal services will be provided on pro-bono basis to the vulnerable groups of the society.  
Students will gain practical skills in solving real-life legal issues, namely:  
1. the ability to hold initial legal consultation with the client and maintain the records concerning it;  
2. the ability to find relevant legal norms on the basis of which a specific case can be resolved and to analyze them in view of the specific circumstances of the case;  
3. the ability to prepare a grounded legal opinion to the client;  
4. the ability to draw up basic procedural documents;  
5. they will acquire the skills of establishing contact with state authorities and bodies of local self government as well as skills of connecting with legal practitioners;  
6. ability to use comparative method while working with the clients who are forced migrants and for this reason there is a challenge to face the necessity of understanding the other legal system;  
7. development of professional and ethical qualities (for example, respect of privacy of the client, professional secrecy);  
8. ability to work in the team as well as individually;  
9. skills of client interaction;  
10. skills of intercultural communication while working with the foreigners who receive temporary protection in Italy

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Free Legal Assistance to the Beneficiaries of the Temporary Protection in Italy

Solution of real-life legal cases

Media and information literacy

Global citizenship

Econtrovertia APS is an environmental nonprofit operating in Trentino and Bolivia, working in four different areas: environmental sustainability, digital detox, volunteering, and international solidarity. Econtrovertia APS spreads environmental culture through its international blog “greenmarked.it,” carries out environmental education projects in schools of Trentino, promotes digital balance with its “Social Media Detox” platform, and supports agroecology in Bolivia through its “Agrecol Trees” project. Guided by a commitment to critical and contrasting discussion, Econtrovertia APS strives to meet the diverse needs of both humanity and the environment with the highest consistency and authenticity.

The “Social Media Detox” platform by “Econtrovertia APS” encourages digital balance and face-to-face relationships, fights against digital addiction, and promotes a freer and more connected to nature lifestyle. It involves a series of activities aimed at raising awareness about the negative effects of excessive digital use and promoting a more balanced lifestyle.

Born in 2017, the Social Media Detox offers five types of digital detox experience:

1. DETOX CAMP

The Detox Camp is an immersive digital detox experience in natural environments of Trentino. Smartphones and digital devices are collected at check-in and replaced by workshops belonging to various areas: psychology, sports, arts, recreation, environment and nature. The Detox Camp format, lasting one or more days, is particularly suitable for youth camps, school trips and welcoming days.

1. DETOX @ SCHOOL

“Detox @ School” is a collection of school workshops that encourage a healthy and balanced use of digital technologies. The activities, run by educators and experts, are accompanied by an anonymous questionnaire on students’ digital habits and lifestyles, the results of which are sent to the school coordinator. The “Detox @ School” format is particularly suitable for school initiatives related to mental health, addiction, and the prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles. In addition, “environmental” activities can be included in school projects that incentive students’ active citizenship.

1. DETOX CHALLENGE

“Detox challenge” is an immersive digital education project revolving around the concept of “challenge.” Following a day of digital detox, two detox challenges are assigned to each participant. All challenges encourage participants to limit their use of apps and digital devices to two weeks. A self-assessment and control test will reward participants who successfully complete the challenge. The experience is reviewed through the analysis of the data collected, a discussion with a digital addictions psychologist, an art workshop and a public presentation of the results and artwork.

1. BLACK MIRROR ESCAPE ROOM

Developed by educators, artists, psychologists and emotional intelligence experts the “Black Mirror Escape Room” project is an immersive training experience based on the unsettling universe of the Netflix series “Black Mirror.” By overcoming challenges, puzzles, and digital deceptions, participants must escape from the room, flee from a dystopian and hyper-digitized future, combat digital addictions, and preserve their digital balance.

1. DETOX VEGETABLE GARDEN

The Detox Vegetable Garden is a community garden where participants can disconnect from their screens and get out of the house, engage in gardening activities, and take care of seedlings and vegetables. A small farming space available from April to November, where every phone-free hour of volunteer work is recorded and allows participants to take home a basket of organic crops. From the field to the table, the Detox Vegetable Garden is an ideal location for finding serenity and disconnecting from social media in a supportive environment.

For more info:

Website: [socialmediadetox.it](https://socialmediadetox.it/) 

Telegram group chat: [@socialmediadetox](https://t.me/socialmediadetox)

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Social Media Detox Camp

Covered topics:

- Basics of Social Challenges
- Communicating Innovation
- Master Mind
- Soft Skills Beyond Research

Soft Skills

Intra-personal skills

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.

This module represents the second essential part of a comprehensive course designed to guide learners through the complete data-centric pipeline of industrial process control. It offers a hands-on approach to mastering every stage, starting from the design of data acquisition systems for a specific process, to collecting, storing, and preprocessing the acquired data. Learners will then progress to using this data to train accurate and reliable process models, which can ultimately be employed to enhance the efficiency, reliability, and outcome of industrial operations. In this second part, the focus is on data exploitation using advanced machine learning techniques. Participants will be introduced to a range of methods, from traditional Statistical Process Control (SPC) approaches to modern AI-driven strategies. These include tools for detecting process non-conformities, identifying patterns, and classifying operational status to support informed decision-making. By combining theory with practice, learners will gain a robust understanding of how data can be transformed into actionable insights for process improvement. Overall, this engaging learning experience equips future industry professionals with a formidable mix of knowledge and technical skills that are highly valued in the evolving field of industrial automation and data analytics.

Multi-Agent Systems for Smart Machining II

Machine-Learning models for data analysis, classification and prediction of process
conditions

**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.

Future-Ready Universities. Navigating Challenges in International Mobility and Research

### **Our challenge**

Learners will work together to acquire skills and competencies related to the physiopathological basis of the reproductive system, infertility, and influence of lifestyle on reproductive health. The ultimate goal is to integrate and apply this knowledge in identifying and solving real problems in the area through the implementation of multicultural working groups. During this challenge, priority will be given to innovative and experimental teaching models, such as challenge-based in a blended learning approach that combines virtual and face-to-face mobility.

### Expected Impact

The participants will develop cross-cutting and transdisciplinary knowledge in reproductive health lifestyle. Regarding the skills developed by the students, it can be listed:  
-Cross-cutting skills, such as communication abilities, language competencies, critical thinking, problem-solving, intercultural competencies, and research capabilities;  
-Future-oriented competencies that will enable participants to face the challenges they will encounter in their professional lives;  
-Personal development, such as the ability to adapt to new situations and self-confidence.  
  
This challenge will also promote new forms of international mobility that allow an increase in the number of individuals with an international mobility experience in higher education, while also promoting collaborative and cooperative work skills through the experience of active teaching and learning methodologies. This intensive blended program is aligned with the strategic development plan of the Department of Medical Sciences, within the scope of its internationalization policy, as well as with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, namely for Good Health and Well-being (Goal 3), Quality Education (Goal 4), Gender Equality (Goal 5), and Reduced Inequalities (Goal 10).

Member university

University of Trento

Member university

University of Trento

Learning opportunities of University of Trento