91ĘÓƵ

26 March 2024

ECIU University, the virtual university, is celebrating its fifth birthday. In the university, LiU students have the opportunity to work in international and multidisciplinary groups with the objective of finding creative solutions to real problems.  

A bunch of people in a conversation.
Photographer: ECIU University

Linköping University is part of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), a network of 13 higher education institutions in Europe and one in Mexico. Collaboration with society is central to all ECIU universities. An important development for the network began to take shape in 2019 – the ECIU University. It is a platform that focuses on Challenge Based Learning (CBL), where students from all universities can apply for courses and challenges based on finding solutions to real problems in organisations or companies.

A person is talking.
Konstantinos Mitropoulos.Photo credit: Charlotte Perhammar

“It gives our students the opportunity to learn how to act and function in an international context. And it’s a new way to learn. Many of the modules, called challenges, are based on finding a solution to a real problem. It’s a challenge to have to think a little differently, linking the theoretical knowledge you've learnt to making it useful in real life,” says Konstantinos Mitropoulos, programme coordinator at the competence centre ECIU@LiU.

In addition to the opportunity to gain international experience, he highlights the interdisciplinary benefits of ECIU University.

“It’s not just for engineers or economists. The set-up is based on there being a group of people with different backgrounds who must learn to listen and collaborate with each other. The multidisciplinary approach means the solution to the problem is often much better.”

The courses that students can apply for vary in length and design. From just a few higher education credits up to a whole semester of study. Some courses are completely online, others are based on independent study, and the most popular variant is a combination which includes a short period abroad. Most of them can easily fit into the students’ existing schedules.

“These are experiences and challenges that are not as easy to get in normal university programmes. Students just need to get an account and go in and apply, there are always some modules that are open for application,” says Konstantinos Mitropoulos.


Contact

Latest news from LiU

Fewer back problems with BetterBack

Most backs protest at least at once in a lifetime. Movement is often the best help. Therefore, researchers and physiotherapists in healthcare have developed a model of care “BetterBack (BättreRygg)”, which has now attracted international attention.

A man and a woman standing on a rock beside a pond.

How property owners can work to prevent flooding

The risk of heavy rainfall and severe flooding increases with climate change. But property owners  often underestimate their own responsibility. In a new scientific article, researchers from LiU show how the can go about the preventive work.

Portrait (Gustaf Hendeby).

Blurred borders between civilian and military

A tense political situation in the world, a war in Europe and an everyday life with increasing threats to our security – what do the researchers do? More than you might think and there will be even more. Defence research is more active than ever.

Läs mer