Significant change story: STUDENTS

“The most significant change we experienced was that we gained a lot of confidence during the project, because during Innovation Week we had the opportunity to work on a real business problem presented by a start-up, and we challenged ourselves to the best of our ability. It was also an opportunity to compete with other students, to test ourselves in a very short period of time, we worked very efficiently and well with our team. During the Innovation Week, we addressed a really sensitive issue related to climate change – as you know, Lithuania is moving towards a green course, so our team’s idea was to bring back to life an old vehicle.

We brought it back to life by using technology that already exists, without waiting for the future or expecting it to be invented. We used solar panels, sanitary appliances, heat pumps for heating in our project, electricity for everything – enough energy for five days for a mobile office, according to the plan.”

“Hello everyone, my name is Arseni. Currently I’m a third year student of Savonia University of Applied Science and I’m studying International business. So, during the one of my courses, I had an ability to participate in ILCA Project Innovation Week. So, for me it was a great experience because I realized how important the issues of sustainability and environment are in the current business world. So, I can say that the most significant change that I realized during this experience was changes in my attitude to these issues because now I can definitely say how it can be implemented in the current businesses. So, I think that’s for every student from this course, it was really interesting to participate in that. So it’s great experience where you can get knowledge about the sustainability and for every student, it’s really important to know how many questions are rising in this area. So if somebody else will get the chance in the future to participate in this innovation week, I can highly recommend it because it’s a great experience that you can share in the future and use it really helpful in the career. 

So, I have only positive emotions after that. So, it was really great for me as a student to participate in this event. Thank you! “

“I participated in the ILCA project, in the Digital Transformation course within the project, where we discussed digital businesses, technologies such as blockchain, the benefits of these technologies in reducing the carbon footprint, and their positive impact on the planet’s climate. I learned about business transformation and digitization, as well as aspects of management and leadership in such a business. By attending the Digital Transformation course, I gained new skills and competencies for our future projects. Thank you, ILCA! “

“Hello! My name is Marian Mucuță and I am a student at “Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Faculty of Economics, Administration, and Business, and I participated in the ILCA project. Within the ILCA project, I had the opportunity to learn about the digital transformation of businesses and climate change, how to transform a business into a digital one, how to move a business online, about scaling a business and digitalization, everything related to selling products, marketing, and managing an online business. I even participated in a case study where a local entrepreneur presented a business about micro-plants and how he managed to implement his business online. It was a practical example where we saw step by step how to do this, how he managed to place his products on the market – a very interesting case study. There were also other case studies with entrepreneurs from Suceava about transforming their businesses to be more environmentally friendly. I can say that it was a very beautiful experience, and for this, I sincerely thank ILCA! “

“I am Karyna Kifiuk, a student of the Faculty of Economics at Chernivtsi National University, studying at the Economic Cybernetics programme. Not so long ago, the ILCA Innovation Week, a project aimed at developing innovations focused on climate change, has ended. During this week, we took part in the Student Climate Innovation Hub, where we had the opportunity to work on solving urgent problems and develop innovative approaches to reducing the negative impact on the climate together with other teams. We also met with representatives of businesses that contribute to environmental sustainability in our country, particularly in our region. These meetings gave us the opportunity to deepen our understanding of the problem and broaden our horizons in this area.

One of the most important changes we have experienced during this week of innovation within the project is the development of soft skills. During this week, we gained invaluable experience in communicating with different people and teamwork. Communication with representatives of businesses and participants of the hackathon helped us to improve our skills in communication, conflict resolution and team building. In addition to developing our soft skills, another significant change for us was the expansion of our knowledge in the field of sustainable development and innovation. During meetings with business representatives, we had the opportunity to learn about new technologies and practices aimed at reducing our environmental impact. This helped us to realise the importance of integrating a sustainable approach into business and the development of society as a whole. In addition, participation in the hackathon and presentation of the projects to the audience gave us the opportunity to deepen our knowledge of climate change and the development of innovative solutions.

Working on the business project required not only technical expertise, but also an understanding of the economic and environmental aspects. This encouraged us to actively learn and explore new ideas to achieve a more sustainable future. Thanks to our participation in the ILCA project, we have expanded our network of contacts and acquaintances. Meeting representatives from other countries and exchanging experiences with them allowed us to see problems from a different perspective and learn new approaches to solving them. As a result, these changes have become meaningful to us, as they make us more competent team members and ready to face the challenges ahead. But they are also important because young people are the future of the world and their active participation in projects brings fresh perspectives, new ideas and energy that are needed to effectively address global challenges. This is the most important aspect of the ILCA project, осĸільĸи it opens the door for innovation and positive change.“

“The most important change that I felt during the ILCA project is the shift towards a more multidisciplinary and innovative approach to solving climate challenges. Thanks to various activities such as the Innovation Week and master classes, I had the opportunity to practically explore the intersection of climate action, entrepreneurship and creativity in a practical way. This project broadened my horizons and gave me practical skills to solve complex environmental problems.

This change is crucial because it is not only about learning theoretical concepts, but also about actively engaging with real-world problems and finding innovative solutions. The emphasis on interdisciplinary cooperation and entrepreneurship has enabled me to think critically and creatively, preparing me to make a significant contribution to climate innovation and sustainable development efforts in the future.“

“I gained some valuable knowledge about coming up with new ideas to address climate change”

The project facilitated an in-depth understanding of circular economy principles and the responsible utilisation of natural resources. It provided valuable insights into innovating solutions for addressing climate change through systematic problem-solving approaches.