## The 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

## Impact

The participants will develop cross-cutting and transdisciplinary knowledge in reproductive health lifestyle. 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).

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.

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

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

University of Aveiro

Lifestyle Influence on Reproductive Health

Resilient communities

Critical and innovative thinking

[The syllabus of the module](https://uais.cr.ktu.lt/ktuis/stp_report_ects.mdl_ml?p_kodas=S170B123&amp;p_year=2023&amp;p_lang=EN&amp;p_stp_id=). The module consists of 6 ECTS: total 160 hours, of which 16 hours of lectures, 16 hours of practical work, 32 hours of seminars, 96 hours of individual work.

Kaunas University of Technology

Civil Society and Volunteering

Media and information literacy

Intra-personal skills

Global citizenship

**Lithuanian Railways - Bridging East and West**  
Lithuanian Railways, a key player in the European rail network, manages an extensive and diverse 2000km railway infrastructure, featuring both 1520mm and 1435mm electrified/non-electrified tracks. With the upcoming addition of the high-speed railway line Rail Baltica, our infrastructure will become even more diverse and accessible providing a swift high-speed connection to western Europe. Unique geographical location makes the Lithuanian railway infrastructure a gateway between east and west with mixed operational conditions and modes of transport.  
  
**Driving sustainable innovations**  
Most of the main lines are electrified or in the process of being electrified, unfortunately, electrification for parts of the infrastructure like regional lines, marshalling yards, and depots is not economically viable. Our primary goal is to tackle the challenge of reducing diesel freight traction in regional and non-electrified lines, which is crucial for achieving our strategic carbon footprint reduction goals. We believe that a robust and scalable solution to this issue is vital not only for sustainable national business growth but also for maintaining competitiveness in global markets. By participating in this challenge, you have the opportunity to be at the forefront of sustainable railway innovation. You will be contributing directly to an essential environmental initiative, gaining invaluable skills and experience in the process. This is your chance to play a key role in shaping a greener future for rail transport, bridging the gap between traditional and sustainable practices in a dynamic, international context.

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

Make rail freight green everywhere

How can we innovate and provide strategic technical solutions to make small scale freight operations green?

Entrepreneurship, technology and innovation

Inter-personal skills

We are Centric – we believe in people. Our commitment to keeping our employees engaged, happy, and healthy is unwavering. This commitment extends beyond our organisation, embracing our social responsibility to contribute meaningfully to education and mentorship. Our participation in this challenge reflects our dedication to fostering learning through innovation and creativity, encouraging students to learn by doing. This initiative draws inspiration from our internal teams, proposing a solution that not only promotes active learning but also prioritises well-being.  
  
Our goal with this challenge is to merge the realms of technology and wellness, creating an opportunity for students to engage in a project with real-world applications and societal impact. We aim to inspire innovative thinking that transcends traditional boundaries, encouraging solutions that keep cycling accessible and exciting year-round. By participating, students will gain valuable skills in technological development and creative problem-solving, all while contributing to healthier lifestyles and environmental sustainability. This challenge is not just an academic exercise; it's a chance to make a tangible difference in how we approach fitness and engagement in the digital age.  
  
By aligning our challenge with these goals, we invite students to be at the forefront of creating meaningful change, benefiting not only themselves through skill acquisition but also society by promoting health and sustainable practices.

Ride, game, thrive: indoor cycling revolution

How can you turn a bicycle into a year-round, interactive fitness adventure?

**Advancing Grid Reliability and Efficiency**  
We are Litgrid – the Lithuanian electricity transmission system operator (TSO), responsible for maintaining a reliable and secure operation of the high-voltage transmission grid. Our expertise lies not only in ensuring a steady flow of electricity from generators to distribution networks, but also in offering innovative electricity market products and services. These services support the overall functioning of the energy and system service markets and help maintain grid reliability.  
Traditionally, expanding the electricity transmission network involved building stronger lines and larger, more robust substations. However, with the advent of distributed generation, it has become evident that these standard methods can’t keep pace with the ever-increasing demand. Today’s technology offers new solutions that utilize existing infrastructure – allowing us to meet the demand, while reducing environmental footprint.  
  
**Unveiling the Vision of a Virtual Electricity Transmission Grid**  
A virtual electricity transmission grid would significantly ease grid congestions by optimizing the generation and transmission of electricity from various energy resources. This could be achieved by controlling and dispatching a mix of energy resources dynamically, implementing demand response programs, using energy storage devices, and applying predictive analytics. But the success of this vision hinges on understanding its economic viability: What are the economic incentives for transitioning to a virtual grid? Who stands to benefit, and how? As a TSO, what role do we play in this transformative journey? And crucially, how will this shift affect our CO2 footprint and contribute to sustainable energy practices? By participating in this challenge, you will gain an in-depth knowledge of the future power system operation. We invite you to prepare a virtual grid concept document that highlights the technical, operational and control requirements, as well as the economic drivers that could push this service-based market product into reality. This is more than a challenge, it's an opportunity to be at the forefront of an energy revolution, shaping a sustainable and efficient future.

Virtual grid – reality of the sustainable future

How can we develop a service-based market product to define the grid of tomorrow?

**Background**  
The fashion industry is known for its negative environmental impact, from carbon emissions to textile waste. By avoiding the emissions from buying an item new, consumers can reduce their carbon footprint, reduce waste and make a significant impact on the fashion industry's climate impact.  

**Challenge**  
The task is to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses one or more of these challenges and help second-hand to become the first choice worldwide in fashion industry:

- How can we change negative perceptions of second-hand clothing?
- How can we ensure safety and ease concerns, when buying?
- How can we make it easier to assess fit and quality when shopping for used items online?

Second-hand – first choice

How can we make second-hand items the first choice worldwide in the fashion industry?

[The syllabus of the module](https://uais.cr.ktu.lt/ktuis/stp_report_ects.mdl_ml?p_kodas=S189M150&amp;p_year=2023&amp;p_lang=EN&amp;p_stp_id=). The module consists of 6 ECTS: total 160 hours, of which 16 hours of lectures, 16 hours of practical work, 32 hours of seminars, 96 hours of individual work.

Public Governance and Civil Society

**Climate Change and sustainability**  
The reality of climate change is imperative for societies to innovate and action solutions that can advance the world to a more sustainable future. Bringing digital technologies and sustainability goals together is logical, and necessary, and today Digital Twins are already having a radical impact on sustainability. By its nature, digital technologies are adaptable and responsive to innovation – but technology providers do not have a monopoly on ideas. This challenge seeks new ideas, and original thinking, to apply Digital Twin technologies to sustainability goals.  
  
**Digital Twins**  
Digital twins are virtual counterparts of tangible assets, providing real-time data, optimization, predictive analytics, and alerts. The significance of DT isn't confined to engineers or facility managers, it's equally valuable for end-users and property owners. A pivotal area where digital twin technology shows promise is in real-time sustainability monitoring.  
Digital Twins can significantly improve the design, construction, and operation of assets of all types. It can improve efficiency by monitoring performance in real-time, including carbon outputs. It is envisaged that Digital Twins should simulate entire systems or interlinked assets to simulate future effects of climate or citizen actions. They should enable society to do more with less, to utilise resources better, longer, and to recycle where replacement has been the norm, to align engineering data with reality, geospatial, IOT and other operational data. Utilising IoT data, Digital Twins should allow AI and machine learning to better analyse performance and improve efficiency.  
If the above is true – what are the opportunities yet unseen, what has not been envisaged, where are the next true innovations? Recognizing that there is often doubt and skepticism when innovation challenges long-held thinking, submissions should consider how societies can facilitate those who would otherwise be skeptical to be part of that change as data proliferation increasingly becomes more widespread and more important to the goals of optimal sustainability.

Urban Digital Twins for Sustainability

How can innovative technologies be applied for real-time monitoring, assessment, and improvement of sustainability indicators within the built environment?

**Background**  
Multiple disposal options for electronics and household appliances are available in Lithuania and other developed countries. There are specialised containers for electronic waste available in shopping centres. E-waste can be returned at any place of purchase. Devices can be deposited at large-scale waste collection sites; many waste management and recycling companies even offer free pickup services from people’s home. Furthermore, individuals can bring all their e-waste to designated collection points and receive monetary compensation as an incentive for proper waste sorting.  
Despite the prohibition on disposing of all electronic waste in municipal containers, small electronic waste frequently ends up in such containers. Consequently, this waste may find its way to landfills, posing environmental and health risks due to the presence of hazardous substances that require proper disposal and recycling. Moreover, these devices contain valuable non-ferrous and precious metals, which can be extracted through environmentally friendly recycling, thereby conserving natural resources. This recycling process can be repeated multiple times, emphasizing the significance of recognising the usefulness of discarded resources. While various methods and extensive communication exist on this topic, people predominantly focus on managing larger electronic devices like refrigerators and dishwashers. However, electronics encompass a broad range of items that require electrical connection or batteries for operation, including electric toothbrushes, electronic cigarettes, computer mice, phones, charger cables, earphones, electronic toys, etc.

**Challenge**  
There are numerous ways available for the proper disposal of electronic waste, and currently there is a significant emphasis on education regarding this topic. Waste management entities, media companies, sustainability-focused organisations, and public associations actively communicate about this issue. However, these methods do not completely solve the problem. We believe that unconventional and contemporary solutions are necessary to help individuals identify small outdated devices as electronic waste, encourage them not to discard such items in municipal waste containers but collect them alongside larger equipment and deliver to waste management companies. Given the abundance of small electronic equipment on the market that requires proper post-usage, we need innovative approaches in addressing this collectively.

Effective disposal of small electronic waste

What strategies can be implemented to support individuals in disposal of small electronic waste?

**Background**

The challenge is provided by the economical development agency “Kaunas IN”. It's goal is to facilitate the transformation of the Kaunas city’s economy to the higher added value economy. Therefore, we work to attract foreign direct investments (FDI) to the city while making Kaunas a more suitable location for FDI companies to open a branch. Successful integration of international talent (and their family members) into the social, labour and educational environments is one of the key factors in the facilitation of FDI companies. Also, because of declining demographics, the city’s ability to integrate foreign talent, re-emigrating diaspora and refugees adds up massively to the economic growth of the city.

**Challenge**  
With over 50 secondary schools, only 2 of them are capable to fully integrate foreign children. The major obstacle is language barriers. It can hinder active participation, comprehension, and social integration for migrant children, impacting both their academic performance and social connections within the school community. Also, insufficient teacher resources, including a lack of language-proficient educators and limited training in addressing the needs of migrant students, further impede integration efforts. As there are no sufficient funds, creativity and motivation become the only options. Most of the schools are lacking the latter. Therefore, the challenge is to find tools and means for schools to learn how to integrate foreign schoolchildren. The aim is to make a value proposition that is higher than the difficulties and inconveniences the schools would experience.

Capacity building tools enabling integration of immigrant and re-immigrant children into schools

What tools can empower schools to foster seamless integration of immigrants' and re-immigrants' children into the education system?

[The syllabus of the module](https://uais.cr.ktu.lt/ktuis/stp_report_ects.mdl_ml?p_kodas=S210M107&amp;p_year=2023&amp;p_lang=EN&amp;p_stp_id=)

The module aims to provide knowledge about risk notion in social theory, interdisciplinary approaches in social analysis of risk, threats and possibilities of technological development; inadequacies of risk distribution in various social groups, to develop skills to analyse the problems of risk regulation and governance assuring sustainable development and solving human security problems.

The module consists of 6 ECTS: a total of 160 hours, of which 64 hours are for classwork and 96 hours for individual work.

Risk and Security Governance

Energy and sustainability

[The syllabus of the module](https://uais.cr.ktu.lt/ktuis/stp_report_ects.mdl_ml?p_kodas=T240M004&amp;p_year=2023&amp;p_lang=EN&amp;p_stp_id=). The module consists of 6 ECTS: total 160 hours, of which 16 hours of lectures, 16 hours of laboratory work, 16 hours of seminars, 112 hours of individual work.

Urban Data Analytics

Whether in your studies, a real-life (ECIU) challenge or in your future career, the need to develop your intercultural competences and become able to work with anyone and anywhere in the world is becoming more and more important. Being connected with other countries and other cultures can provide you with wonderful opportunities for collaboration and new and refreshing insights. To accommodate such creative collaboration, it is important to make sure you have the right tools for effective teamwork in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary groups. With this course, you will gain practical insights into intercultural competences by creating your own Citizen Science project! During this micro-module, you will learn to better understand and work within diverse groups, how to improve on your communicative skills and create an effective team, and how you can apply and present your solutions in a broad variety of contexts. 

For more information and the latest updates, check out [https://www.utwente.nl/en/intercultural-competences/](https://www.utwente.nl/en/intercultural-competences/)

Member university

Kaunas University of Technology

Member university

Kaunas University of Technology

Learning opportunities of Kaunas University of Technology