‍The overarching goal of CREATE is to develop and validate a flexible, scalable Creathon model that enables Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across Europe to effectively implement Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) in collaboration with societal stakeholders.

By lowering barriers to participation and providing practical tools, CREATE aims to strengthen the role of HEIs as hubs for societal innovation and civic engagement.

European societies are facing complex and interconnected challenges, ranging from climate change and digital transformation to social cohesion and democratic participation. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are increasingly expected to play an active role in addressing these challenges, not only through research but also through education that equips students and staff with the skills to collaborate across disciplines and sectors.

While Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) has proven to be a powerful educational approach, its implementation often remains fragmented, resource-intensive, and limited to local contexts. Many HEIs lack clear frameworks, trained educators, and structured collaboration models with external stakeholders. As a result, valuable opportunities for societal impact, civic engagement, and student learning remain underutilised.

The CREATE project responds to this gap by offering a practical, scalable solution: Creathons: short, intensive, challenge-driven events that lower the threshold for engaging students, educators, administrators, and societal actors in real-world problem solving. CREATE addresses the urgent need for accessible, high-quality CBL formats that can be embedded into institutional structures and scaled across Europe.

Toolkit

The core output of the project is a Creathon Toolkit, combining a base methodology, facilitation guidelines, training materials, and stakeholder engagement tools that can be adapted to different institutional, regional, and disciplinary contexts.

CREATE will deliver concrete outcomes, including a Creathon optimisation report, a capacity development framework for teachers, pilot Creathons in multiple countries, a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), and an international community of practice. Together, these results support long-term adoption of CBL and foster a shared European mindset of social responsibility and active citizenship.

Collaboration

CREATE is a three-year project and will be implemented through a structured collaboration between four partners:  Linköping University (project coordinator), University of Aveiro, Kaunas University of Technology, and University of Twente. All partners are members of the ECIU University Alliance and bring complementary expertise in CBL, pedagogy, innovation ecosystems, and stakeholder engagement.

Objectives

CREATE pursues the following interconnected objectives:

1. Empower HEIs as centres for societal innovation by equipping them with practical Creathon methodologies to address real-world challenges.
2. Enhance the effectiveness of Challenge-Based Learning through a structured, yet adaptable Creathon framework.
3. Strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration and civic engagement among students, educators, administrators, and external actors.
4. Support capacity development of teachers and HEI staff to facilitate CBL and Creathons confidently and sustainably.
5. Laying the foundation for scalability and sustainability of the Creathon model across European HEIs and university alliances.

Throughout its 36-month duration, the CREATE project will organise several events, such as co-creation sessions, Creahton pilots, training sessions, and multiplier dissemination events to promote, develop, test, and scale up the Creathon model across Europe. These events engage students, teacher, staff, and external stakeholders from public, private, and civil society sectors.

1. Project kick-off meeting

At the start of the project, a transnational kick-off meeting will be hosted by Linköping University. This in-person event brings together all partner universities and associated partners to align on objectives, governance, timelines, and quality assurance procedures. It establishes the foundation for collaboration and shared understanding across work packages.

2. Local co-creation workshops

Each partner institution will organise local co-creation workshops involving students, teachers, staff, and external stakeholders such as municipalities, companies, and NGOs. These workshops serve to map stakeholder needs, expectations, and challenges related to Challenge-Based Learning and Creathon implementation. The outcomes feed directly into the design of the flexible Creathon base method and the stakeholder engagement framework.

3. Teacher training sessions

A series of teacher training events will be delivered to support educators and administrative staff in facilitating Creathons and Challenge-Based Learning activities. These sessions include hands-on workshops, and pilot testing of facilitation tools. Training activities are coordinated by Kaunas University of Technology and take place both online and in person at partner institutions.

4. Two transnational Creathon pilots

CREATE will organise two transnational Creathon pilots, hosted by University of Aveiro and Kaunas University of Technology. These intensive, short-format events bring together interdisciplinary student teams from multiple countries to work on real societal challenges provided by external stakeholders. The pilots are used to test, validate, and refine the Creathon methodology and toolkit.

5. Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)

A Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) will be organised by Linköping University, combining online preparation with a physical Creathon-based learning experience. The BIP tests the adaptability of the Creathon model within accredited curricula and supports ECTS recognition across institutions.

6. Multiplier events

Towards the end of the project, four multiplier events, will be organised to disseminate results to a wider European audience of HEIs, policymakers, educators, and external stakeholders. These events are complemented by presentations at academic conferences and European university alliance platforms, coordinated by University of Twente and conducted by each university.

7. Final European dissemination event

The project concludes with a final dissemination event in Brussels, bringing together European stakeholders, university alliances, and policy actors. This event showcases the Creathon toolkit, project outcomes, and lessons learned, and supports long-term uptake and exploitation of the CREATE results across Europe.

Work Packages (WP) and responsible universities

WP1 – Project management
Lead: Linköping University

WP2 – Creathon design & implementation
Lead: University of Aveiro

WP3 – Teacher capacity development
Lead: Kaunas University of Technology

WP4 – External stakeholder nngagement
Lead: Linköping University

WP5 – Communication, dissemination, and exploitation
Lead: University of Twente

The CREATE project is designed to generate a coherent set of tangible and sustainable outcomes that together strengthen the capacity of Higher Education Institutions to implement Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) in collaboration with societal stakeholders.

The expected outcomes reflect the project’s ambition to combine educational  innovation, institutional change, and societal impact. They support HEIs in moving from experimental, ad hoc CBL initiatives towards structured, scalable, and transferable practices that can be embedded in curricula and organisational processes.

Creathon optimisation report

1. Purpose: Identify ecosystem-specific needs, barriers, and leverage points for effective CBL implementation.

Comprehensive Creathon toolkit

1. Purpose: Offer practical guidelines, templates, facilitation tools, and assessment resources for seamless implementation.
2. Provide a reusable and adaptable methodological foundation aligned with EU priorities and diverse contexts.

Capacity development framework for teachers and staff

1. Purpose: Build institutional and individual capability to design, facilitate, and assess CBL activities.

International Community of Practice

1. Purpose: Sustain peer learning, knowledge exchange, and continuous improvement beyond the project lifetime.

Dissemination and multiplier events

1. Purpose: Ensure wide uptake of results across European HEIs, university alliances, and policy communities.

Project coordinator

‍Konstantinos Mitropoulos
konstantinos.mitropoulos@liu.se