We are delighted to share the international success of participants in the “Universities of the Future” project.
During the official final gala of the DHUB AWARDS competition, held on 27 March 2026, at the City Hall in Salerno (Italy), our students’ projects were recognised for their innovation in the areas of social inclusion and entrepreneurship.
A special distinction was awarded to Julia Dudek, who won the prize in the Creativity category. Two other initiatives representing our university were also shortlisted as finalists.
Awarded and recognised projects:
- “Embrace” – Julia Dudek (Creativity Award): This project is an artistic and therapeutic response to the challenges faced by adults with ADHD. The author created an exhibition combining photography with an audio piece titled “Stream of Thoughts,” allowing audiences to better understand the inner world of a neurodivergent person—thought chaos, difficulties with concentration, and emotional tension. The project also included art therapy workshops for couples, aimed at building mutual understanding and support.
- “Experience Platform for Neurodivergent Individuals in the Tourism Industry” – Dominika Wencel (finalist): This initiative focuses on designing inclusive travel environments for neurodiverse people. The project proposes a model of tourism services (e.g., micro-retreats or workations) that reduce sensory and cognitive overload, making business travel more accessible for people with invisible disabilities.
- “Dignified Support for Mature Minds” – Klaudia Nowak and Malwina Paliwoda (finalists):
The students are developing a series of specialised cognitive exercise workbooks with elements of reminiscence therapy aimed at older adults, including people with Parkinson’s disease. The innovation of the project lies in its modular structure, combining memory training with reminiscence therapy to support independence among seniors while easing the work on their caretakers.
About the “Universities of the Future” programme
The success in Salerno is the result of work carried out within the “Universities of the Future” programme, implemented by the College of General University Education of the University of Silesia in Katowice.
The programme supports students in developing innovative ideas with significant social or technological impact. Participants are selected through a multi-stage recruitment process and receive financial support in the form of scholarships, as well as substantive guidance in implementing their projects
