During the second semester 2024-2025, 24 students enrolled in their third and fourth years at INSA Strasbourg from five different engineering study fields (civil engineering, thermal, energy and environment engineering, surveying, mechanical engineering and mechatronics) took part in micro-modules and challenges organised by member universities of the European alliance ECIU. In their reports and oral presentations in English, the participants expressed their great satisfaction. The vast majority highly recommend this innovative European training experience offered at INSA Strasbourg as part of the ECIU elective.
Twenty-two students were able to participate in hybrid courses with an online phase and a week of face-to-face teaching. In particular, they took part in the following modules and challenges (ELOs):
- « The sustainable forest challenge » organised by Linköping University in Sweden on the theme of sustainable forest management :
- « Enabling Industry 4.0 » proposed by the Technical University of Hamburg in Germany on wireless communication technologies for industrial applications :
- “CARE (Medical Connected Sensors and Virtual Reality),” a micro-module on the use of connected medical sensors organised by INSA Toulouse :
- “VESACCO” and « Green innovators », micro-modules also organised by INSA Toulouse on the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility solutions :
Two students took courses offered exclusively online.
- One module from Linköping University in Sweden focused on artificial intelligence, covering its fundamental principles, including both technical concepts and important ethical and societal issues :
https://liu.se/en/education/course/ete318
- Another challenge proposed by the University of Lodz in Poland focused on young citizens and their future in the era of smart cities :
https://eciu.p.lodz.pl/en/news/challenge-future-ready-young-citizens-smart-city-era
You will find some feedbacks from INSA Strasboug students below:
“…This challenge helped me grow both personally and professionally. I improved my English, my presentation skills, and my ability to work in a multicultural, interdisciplinary team. Most importantly, I now see how my background in land surveying can contribute to broader environmental goals. I leave this project with a stronger commitment to sustainability and with tools that I will carry into my future career….” Thomas Paques
“…One major lesson was that innovation does not always mean inventing something entirely new ; it can also mean combining existing ideas in creative ways… .” Maxence Nappez
« …My initial vision for the challenge was to create a project that would focus almost solely on sustainability. However, as the project and the ELO progressed, it became clear through research and trough the feedback received form stakeholders that there was a real need to consider a wider range of factors. For example, it became clear that learning and taking into account economic and social factors was an absolute necessity…. » Tristan Bienaimé
“…The final presentation itself wasa real success: we received the “Pass With Distinction” mark, the highest possible grade. It was a genuine recognition of the work we had done and the quality of our communication….” “…It wasn’t just a fun module to practice English, it was a true space for transformation, where we could adopt useful methods, develop a critical mindset, and I knew it would be a valuable experience on multiple levels during my time at INSA…. » “…Finally, one of the most surprising and powerful moments for me was the reflective wandering activity in the forest. That moment of reconnection with oneself and with nature was both refreshing and inspiring. It’s the kind of thing we often forget about in an engineering curriculum, yet it holds real value….” Maxime Kaci,
“…I particularly appreciated the progression from broad reflective thinking to concrete actions starting with utopian thinking, moving to NABC iterations, to prototyping and the final pitch.” “This module has been a stimulating journey that has opened my mind to sustainability concepts from many different perspectives as I have been working in an international interdisciplinary team…. » Benjamin MARC
“…The ELO format encouraged learning by doing, and while that made the process slower and more demanding, it also made the learning outcomes more personal and lasting….” Youssef Boussalem
“…One thing that surprised me was the sheer richness of ideas that can emerge just from sharing experiences. This kind of project proves that you can create truly inspiring outcomes without needing a big budget or a technical setting… .” Coline Grimal
“…This module taught me far more than I expected. First and foremost, I developed practical skills in sustainability, mobility planning, and data analysis. The combination of theory and fieldwork—such as testing electric bikes, visiting QBX Bike in Arzens, or analyzing campus mobility—brought the learning to life. We didn’t just talk about sustainability; we lived it More than just a course, it was a human adventure—full of meaningful exchange, cultural discovery,and the joy of working toward a greener future. I would enthusiastically recommend this elective to any student who wants to learn, grow, and make a difference. It truly exceeded my expectations…” Gervais Marceau, Green Innovators
“…To conclude, the opportunity offered by ECIU through the ELO Enabling Industry 4.0 was an excellent way to deepen our knowledge of topics that are closely related to our curriculum at INSA. The second half of the program, particularly the mobility experience in Hamburg, perfectly complemented the online sessions by providing hands-on experiments and rich discussions with international students… . » Lafrouji Clément
« …The ECIU format, based on challenge and interdisciplinarity,really pushes students to think about unusual issues. It stimulates curiosity, encourages them to think outside the box and to take an interest in current, complex and relevant issues that are often little addressed in traditional training courses…. » Hugo Sliwinski
“…One of the main challenges during the physical meeting was not understanding the content itself, but being able to discuss it clearly and effectively. Expressing technical concepts in an accessible way required careful choice of terminology and a strong grasp of the subject. Preparing and delivering our group results enhanced our ability to summarize complex results and communicate them confidently. Furthermore, collaborating with students from diverse academic backgrounds underscored the importance of clear communication, teamwork, and system-level thinking in the design and implementation of industrial network systems….” Solenn Xicola
Students which take the ECIU elective course at INSA Strasbourg can benefit from the European Erasmus programme’s short-term mobility grant or other financial assistance.
During the first semester of the 2025-2026 academic year, INSA Strasbourg students will be able to participate in ECIU modules online without a mobility phase. Participation in hybrid modules will once again be possible during the second semester.
In order to learn more about the ECIU European alliance, please communicate with: eciu.university@insa-strasbourg.fr, and for the mobility opportunities of the Erasmus+ programme, please contact: relations.internationales@insa-strasbourg.fr.
You can also see the opportunities offered by ECIU on the website Engage.
Angelika Hammann, module supervisor for the ECIU elective course at INSA Strasbourg.
Opportunités d’apprentissage ECIU : « Cela a vraiment dépassé mes attentes »
Au cours du deuxième semestre 2024-2025, 24 étudiants inscrits en troisième et quatrième année à l’INSA Strasbourg, issus de cinq filières d’ingénierie différentes (génie civil, génie thermique, énergie et environnement, géométrie, génie mécanique et mécatronique), ont participé à des micro-modules et à des défis organisés par les universités membres de l’alliance européenne ECIU. Dans leurs rapports et leurs présentations orales en anglais, les participants ont exprimé leur grande satisfaction. La grande majorité d’entre eux recommandent vivement cette expérience de formation européenne innovante proposée à l’INSA Strasbourg dans le cadre du cours optionnel ECIU.
Pour en savoir plus sur l’alliance européenne ECIU, veuillez contacter : eciu.university@insa-strasbourg.fr. Pour les opportunités de mobilité du programme Erasmus+, veuillez contacter : relations.internationales@insa-strasbourg.fr.
Vous pouvez également consulter les opportunités proposées par l’ECIU sur le site web Engage.
Angelika Hammann, responsable du module pour le cours optionnel ECIU à l’INSA Strasbourg.