I discovered Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) during the Innovation & Entrepreneurship course at the University of Trento, and was immediately impressed by how it differed from traditional teaching methods, particularly because of the opportunity to analyse and attempt to solve real-world problems, which often do not have a single correct answer.
Subsequently, I discovered the opportunity to take part in various challenges organised by a variety of European universities as part of the ECIU (European Consortium of Innovative Universities). In particular, I took part in ‘Navigating the Future of Universities in Europe’, organised by the School of Innovation at the University of Trento, and, later, ‘Rethinking Professional Ethics: Deconstruct and Reconstruct Your Approach’, organised by INSA Lyon.
Addressing problems using this methodology really enthused me; I believe it represents a genuine innovation because it confronts you with real-world problems, forcing you to devise a solution step by step, working in a group and often analysing the situation from multiple perspectives. At first, the impact is quite strong, as you can feel disoriented and without an explicit goal, unlike what normally happens in other university contexts. Over time, however, I realised that this is a fundamental part of the process, and so I began to appreciate the opportunity to navigate through the confusion, exploring ideas that I might not have considered at first or whose outcome might not have been obvious.
I believe that the real value – and the thing I appreciated most – is the open exchange between all participants, which allows everyone to contribute with their personal experiences, perspectives or insights. Even if you’re not an expert on the challenge’s subject matter, all contributions are significant, as – combined with the support provided by the challenge provider – they will help shape the final solution.
Another key part of the experience is the informal get-togethers, ranging from drinks in the city centre to group walks to explore the city and shared dinners – opportunities to bond with the other participants and make the experience even more meaningful.
I discovered these opportunities through the engage.eciu platform, which allows you to browse all the scheduled initiatives, including micro-modules – short training courses on specific topics often related to the challenges. It was there that I found the most recent challenge I took part in, which allowed me to explore the topic of ethical integrity in greater depth and experience life on an international university campus first-hand.
If you’re interested in the idea of working on real-world problems alongside people from different backgrounds, the CBL is definitely worth a go.