Innovation activities at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Thessaly

  • 1st photo: The 3rd High School of Nea Ionia to DECE
    1st photo: The 3rd High School of Nea Ionia to DECE
  • 2nd photo:. Public Institute of Vocational Training to DECE
    2nd photo:. Public Institute of Vocational Training to DECE

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly (DECE), specifically the Creative Technologies Learning Lab (http://ctll.e-ce.uth.gr ) research group, organised educational activities to design innovative solutions that apply digital technology to sustainability. The action took place in DECE's computer laboratory. The 3rd High School of Nea Ionia, Volos and the Public Institute of Vocational Training (SAEK) of Volos participated in the event and visited DECE on separate occasions, on October 23 and 24, respectively. A total of 22 students from the 3rd High School of Nea Ionia, Volos, participated accompanied by their teachers, Ms. Eleni Anagnostopoulou and Ms. Antigoni Klaromenou, under the supervision of school Headmaster Mr. Antonis Plageras.  A total of 50 students from the Public SAEK of Volos participated, accompanied by the Director, Mr. Aris Papathanasiou and professors Mr. Themistoklis Konstantinou, Ms. Cleopatra Xanthi, Mr. Dimitris Sakabalas, Ms. Anna Iroidou, and Ms. Anna Sarafi.

Students participated in experiential workshops for innovation, which profoundly impacted their learning. Tailored to each group's interests, knowledge, and skills, they applied design thinking, a profoundly human-centred methodology of synthesising solutions to complex challenges of entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship, to introduce solutions related to the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Through exploration, ideation, and synthesis, they presented creative ideas to address broad sustainability challenges, such as managing plastics, using electromobility to reduce carbon emissions, recycling, preserving biodiversity, raising awareness of poverty, and more.

The action occurred within the framework of the research project eDea (http://eDea-project.gr ), funded by the Research—Create—Innovate Greece 2.0 program. The project aims to design digital services and content to promote innovation. It will be implemented from 2021 to 2025 with the participation of the University of Thessaly, the University of the Aegean, and the companies Design4Future and Butlair. The scientific coordinator of the project is DECE Pr. Elias Houstis. DECE researcher Dr. Hariklia Tsalapatas coordinated the activities.