Another EQUNI training session is behind us!

Last week, the International Cooperation Centre at Lodz University of Technology hosted an inspiring five-day training titled “Ctrl+Alt+Empathy: Rebooting the Classroom with Emotional Intelligence.”

The event brought together 10 academic and administrative staff members from Lodz University of Technology and the University of Groningen, who explored the importance of emotional intelligence and diversity in today’s multicultural academic landscape. Participants engaged in self-reflection, worked on understanding their own emotions, and learned how these emotions impact their personal lives and professional relationships.

One of the key experiences was the BLACK WORLD workshop. In specially arranged dark rooms, participants were guided by blind facilitators, allowing them to rediscover the world without the use of sight – relying only on hearing, touch, smell, and taste. This powerful activity offered a meaningful insight into the daily realities of people with visual impairments and encouraged reflection on stereotypes and accessibility barriers.

Another highlight of the week was the EQUNI Game session, where participants were introduced to a board game developed as part of the project. Set in the university environment, the game challenges players to face an invisible force – the Monster of Discrimination – which lurks within the campus and operates in the shadow, affecting students and staff alike. Divided into two teams, participants navigate the university’s haunted classrooms and halls, facing challenges that test their knowledge, courage, and empathy. The game aims to foster awareness of discrimination and its effects on individuals and communities, offering an engaging and meaningful tool for reflection and learning.

As part of the training, participants also visited the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center in Łódź, where they toured the Survivors’ Park and learned about the Center’s empathy-based social initiatives.

More EQUNI training sessions are planned for the autumn – and we warmly invite you to take part! Together, we can help create a more inclusive academic environment.