Two students from our university, Julian Leszkowicz (Business Studies) and Jan Zielinski (Modelling and Data Science), represented Lodz University of Technology at the Ignite ECIU Hackathon. The event took place from April 28 to 30, 2026 at Kaunas University of Technology. The main theme of the challenge was Ignite ECIU: Co-Creating Motivation for Lifelong Learning.
The primary objective was to identify the factors that encourage students and staff to participate in international initiatives. The focus extended beyond academic credits to emphasise the broader value of such programmes and the importance of accessible information. In response, participants worked on a wide range of solutions, including applications, websites, and MVPs, addressing various aspects of the challenge, from increasing motivation and accessibility to improving communication, user experience, and the overall value of participation in international initiatives.
The programme began on Tuesday, April 28, with an opening ceremony in the morning. This was followed by team-based work sessions dedicated to developing initial concepts. In the evening, participants attended a social dinner, which provided an opportunity to connect with Lithuanian culture and cuisine, as well as with students from other ECIU universities.
On Wednesday, April 29, participants focused on developing and testing their models across different user profiles. The academic staff supporting the challenge included Vilma Sukacke, Saule Petroniene, Brigita Pantelejeva, and Marija Veziene.
On Thursday, April 30, the teams finalised their projects and delivered their presentations. The event concluded with a closing and awards ceremony at noon, followed by a farewell lunch.
Here are the participants’ thoughts on the experience:
Julian Leszkowicz (Lead ECIU Ambassador, Business studies, 2nd year)
While I have participated in similar initiatives in the past, the experience in Kaunas was truly exceptional. Collaborating within diverse international teams provided profound insights into solving complex problems with the user in mind.
Understanding what actually motivates people to keep learning was a great lesson. I plan to use this knowledge in my future work, and I will try to bring this experience into central ECIU projects. The entire journey offered invaluable exposure to real world development and co creation processes. The rigorous workshops challenged our conventional thinking, making the final presentation of our application concept a deeply fulfilling culmination of our hard work.
Jan Zieliński (Modelling and Data Science, 1st year)
This was my first time taking part in an event like this, and the focus on designing and building actual models was very useful. We combined our diverse skills to create solutions for both digital and physical environments. The atmosphere was busy but very rewarding, and the social events made it easy to talk with other participants.
Taking part in this hackathon was a valuable opportunity to improve team working skills and understand the design process while connecting with motivated students across Europe.
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The ECIU Office team would like to thank Julian and Jan 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).
