Learning Through Creation: International Students Explore VR and AR in Kraków

The first edition of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) Game Development with VR/AR has successfully concluded at Cracow University of Technology, bringing together students and academics from across Europe under the STARS EU Alliance.

The programme combined several weeks of online learning with an intensive on-site week in Kraków, creating a unique international environment where technology, creativity, and intercultural collaboration met in practice.

Opening the on-site week, programme coordinator Adrian Widłak highlighted the spirit of the initiative:

“We are meeting here as part of the Alliance STARS EU, bringing together Poland, France, Germany, and our guests from Slovenia. What I love about this initiative is that it’s not just about mobility. It’s about mixing realities.”

The programme began with an online phase running from 24 March to 26 May 2026. During this period, participants developed skills in C# programming, 3D modelling, Unity game development, and immersive VR and AR technologies.

The international group then gathered in Kraków from 15 to 19 June for the on-site component. Throughout the week, students transformed theoretical knowledge into practical solutions by working in multinational teams on a common challenge.

Their task was to design and develop an augmented reality experience capable of transforming a traditional computer laboratory into an interactive educational escape room. Using tablets, AR tools, and game design principles, participants created missions, puzzles, and story-driven scenarios that blended digital content with physical space.

The resulting projects demonstrated how augmented reality can enhance learning environments, increase engagement, and create new forms of educational interaction.

One of the key objectives of the programme was to strengthen students’ ability to work in international and interdisciplinary teams. Beyond technical development, participants gained valuable experience in communication, problem-solving, project management, and intercultural cooperation.

Academic staff from partner institutions provided expert guidance throughout the programme. Participants were supported by Frédéric Lassabe (France), Volker Paelke (Germany), and Krzysztof Skabek from the Computer Graphics and High Performance Computing Research Group at Cracow University of Technology. Practical workshops and project sessions were led by Adrian Widłak, Gloria Kuliś, and Wojciech Malik.

Their diverse academic and research perspectives enabled students to explore VR and AR technologies from multiple viewpoints and application areas.

The programme also offered participants the opportunity to experience the cultural heritage of southern Poland.

Students visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine and explored Kraków’s historic city centre, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. These visits provided valuable opportunities for networking, cultural exchange, and discovering one of Central Europe’s most historic regions.

The successful delivery of the programme was supported by members of Visgraph, the student scientific association operating under the supervision of Michał Dolina and Jakub Dec. Visgraph students contributed to event organisation, participant support, media coverage, photography, audiovisual production, and promotional activities. Their involvement played an important role in creating a welcoming and professional environment for all participants.

The Game Development with VR/AR programme demonstrated how modern higher education can move beyond traditional teaching models. Rather than passively receiving information, students learned by designing, building, testing, and refining their own ideas. By combining emerging technologies, project-based learning, and international collaboration, the programme provided participants with valuable technical competencies, practical experience, and professional connections that will continue to benefit them long after the programme’s conclusion.

As a STARS EU initiative, the programme also showcased the Alliance’s commitment to creating innovative educational opportunities that prepare students to work and collaborate in an increasingly digital and interconnected Europe.

Scientific Area: Natural & Sciences.

EXPR: Applied mathematics, Computer sciences, Industrial Embedded and Cyber-physical Systems, Intelligent and Collaborative Robotic Systems, Modelling, Simulation and Optimization for Decision Support, Advanced Human-Machine Integration, Intelligent System and Data Analytics.

Name of the service: Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI) – IPB.

Main responsible: Paulo Leitão | Doctor | Scientific coordinator.

Category of the service: Research Centre.

Target group: Companies in the fields of computer science, robotics, artificial intelligence and applied mathematics, as well as public organisations interested in exploring the advantages of applying technology in different contexts. 

Scientific refence:

ORCID

Paulo Leitão is Full Professor at Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Department of Electrical Engineering, and coordinator of CeDRI – Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics. His research interests are in the field of intelligent and reconfigurable systems, cyber-physical systems, multi-agent systems, digital twin, Internet of Things, factory automation and holonic systems. He participate / has participated in several national and international research projects, supervised 7 PhD thesis and is currently supervising 8 PhD thesis. He published 9 books and more than 350 papers in high-ranked international scientific journals and conference proceedings (per-review). He is co-author of three patents and received ten paper awards at international conferences. He served as general co-chair in 4 international conferences, and Chair of the IEEE IES Technical Committee on Industrial Agents, and member at-large of the IEEE IES Administrative Committee (AdCom). He was also chair of the established IEEE 2660.1-2020 standard.

Offer description:

The Research Center for digitalization and Intelligent robotics (CeDRI), is a Research and Development (R&D) unit affiliated with the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança. Focused on the areas of Electrical Engineering , Electronics and Informatics, Mathematics, Information Sciences, and Computing, CeDRI has been recognized with an EXCELLENT rating in an evaluation conducted by the foundation for Science and Technology.

Its mais purpose is to develop and apply scientific knowledge related to robotics , intelligent systems, and information and communication technologies. The emphasis lies in the digitalization and automation of industrial systems, aiming to significantly contribute to the advancement of the scientific and technological system. Additionally, CeDRI aims to foster the competitiveness of the socioeconomic system, especially in regions characterized by low population density and economic activity in the interior.

In particular, the center directs its efforts towards regions with specific characteristics, such as the predominant presence of small-scale Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). In these areas, the industrial system is often sparse, and competitiveness is impacted by challenges related to limited access to industrial innovation. Thus, CeDRI seeks to play an active role in overcoming these difficulties by promoting technological advancements and driving socioeconomic development in these areas.