Participants had the opportunity to explore the results of our initiative, which in September was honored with the prestigious EU Project of the Year award at the ACEEU Triple E Awards 2025, recognizing its exceptional impact on higher education across Europe.
The event was officially opened by TUL’s Vice-Rector for Education – Andrzej Romanowski, who emphasized how crucial such initiatives are for universities - especially technical ones - where fostering inclusive and empathetic environments is key to future success.
Following the opening, Project Coordinator Dorota Piotrowska presented a comprehensive summary of EQUNI’s achievements, including the innovative EQUNI Game and App, and a variety of learning activities organized for the target group. These efforts culminated in awarding participants with micro-credentials, recognizing their engagement and newly acquired skills. This approach aligns with the European Union’s policy on micro-credentials, which promotes flexible, modular learning opportunities to support lifelong learning and employability. Moreover, the project contributed to the implementation of Lodz University of Technology’s procedures for awarding micro-credentials, ensuring that participants’ achievements are formally recognized within the institution’s academic framework.
Additionally, Alexandra Gomes, representing one of EQUNI’s partners - University of Algarve, joined the conference online and delivered a thought-provoking lecture on discrimination. She presented key facts about the issue and shared insights from research conducted at partner higher education institutions. Alexandra debunked common myths surrounding discrimination and sparked an engaging discussion with the audience, encouraging participants to reflect on biases and systemic challenges within academia and beyond.
The conference featured two dynamic panel discussions:
• Panel 1: Moderated by Dorota Piotrowska, with panelists Jan Riezebos (University of Groningen), Nicolas Schaeffer (SumFuo), Katarzyna Buss-Nykiel and Rafał Nykiel (Team Coaching), all representing project partners. The discussion focused on the project’s impact within their institutions and the personal journeys of the panelists throughout the three-year collaboration, highlighting how EQUNI shaped their perspectives and professional practices.
• Panel 2: Brought together business representatives, who explored the growing importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace, highlighting its role in leadership, collaboration, and organizational success. The session was moderated by Magdalena Hebdowska - President of TUL’s IFE Alumni Association.
In the second part of the event, participants joined interactive workshops:
• One group played the EQUNI Game, experiencing gamified learning about discrimination and emotional intelligence.
• Another group engaged in EQ training, deepening their understanding of emotional skills which allow recognizing, understanding, and regulating emotions — both our own and those of others.
• The third group participated in a simulation workshop, wearing special outfits to experience the challenges faced by people with disabilities, fostering empathy and awareness.
We are proud to share that all project partners participated, either on-site in Łódź or online, ensuring a truly collaborative and international experience. In total, over 60 participants joined the conference, contributing ideas and engaging in meaningful dialogue about shaping the future of higher education.
Thank you to everyone who made this event a success! Together, we are building universities that empower through emotional intelligence and set new standards for inclusion across Europe.