Two summer weeks dedicated solely to fostering creativity? An idea that liberates the mind and imagination, the third iteration of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) "MAKERS 5.0," held from July 8-19, brought together a group of talented students from Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH) and other European universities. During the summer school, students were introduced to rapid prototyping technologies and experienced the creative process through practical application.

The VILNIUS TECH Creativity and Innovation Centre "LinkMenų fabrikas" summer school was aimed at beginner students. Working and learning in groups, these students not only deepened their knowledge in 3D printing, electronics, sustainable design, design thinking, and metal and wood processing, but also honed their teamwork, presentation, and time management skills.
 

 

The MAKERS 5.0 school lasted for two weeks. During the first week, participants learned remotely, delving into the themes of the summer school and completing other interactive tasks. The online lectures were conducted by lecturers from the VILNIUS TECH "LinkMenų fabrikas" prototype laboratory and guest speakers from the summer school. One of the guest speakers, Karolina Kužmarskytė, a project manager at the Lithuanian Innovation Centre, discussed the importance of sustainability in design and the significance of a circular economy in designing future products.

During the second week, students met in person and began working on their projects, aiming to apply theoretical knowledge practically. Over four days, students had to physically implement their planned projects using rapid prototyping technologies. During these days, students intensely designed, printed, cut, painted, and soldered prototypes of their creations. On the last day of the summer school, students presented their prototypes, explained their functionality, and defended the chosen design and its sustainable elements before an evaluation panel.
 

 

Students created and presented the following prototypes:

The goal of the international summer school "MAKERS 5.0" is to enhance students' competencies through innovative teaching methods and expand their international experience. The summer school brought together students from the TTK University of Applied Sciences (Estonia), Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT (Finland), Daugavpils University (Latvia), and partners from the ATHENA European University Alliance, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (Poland). Students from VILNIUS TECH also participated in the program.