Academic life is all about choices – choosing the right path, the right university, the right study program – but choices can be hard without enough information at hand. A platform created by students from the University of Trento and Łódź University of Technology aims to change that and simplify decision-making for learners across Europe. Here’s how.
Student life is rooted in decision-making – from choosing your university to selecting the courses you attend. These decisions define not just your academic years but the path beyond them, and that’s where the stakes get high. What exactly awaits you? Can you really make the right choice without enough information available? What if reality doesn’t meet your expectations?
Students in the Human-Computer Interaction program at the University of Trento (Italy), Alberto Macagno and Gabriele Tealdo once asked themselves similar questions. Unsure of which university to apply to, they later realised thousands of learners were struggling to make the same choice, with little to no resources to help them decide.
This became the beginning of UniMate – a digital platform made by students, for students.
The idea was to create a platform that would offer aspiring students insights into different universities, study programs and student life, helping them make well-informed decisions when applying. And soon this idea started to take shape.
In 2024, Alberto and Gabriele pitched the concept of UniMate to their peers and the European Commission for Education during DigiEduHackathon 2024. This earned the platform one of its first prizes – the Experienced Award for teams with experience in hackathons.
Next Spring, the students attended the ECIU University’s AI Hackathon at Tampere University (Finland), which focused on the development of AI-powered learning assistants. There, they introduced UniMate to even more peers, winning one of the main awards and meeting their future teammates – Adam Topolski and Katarzyna Kordala from the Łódź University of Technology, who shared their interest in creating student-oriented solutions.
Just a few months later, the team would already present their project during the ECIU University Forum 2025 in Trento (Italy), with other participants recognising UniMate’s potential and offering feedback.
‘I think the audience liked our presentation because they saw that the problem we’re addressing is real – and that UniMate can effectively tackle it’, Alberto says. 'Other participants also shared their own observations and different points of view. This helped us refine and improve our idea.'
‘This was an amazing opportunity for networking and growth, both personal and for the project,’ adds Gabriele. ‘And apart from having the chance to present and receive feedback, I also got to expand my network with other students and community members.’
Participation in ECIU University events did what it does best – laid the foundation for future work and new partnerships. But even more importantly, it opened the door to new perspectives.
Originally, the team wanted to launch a chatbot trained on university data to help students with orientation decisions, Alberto explains. However, the fast evolution of tools like ChatGPT and Gemini made them realise that a different solution might be needed – less similar to what they already knew and more human.
They also made an important observation that changed the project’s course. According to the team’s findings, a major reason for university dropout was the misalignment between students’ expectations and experience. Students wanted to understand what university life and courses were really like – but didn't have the opportunity to find out.
‘That’s when we shifted focus,’ shares Alberto. ‘While still aiming to support students, we decided to offer something unique: insights from learners who actually experienced those universities.'
How does UniMate work?
There are two main features on the platform, accessible via the home screen – Reviews and Explore. In the Reviews section, you can leave your reviews on universities and degree programs, or read the ones created by other users. In the Explore section, you can browse universities and study programs to see the highest-rated ones. The navigation is simple and intuitive, with all important info available within a few clicks, Alberto explains.
Today, UniMate is a platform with a focus on real student experience and perspectives. Here, learners can leave reviews about their degree programs for others to look up, gaining a better understanding of what they might expect as well. The team has also received first feedback from users – and it’s already inspiring.
During the survey conducted among bachelor’s and master’s students across Italy, 8 out of 10 bachelor students said UniMate could positively impact their decision-making. Meanwhile, 9 out of 10 master’s students described the platform as ‘helpful’, and 8 out of 10 said they would like to use it for their studies.
The participants praised the platform for offering a new, unique point of view – something they haven’t been able to find elsewhere.
Lately, the UniMate team has been busier than ever – not only preparing for the pilot phase planned for this Autumn, but also working on the new features they hope to add in the future.
These could include digital database and guides, dedicated support for Erasmus and exchange students, a smart chatbot trained on both official data and student reviews, and a special functionality called Mates – 1:1 calls, where experienced students offer users personalised advice and guidance.
While UniMate will first launch at the University of Trento, the University of Turin, and Politecnico di Milano in Italy, the team has a global vision in mind and wants to expand the platform’s reach further. First, to ECIU University member institutions, and then, hopefully, Europe-wide.
‘ECIU University has played a key role in our journey, not only by connecting us with our future teammates, but also by offering excellent learning resources and opportunities,' adds Alberto. ‘We look forward to continuing this collaboration – and to the value it can bring’.
Follow UniMate’s journey on its website and social media – and stay updated as the platform grows.
Author: Anastasia Bukhtiarova