Students select one of the ECIU University challenges as an extra-curricular activity – not a part of the degree programme but as extra benefit. The ECTS credits awarded may be recognised at athe home university and included into the graduate’s diploma supplement.

Students who meet the following entry requirements are welcomed to participate:

• studying at one of the 12 ECIU University member institutions and enrolled in a master’s degree programme or 3^rd or 4^th year of a bachelor’s degree programme (completed at least 120 ECTS at Bachelor’s level);
• B2 level in the English language;
• eligible according to prerequisites of a challenge (if indicated);
• optional – experience with entrepreneurial work.

Continuous learners who meet the following entry requirements are welcomed to participate:

• residing in one of the 12 ECIU University member’s counties;
• Bachelor’s Degree;
• B2 level in the English language;
• eligible according to prerequisites of a challenge (if indicated);
• optional – experience with entrepreneurial work.

Participation for students and continuous learners is free of charge.

When solving the challenge, participants work in multi-disciplinary and international teams, bringing students from different locations. The international dimension is usually assured by virtual mobility (students join team meetings and lectures online), some challenges may offer physical mobility (arriving to the host university campus for a certain period).

The team is assigned the University teamcher who provides assistance and guidance while soling the challenge, and facilitates communication with the challenge provider.

The team works with the challenge provider, engages and investigates the challenge, and proposes solutions using the challenge-based learning methodology.

The outputs of the team may include services, products, research questions, start-ups and spin-offs.

During the semester, students will have lectures, workshops, group and individual work. Students who are enrolled into KTU challenges will have scheduled meetings with the teamcher from 3 October 2022 to 23 December 2022, during weekdays in the afternoon. Student teams are flexible to plan the rest of their working time.

The ECIU University’s challenge-based learning approach follows a specific structure consisting of three main steps: engage, investigate and act.

Engagement

Engagement: The basis for motivation is to be working on a ‘Big Idea’. This might be anything within a social, economic, or environmental theme such as health or public transportation. All the participants, teachers, students and external partners make sure that they agree on the final challenge to work on.

Investigation

Investigation: All the team need to ensure that they all understand the challenge and can contribute towards solving it with their knowledge and skills.

Action

Action: partners can use their shared knowledge to design and prototype new solutions. The implementation of the prototype and the evaluation are steps in the action part.

Student teams at KTU are working together in a digital environment and all activities take place online.

Virtual learning environment Moodle is used for student-teacher communication and content delivery of the challenge. Microsoft Teams or Zoom is used for video conferencing.

Student teams are free to decide which other online tools they want to use to increase collaboration with their peers.

In case of physical mobility at one of the ECIU partner universities, you are able to apply for financial support that will help you pay for travel and accommodation expenses abroad.

There is no financial support in the case of entirely virtual mobility.

For more information and the documents needed to apply for financial support, please contact International Relations Department at gintare.vilbikiene@ktu.lt.

Upon successful completion of the challenge and, if selected, the micro-module the student is awarded with respective ECTS credits and the transcript of records (issued by the respective university) which includes details on workload and the final mark.

The challenges and the micro-modules are offered primarily as an extracurricular activity. However, the credits acquired are subject for recognition and approval by the respective home universities.

In addition, after successful completion of the challenge, the student is awarded with a certificate of participation (issued by ECIU University).

KTU student is also awarded a digital badge that can be submitted for KTU scholarship competition.

Student teams have the possibility to apply for ECIU University innovation voucher and to further collaborate with the challenge provider and develop the challenge solution.

After the deadline of application, the Admissions Committee will decide upon the applicant’s eligibility to enrol in the preferred challenge.

The evaluation criteria:

1. Transcript of records / student card assessment: studies at one of the 12 ECIU University member institutions, enrolment in a master’s degree programme or 3^rd or 4^th year of a bachelor’s degree programme; completed 120 ECTS of higher education studies at undergraduate level.
2. Motivation letter assessment: personal motivation to join the challenge, attitude towards experimenting and trying out new educational models, previous experience.
3. CV assessment: extra-curricular activities and engagement in student community, previous job experience, participation in hackathons or similar entrepreneurial events or challenges.
4. Additional competence assessment: if indicated, eligibility according to the specific challenge requirements.

After the decision is made, all applicants will be contacted by email. The admitted applicants will be informed about the further procedures of enrolment at the host university and joining the challenge in the vitual learning environment.

Upon the enrolment at the challenge, student teams are formed and the student undertakes to complete the challenge.

The application deadline varies depending on the start of the challenges. Please find out more in the challenge description.

The deadline for application to the challenges provided by Kaunas University of Technology for the autumn semester is 18 September 2022.

The further steps after application deadline:

1. Formal eligibility check, screening against admission criteria, and placement in teams.
2. Notification of admission and team preparation.
3. Enrolment of the admitted students.
4. Participation in the challenge during the autumn semester 2021.