Young people innovate in Design Thinking workshop

In October 2025, ten students and three teachers participated in a Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship workshop organized by the Berufliche Schule ITech educational institution in Hamburg, Germany. Six information and communication technology students and four electrical engineering students had the opportunity to work together with a multinational group of students. Participants came from Taiwan, Spain, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Germany.

The purpose of the workshop is to solve a technological challenge that students attempt to tackle in international teams. This time, the challenge was set by the Helmholtz Institute and the University of Berlin.

“First, we were divided into groups, after which we were presented with three problems, one of which we had to solve,” says student Panu Salomaa. The problem chosen by Salomaa’s group was related to political disinformation, to which young people are easily exposed on social media platforms. The problem stems from algorithms that can lead to a one-sided worldview and reinforce prejudices.

As a solution, the group proposed an app that offers diverse perspectives on political topics in the form of short videos. Only reliable and verified sources can publish content, and users are guided to familiarize themselves with the views of different parties before participating in the discussion. The aim is to increase critical thinking, reduce the spread of disinformation, and promote democratic dialogue.

Salomaa and the other participants enjoyed the trip very much. “The workshop days started at 9 a.m. and ended between 2 and 4 p.m., so we also had time to explore Hamburg with our new friends. For example, we visited the Wildpark Schwarze Bergen animal park,” Salomaa recalls. The two-week trip culminated in a farewell party, where each participant was awarded a diploma.

The workshop was organized as part of the SEED (Sustainable Energy Education) project. “The goal of the collaboration is continuity, with a new group arriving from Germany to Raseko in the spring and a group from Raseko traveling to Munich in the fall,” says teacher Markku Kynsijärvi. A new meeting has already been arranged for spring 2026. “We hope to be able to make a return visit to Germany in the fall of 2026,” he continues.