On January 27, an inspiring group of enthusiastic students gathered at Mektory for the EuroTeQ Collider course “Green Deal Collider: Sustainable Futures”, organized by Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech). This multidisciplinary and multicultural course brought together 44 students from 10 European countries and 14 universities to tackle real-world sustainability challenges using Challenge-Based Learning (CBL).
The course, led by Ergo Pikas and Kätlin Kangur from TalTech, was organized in collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology and Riga Technical University. This year, the teaching team welcomed Gert Guri, a long-time CBL advocate, along with Ekaterina Demiankova from TalTech’s School of Business and Governance.
The intensive three-week course combined on-site learning at Mektory with virtual teamwork, focusing on sustainability, design thinking, team dynamics, and presentation skills. The students worked on complex real-world challenges, including:
- Sustainable Urban Development & Health
- AI in Road Marking Detection
- City Data Applications
- 3D Modeling for Urban Planning
- Circular Economy in Construction
- Energy-Efficient Use of Food Waste
Mentors from TalTech, Tallinn City, Tartu City, Ülemiste City, Hundipea Real Estate Developer, and the Estonian Islands Energy Agency guided the student teams. Special thanks go to the FinEst Smart City Center of Excellence for helping define the challenges.
The journey culminates on February 14, 2025, with the Final Pitches & Presentations held online via Zoom. Participants will showcase their solutions and compete for a spot at the TalTech Sustainable Futures event in May, with a chance to advance to the EuroTeQaThon at Eindhoven University of Technology in June.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness the next generation of sustainability innovators in action!
🔗 For more information: Green Deal Collider: Sustainable Futures
