EUGLOH Student Roadtrip lights up Szeged
The first day set an energetic and inspiring tone for the entire Road Trip, combining thought-provoking discussions with creativity and teamwork. One of its standout moments was the highly interactive Courtroom Defence Workshop, which immediately kicked off the event. Participants were divided into two groups – each representing four universities – and immersed themselves in a simulated courtroom setting, taking on roles such as witness, defendant, prosecutor, and jury, while the host university acted as judge in both sessions, ensuring a structured and dynamic exchange. Across both groups, students engaged in fictional, but at the same time, highly relevant cases that sparked lively debate on key issues such as data protection, artificial intelligence, accountability, and the key role of human judgment in digital systems.
Following this, the programme shifted into a creative startup challenge, where participants were invited to develop their own business ideas and pitch them convincingly to their peers. The session quickly turned into a lively mix of innovation and humour, as students presented everything from bold, forward-thinking concepts to surprisingly funny yet clever ideas. The room was filled with laughter and enthusiasm, making it a particularly memorable moment of the day for everyone involved.
As one of the participants, Ziyana Bharwani from Université Paris-Saclay, reflected, “the debates were incredibly engaging and a perfect way to start the Road Trip. Being in a room full of meaningful discussions on topics that truly affect the world today was both refreshing and inspiring. The activity, where we had to come up with our own business idea, was definitely the highlight of the day. Hearing everyone’s creative, funny, yet genuinely impressive ideas made the experience even more memorable. To top it all off, the guided city tour added a special touch and made the first day truly unforgettable.”
During the second and third days, the programme combined innovation, discovery, and cultural exploration beyond the classroom. Participants first explored how AI and augmented reality could enhance campus life through a creative treasure hunt across Szeged city centre, working in mixed groups to reimagine urban spaces as interactive learning environments. These ideas were later developed and presented, where students shared their visions for integrating digital tools into university life.
The programme then continued with a visit to theJózsef Attila Study and Information Centre, where participants explored its mechanical spaces and the Prof. Katalin Karikó Nobel Prize exhibition, gaining insight into both technological innovation and scientific achievement. This experience was followed next day by a more relaxed cultural exploration of Szeged, including a walk through the Botanical Garden and a visit to the Reök Palace, an iconic Hungarian Art Nouveau landmark.
Fruzsina Nánai, Vice-President of the Local Student Board at the University of Szeged, shared her view on the Road Trip:
“On behalf of our Local Student Board, it was a pleasure to host the Road Trip in Szeged and would like to thank everyone for their support and contribution to the event. As organisers, many of our workshop ideas were inspired by previous EUGLOH activities we took part in, which show the real impact these experiences can have and how much we can take away from them. I find this really inspiring and makes the Alliance’s future look very bright.
Overall, it was wonderful to see the students interacting, I could truly see how much fun everyone had. I think the Road Trip is a fantastic initiative because it brings together members of the LSBs, who form one of the Alliance’s core communities. Saying goodbye to each other is always bittersweet, but hearing things like “If you’re ever at my university, send me a message and we’ll catch up” makes parting feel hopeful. You never know who you will run into during your next EUGLOH mobility, but you can be sure you’ll see familiar faces – and that is what makes being part of this little family so special.”
Text and photos by Fruzsina Nánai