Workshop on the Ideal Digital University of the Future under the STUDIES-DIG Project with the Participation of Students from Our University

As part of the project Models and Instruments for Transforming Higher Education Systems through Transnational Multi-Sector Links /STUDIES-DIG/, funded by the EU under the Horizon Europe Programme Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, the UNWE research team organized a Workshop on the Ideal Digital University of the Future. The event took place on 29th October 2025 at UNWE as part of the activities under the project Work Package 2 - Outlining Challenges and Future Development in a Multicultural Settings.

Participants in the Workshop included students from the university programmes in Data Analysis with Specialized Software, Business Informatics and Communications taught in English, International Economic Relations, Entrepreneurship, and Public Administration. The Worskshop was also attended by Ms. Claudia Jorhe and Dr. Ana Torrado, researchers from ESPAP, Portugal, a project partner of UNWE, D.Sc. Zornitsa Mladenova, researcher and representative of the municipality of Rudozem also a partner in the project, as well as researchers from the project team at UNWE.

Students participating in the Workshop on the Ideal Digital University of the Future

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ekaterina Tosheva, lecturer at the UNWE Statistics and Econometrics Department and member of the STUDIES-DIG research team, officially opened the Workshop. She welcomed the participants and emphasized that in the digital age, when the society developes at a rapid pace, investments in education bring significant social and economic benefits. Assoc. Prof. Tosheva briefly presented the project which aims to study and identify successful contemporary models and tools that can support the transformation of higher education as well as the sustainable and effective adaptation of higher education systems in the digital era.

In line with the objective of the Workshop the students were divided into five teams named as follows: Code of the Future, Digital Leaders, Alpha Knowledge, and Ideas in the Network. Each team had one hour to develop its idea for the vision of the university of the future.

Teamwork during the Workshop on the Ideal Digital University of the Future

At the end of the Workshop the participants presented their concepts impresseding everyone with their creativity, inspiration and innovative approach to digitization in the education. The teams focused on ideas for digitizing the administrative services at the university, developing modern digital platforms and mobile applications, conducting personalized, interactive and professionally oriented training, combining the technological progress with human values, social engagement and maintaining the relations between the people. Some of the teams proposed university shuttles, bicycle rentals and smart campus management as solutions for a more convenient and effective student life.

UNWE students are presenting their idea for the Ideal University of the Future

According to the students participating in the project Workshop, the ideal university of the future should develop both digital and soft skills, such as leadership, emotional intelligence and adaptability. In the vision of UNWE students for the ideal digital university of the future the technology should support, not replace, learning, community and personal development. All students received certificates for their participation in the event.

Students participating in the Workshop on the Ideal University of the Future together with researchers from the STUDIES-DIG project