Having already participated in two ECIU challenges, I can say without a doubt that it opens many new doors. During my first challenge, “Back to the Future,” organized by the University of Trento, the studies provided me with hands-on experience in future studies, with analyzing possible outcomes, opportunities, learning how to ask the right questions, and effective ideas pitching. Each day of the challenge felt like reaching higher peaks in the mountains, new friendships and the growing belief that with the right tools and knowledge, you can achieve great things.
The second challenge “Rethinking Barcelona: Urban Innovation Amid the Housing Crisis”, organized by Autonomous University of Barcelona, offered a new perspective on the right to having proper housing, as it is not only a place to live in but a community which lives and breathes like a single living organism. Having the opportunity to search for applicable solutions to the complex issue, even on a small scale, creates a sense of responsibility for the people around us.
Above all, the best part of both experiences were the new friends made along the way that stay with you long after the challenge ends. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds provides new perspectives on how you live, what you prioritise, encourages you to try new things and see the world through new eyes. The challenges taught me something I would not have learned through my formal studies alone, as it is often the knowledge gained outside the classroom that shapes you most as a person.
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