CY student testimonials on the Innovation Challenges at Barcelona

Participants were divided into interdisciplinary teams, each tasked with developing innovative solutions to one of the four key challenges. The 3-day intensive days featured workshops, discussions, and collaborative projects, fostering an environment where they could deepen their understanding of misinformation's impact and work toward practical solutions. Given the complexity of the issues, four expert mentors guided the 16 teams throughout the entire process, from initial challenge exploration to concept development, prototyping, and experimentation planning.
Here are testominals from CY Cergy Paris University students :

• Natasha Litherland – Third-year Bachelor's degree, Double degree in Computer Engineering and Design
  "Participating in the EUTOPIA Innovation Challenge at Universitat Pompeu Fabra was a truly transformative experience. Representing CY Cergy Paris Université, I had the unique opportunity to collaborate with students from across Europe to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: disinformation and its impact on democracy. Over a few intense and enriching days, our team partnered with Canòdrom - Ateneu d'Innovació Digital i Democràtica to reimagine how open data platforms can empower citizens to recognize and counter misinformation. From user interviews and real-world insights to prototyping and pitching, the process was as rigorous as it was rewarding. It challenged us to think critically, work cross-culturally, and embrace creativity under pressure. What stood out most to me was the openness of the environment; since teams were from diverse disciplines and backgrounds, we had different approaches to the project and were able to learn from each other, which in turn fostered genuine innovation. I'm used to looking at technology from a purely technical perspective in my courses (I'm studying Computer Engineering and Global Design), so here it was a breath of fresh air to think about the ethics and policy behind it. It was a lot of fun, and I would recommend the EUTOPIA Innovation Challenges to anyone who'd like to try something new, meet new people from across Europe and learn about interesting topics. I walk away from this experience not just with new skills and perspectives, but with meaningful connections and a love for Barcelona, which we were able to visit on our afternoon off. The event was impeccably organized, and we were supported by both the UPF team and CY Cergy Paris University team, especially Véronique, so I'm very grateful to have been able to participate.
• Evaléna Avon-Casadio – First-year Bachelor's degree in Applied Foreign Languages (English-Spanish)
  Participating in the EUTOPIA Innovation Challenge in Barcelona was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had at university. I went there without knowing much about fake news, but through the workshops and team activities, I gained valuable knowledge about how misinformation is created, how it spreads (especially online), and why media literacy is so important today. One of the best parts of the experience was working with students from across Europe. We all had different perspectives and backgrounds, but we quickly found common ground and built strong connections. I was surprised by how easily we managed to collaborate and how much we were able to achieve together in such a short time. The atmosphere throughout this 3-days was incredibly positive and motivating, the organizers were supportive, and everyone was genuinely engaged. I came back home both new skills, a better understanding of how to tackle misinformation, and a lot of inspiration for future projects.
• Revanth Korada Second-year Master's degree in Economic Analysis.
  This edition of EUTOPIA Innovation Challenge at UPF was a great experience, I really liked it as the topic of AI has strong opinions both for and against it. I learned how to approach business problems in a creative and structured way using different tools like customer interviews and validation techniques, which helped us develop our prototype. The event was very well organized, with a friendly atmosphere and a balanced schedule. I especially liked working in a team with students from different unis and it helped build new connections. I was also surprised (in a good way!) by how openly we were encouraged to use AI as a powerful tool. A big thank you to the CY team for handling all the logistics so smoothly, and especially to Véronique for being so kind and helpful throughout. Improvements: one thing that could be improved is giving more creative space during the hands on: the strict focus on methodology this event limited our freedom to explore original ideas. Maybe an extra hour or two with a blank space could help. Also, offering more attractive prizes (Like maybe a cash prize?) might boost motivation and participation, as some students might otherwise treat the program more like a holiday. That's all from me! I had a lot of fun and learning in Barcelona.

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