Three students from our university - Daniyar Zhumatayev (Information Technology), Valeriia Balatska (Information Technology), and Praskouya Horbach (Informatyka Stosowana) - recently represented Lodz University of Technology at the second ECIU University User Experience Focus Group, held on March 19-20, 2026, at the University of Stavanger (UiS) in Norway. The event, powered by Work Package 7, brought together 20 students from 9 different ECIU member universities to explore the theme: “Towards an ECIU University alumni approach: understanding the needs of the future lifelong learner.”
This is how Daniyar described the event:
The Focus Group centred on an important and timely question - how can ECIU University better involve alumni and understand the needs of students transitioning from their studies into lifelong learning? With ECIU University working on including recently graduated alumni as a new target group in its products, services, and infrastructure, the event aimed to conduct user research and collect insights on the specific needs of this group.
The programme featured a series of engaging sessions and workshops. Vida Drąsutė, Head of the KTU Alumni Centre, opened with a real case study titled “From Day One to Lifelong Connections,” sharing practical insights on how to build alumni engagement through consistent activities and traditions. Mahammad Ismayilov, International Relations Coordinator of the KTU Alumni Centre, led an interactive workshop on engaging students through international alumni connections, where participants explored different approaches, shared experiences, and discussed what actually works in practice.
The main workshops were facilitated by Francesca Marangoni, UX and Service Designer from ECIU Work Package 7, and focused on understanding the future lifelong learner and the role of alumni in the context of ECIU University. Through creative exercises and group discussions, participants worked together to map the alumni user journey and formulate ideas for how ECIU University can maintain meaningful connections with its graduates.
Beyond the working sessions, the social programme helped build strong connections between participants - from exploring the beautiful city of Stavanger to a memorable pizza evening with a fun quiz and karaoke nights that brought everyone together.
After the Focus Group concluded, three participants - Daniyar, Valeriia, and Mahammad - took part in a podcast recording, sharing their highlights from the event and their thoughts on the future of the ECIU alumni network. The episode, titled “Creating the ECIU Alumni Network”, is now available on Spotify:
Here are the participants’ thoughts on the experience:
Daniyar Zhumatayev (ECIU Lead Ambassador, Information Technology, 3rd year):
“Having attended ECIU UX Focus Groups before - first in Enschede and now in Stavanger - I can see how each event builds on the previous one. This time, the focus on alumni engagement felt especially relevant as many of us are approaching the end of our studies and naturally thinking about what comes next. It was exciting to contribute ideas for how the ECIU community can stay connected beyond graduation. The workshops pushed us to think not just as current students, but as future alumni - and that shift in perspective was really valuable. I hope our collective input will help shape an alumni network that keeps the ECIU spirit alive long after we finish our degrees.”
Valeriia Balatska (Information Technology, 3rd year):
“This was a unique opportunity to be part of shaping something that doesn’t fully exist yet - the ECIU alumni network. During the workshops, I really enjoyed how we were encouraged to think about our own journey as students and imagine what kind of support and community we would want after graduating. It was also great to hear perspectives from students at different stages and from different universities - it showed that while our experiences vary, the desire to stay connected is universal. The atmosphere in Stavanger was incredibly welcoming, and the social activities made the whole experience even more memorable.”
Praskouya Horbach (Informatyka Stosowana, 3rd year):
“It was my first ECIU event and I really enjoyed the experience. The discussions about alumni engagement gave me a new perspective on how universities can support students beyond their studies. I’m glad I had the chance to be part of it.”
Taking part in the Focus Group was a valuable opportunity not only to contribute to the development of the ECIU University alumni network, but also to connect with motivated students from across Europe who share a vision for the future of education. Experiences like these highlight how student voices can directly influence the services and platforms that shape our learning journeys.
******************************
The ECIU Office team would like to thank Daniyar for contributing to our local ECIU news page by preparing the above article!
Students interested in sharing their ECIU experiences on TUL's local ECIU website, or in participating in future ECIU events can contact us at eciuoffice@adm.p.lodz.pl or visit our office in the ICC/IFE building (2nd floor, room 206).
