Teaching Innovation in Action: A Week in Poznań

I visited Poznań University of Technology (Poland) from December 1 to 4, 2025, and received an excellent welcome. This stay allowed me to learn, share, and generate new ideas. Seeing how other universities in the EUNICE alliance tackle the challenges of teaching innovation helps us improve and build stronger joint projects

A Young and Dynamic Center for Educational Innovation

We started with a general presentation of the university and a tour of the campus, where I saw its new facilities, such as the Faculty of Architecture and the recently inaugurated modern Rectorate. These spaces clearly reflect a commitment to quality and modernization.

One of the most interesting points was visiting the Centre for Innovative Education, a young but very dynamic unit led by Agnieszka Merkisz-Guranowska. We discussed the importance of maintaining close ties between universities to address common challenges—from digitalization to integrating artificial intelligence into teaching. I also saw how they have adapted Moodle to make it more engaging, and we debated the need for clear policies on the use of AI in education.

Another memorable moment was taking part in a Universal Design workshop. We simulated the difficulties faced by people with disabilities on campus: wearing glasses that reduce vision, weights that limit mobility, and using wheelchairs. It was eye-opening to realize that even when regulations are met, true accessibility remains a challenge. We also explored personalized tutoring, with inspiring examples such as a project led by a student with hearing impairment to create peer-support spaces—a model of accompaniment from the very start of studies.

Labs and Simulators

The visit continued with hands-on experiences: laboratories where students develop projects like a solar-powered boat that will compete in Monaco, or flight simulators for pilot training. I was impressed by how they encourage interdisciplinary collaboration—engineers, designers, and IT experts working together on real projects. I believe this approach is key to motivating students and preparing them for the professional world.

Sharing Best Practices: Innovation in Cantabria

From my side, I presented the University of Cantabria’s initiatives in teaching innovation: our training plan, innovation projects, teaching resources website, and open education programs (OCW and MOOCs). They were particularly interested in the resources website and the OCW platform, which opens the door to future collaborations.