Innovation Challenges (ECIU) is all about solving real-life problems in multidisciplinary and international teams. You will learn about developing user-based solutions, utilizing multidisciplinary expertise and a whole bunch of valuable working life skills like critical thinking, creativity and successful teamwork.

This course is built to follow the design thinking process for innovation in practice and relies on self-guidance, a cornerstone of challenge-based learning. From the broad topics given by external clients, teams will form their own challenges based on their interests and real needs of the community.

Innovation Challenges (ECIU) is an international version of our own Innovation Challenges, which means that the course is open for learners in 14 different ECIU-universities around Europe, but we also hope to see learners from Tampere Universities!

Learning outcomes

Learners will influence the learning outcomes they achieve by setting their own learning objectives and forming their own challenges. In addition to learners’ individual learning outcomes we have listed certain learning outcomes that will be common to all of thoser who complete the course by applying team learning methods and the design thinking process.

Upon completion of the course, you will: 

- understand the design thinking principles in the context of an innovation project; 
- be able to test ideas with different target groups;
- be able to consider the user perspective when resolving challenges;
- be able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and international team;
- be able to challenge your own thinking and trust your team; 
- receive feedback about your strengths, competencies and expertise;
- be able to pitch your solution in English.

The term innovation challenge refers to a practical project which enables you to develop your expertise and creativity, set goals and achieve them together with your team. You will gain first-hand experience of innovation projects and apply your acquired knowledge in practice.  

To pass the course, you must demonstrate commitment to team learning and to the challenge you formed. You will be expected to team up with your fellow learners and generate potential solutions, plan the testing of ideas, and develop ideas into functional solutions. You and your team must propose diverse solutions to the client.   



The learner will receive a failing grade if he or she is not able to independently describe the importance and purpose of the course learning outcomes for his or her learning and that of the team. Similarly, the learner will fail the course if he or she does not contribute to the activities set out in the team’s project plan and to resolving the provided challenge.   

ECIU University

The plaftform which enables learners, researchers, business, public organizations and citizens, to create relevant innovative solutions for real life challenges with real societal impact.

The ECIU University is an initiative of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU alliance) that creates a ground-breaking and innovative educational model on a European scale. Through the initiative, ECIU alliance builds the ECIU University with open and flexible system, an entire new concept of the European University for the future.