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ENHANCE Summer School 2026: Reimagining Waste – Ethical and Sustainable Solutions in Waste Management
On 6 July 2026, the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering hosted the inauguration of the on-site part of the Reimagining Waste: Ethical and Sustainable Solutions in Waste Management Summer School (Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme), organised by Warsaw University of Technology in cooperation with Chalmers University of Technology and the Universitat Politècnica de València within the ENHANCE Alliance. The Summer School brings together 21 students from seven ENHANCE partner universities.
Photo by Piotr Szczepański.
The inauguration was attended by Dr Eng. Rafał Wróblewski, Vice Dean for Student Affairs at the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, who welcomed the participants; Dr Hab. Kamila Sałasińska, Associate Professor, from the Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering; Professor Ester Giménez Carbó from the Universitat Politècnica de València; Catarina Östlund from Chalmers University of Technology; and Anna Smulska and Piotr Szczepański from the Centre for International Cooperation.
Photo by Piotr Szczepański.
The first online block, held between 8 June and 3 July, introduced participants to the fundamental concepts of sustainable waste management, including the waste hierarchy, circular business models, eco-design, life-cycle thinking, and the ethical aspects of responsible resource use. Through lectures, interactive workshops, case studies, and team-building activities, students established a common knowledge base and formed international teams to begin working on challenge-based projects.
Photo by Piotr Szczepański.
The onsite week in Warsaw (6–10 July 2026) focuses on transforming ideas into practical solutions. Students will take part in workshops, mentoring sessions, field-based activities, and intensive teamwork. Working in multicultural groups, they develop innovative concepts for addressing waste-related challenges while considering stakeholder perspectives, ethical implications, and sustainable design principles. The week culminates in presentations of the teams' project concepts, demonstrating creativity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a strong commitment to circular economy solutions.
Photo by Piotr Szczepański.
The final online block, scheduled for 20–31 July 2026, will enable participants to further refine their projects with the support of academic mentors. The programme will conclude with the submission of final project outcomes, including a short video presenting each team's solution.
The ENHANCE Summer School successfully combined academic excellence, international cooperation, and challenge-based learning, equipping students with valuable knowledge and practical skills to contribute to more sustainable and ethical approaches to waste management. Beyond developing innovative project ideas, participants strengthened their intercultural communication, teamwork, and problem-solving competencies while building lasting international connections.
