The Faculty of Mass Media Communication at UCM in Trnava hosted the first coordination meeting for the international Erasmus+ project focused on developing university education through the Design Thinking method. Project partners from various countries gathered to plan the different phases of the project and outline the next steps.
The meeting was attended by partners from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Spain, with Ani Chelishvili from Business and Technology University in Georgia joining virtually. The program was quite packed, featuring introductory presentations by each partner, detailed discussions on the upcoming phases of the project and their outcomes. Partners established communication protocols and addressed practical issues related to budget utilization and expense documentation.
A highlight of the coordination meeting was the Design Thinking Kick-off workshop, held on the first day. This workshop was designed as an interactive and practical introduction to the Design Thinking methodology. During the session, we explored the entire model in detail, from problem identification to finding creative solutions and their subsequent implementation. In addition to theoretical explanations, we had the opportunity to experience some of the key phases of the process through real-life examples. Discussions among participants quickly demonstrated that the potential for using Design Thinking in higher education is indeed substantial. Participants agreed that this workshop was an excellent experience that they would certainly apply to their own subjects
During the meeting, participants also took part in a tour of the Design Thinking Labs on Skladová Street in Trnava. They had the opportunity to see modern spaces and technologies designed to support creative thinking and innovation. Following the official program, a group lunch and brainstorming session took place, where partners discussed additional ideas and suggestions for the successful implementation of the project.
The second day of the meeting continued with discussions on the project’s next steps and concluded with the second part of the Design Thinking workshop. To wrap up the meeting, participants enjoyed a tour of the historic center of Trnava, which provided them with an opportunity to better understand the culture of the host city.
The first coordination meeting of the project was successful and yielded numerous valuable insights for the project’s further implementation. We believe that the outcomes of this collaboration will contribute to the development of innovative approaches in higher education and enhance the employability of students.
