From 5 to 9 October 2026, the University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów hosted the UITM Green Summer School – a five-day intensive programme bringing together 20 students from Germany, France, Italy and Poland to explore one of the most pressing questions in sustainable engineering: how do we build cities that are both green and secure?
Two tracks, one mission
The school was built around two complementary tracks. Track A focused on climate and sustainability, looking at how cities can reduce their environmental footprint and adapt to the challenges of a changing climate. Track B tackled cybersecurity in smart urban systems – because a city that is connected and data-driven also needs to be resilient against digital threats.
Students did not simply attend lectures. Working in international teams, they analysed real urban challenges, developed proposals and presented their findings to peers and experts. The discussions were often lively, the debates sometimes ran well past the coffee break, and the outcomes reflected the kind of thinking that comes when different perspectives meet around the same problem.
More than a classroom
The Green Summer School was not only about academic work. An integration evening filled with games and activities gave participants a chance to connect beyond the lecture hall – and proved, once again, that language barriers disappear quickly when everyone is playing the same game.
Students left Rzeszów with 3 ECTS credits, a broader view of sustainable engineering and, by all accounts, a few new friendships along the way.
Closing a chapter
The UITM Green Summer School 2026 was the final mobility event of the SUSEE Sustainability project – an Erasmus+ initiative that over several years brought together UITM Rzeszów, Technische Universität Ilmenau, UTC Compiegne and the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano around the topic of sustainability in engineering education.
As the project draws to a close, this last summer school stands as a fitting conclusion: international, practical and focused on the challenges that will define the cities of the future.
We thank all participants, lecturers and partner institutions for their commitment and collaboration throughout the SUSEE project.
We invite you to scroll down and browse the photo gallery from the event – and see the week through the eyes of the participants.
