From February to April, the Blended Intensive Programme ENHANCING Sustainable Communication, Professional Competences and AI brings together 45 students from five European universities in a shared experience of learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange. The UPV coordinating team (Oksana Polyakova, Alexia Larchen and Ruzana Galstyan-Sargsyan) has been responsible for hosting the first of the three planned editions.
The programme, developed within the ENHANCE Alliance, connects students from the Universitat Politècnica de València, Warsaw University of Technology, Technische Universität Berlin, Lviv Polytechnic National University, and Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Its main objective is to equip students with the skills needed to effectively communicate technical information, with a focus on sustainability. It also aims to introduce the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, global challenges, and the Sustainable Development Goals through interuniversity interaction, while fostering collaboration among technical universities and raising awareness of sustainable values in a modern, AI-supported society.
Structured in three phases (an online component, an intensive on-site week in Valencia, and a final stage dedicated to project development), the course creates a dynamic learning environment that goes beyond the traditional classroom. Throughout the programme, students have worked in international teams, strengthening their communication and collaboration skills while addressing the key dimensions of sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Partnership, and Peace.
The on-site week at the Universitat Politècnica de València was a particularly enriching experience. In addition to academic sessions and workshops on AI and communication, participants immersed themselves in the local context through cultural activities and study visits. Students gained first-hand insight into how sustainability is applied across different sectors by visiting AITEX in Alcoy, a leading research and innovation centre for the textile industry, and the Juan Motilla S.L. mandarin packaging plant in Gandía. Students also had the opportunity to enjoy the city of Valencia during the afternoons by visiting the City of Arts and Sciences and exploring its historic centre.
