The CREATE project (Creathons for Real-word Education and Applied societal Transformation in Europe) has been awarded funding as part of the upcoming Erasmus+ KA220-HED initiative, set to begin in October 2025. With a total funding of €400,000 and a planned 3-year run, it is led by Linköping University (Sweden), in collaboration with Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania), University of Aveiro (Portugal), and University of Twente (Netherlands) – all ECIU University member institutions.

CREATE’s goal is to develop a global, flexible Creathon model for higher education institutions, as inspired by the original Creathons’ focus on creativity and Challenge-Based Learning.  

This model aims to engage institutions and stakeholders across Europe to address real-life societal challenges while encouraging broader collaboration between learners, staff members, and stakeholders. It also hopes to make Challenge-Based Learning more accessible and engaging, enhancing its impact for learners, institutions and stakeholders alike.

In order to achieve its goal, CREATE will align stakeholders’ needs within the CBL context, co-design and refine the Creathon format to address EU priorities, and develop a framework to support stakeholders and institutions. The plans also include piloting two transnational Creathons and a challenge-based BIP, as well as disseminating the newly created framework among European universities and university alliances.

In the proposal authors’ own words, the project sets course not just for an innovative educational model but for a mindset shift – empowering shared social responsibility.  

‘We are thrilled to get the opportunity not only to create a model for executing Creathons that can lay the ground for a European Creathon model, but also to increase the outreach and social impact of our universities by making external stakeholders a central part of the effort’, says Kostantinos Mitropolous, a coordinator from Linköping University.

‘After successfully piloting the Creathon model in various ways, I'm excited to improve its output and capacity for ecosystem development,’ adds ECIU University learner engagement coordinator Ryan Wakamiya. ‘It's another opportunity to work on joint solutions to authentic Challenges and encourage collaboration between students, teachers, and external stakeholders.’  

Stay tuned as CREATE helps reshape the educational landscape, with a focus on creativity, innovation and co-creation.