One competition, three students, one vision: to design innovative academic programs for the future of Europe. With this goal in mind, Sumit Sharma from Technische Universität Ilmenau, Theo Pereira de Araujo from Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC) in France, and Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal from Mälardalens universitet in Sweden took part in the student LEAP competition organized by the European University Alliance SUNRISE. For their concept of a “Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Digital Transformation,” which they developed within four months, the students were awarded first prize – and now have the opportunity to further develop their idea.
Learning, experimenting, developing and making progress: To enable students from various European universities to do just that, the European University Alliance SUNRISE, coordinated by TU Ilmenau, launched the "LEAP SUNRISE Challenge" (LEAP for Learning, Experimenting, Advancing and Progressing) in May 2025.
The competition challenged more than 60 students from nine European countries to take on an ambitious task: to design a bold and innovative academic program within just a few weeks – one that reimagines European higher education from a student’s perspective.
A cross-university Bachelor's program for digital transformation
Whether envisioned as a micro-credential, a module, a full degree program, or a summer or winter school, each concept had to address at least one aspect of the so-called triple transition: ecological, social, or digital transformation. Additional criteria also applied:
“It was essential that each idea included an international mobility component – whether in-person, virtual, or hybrid – promoted interdisciplinary learning, incorporated diverse teaching and learning methods, and was accessible to all SUNRISE students without barriers,” explains Erik Gerlach, research assistant at the Mechanics of Compliant Systems Group at TU Ilmenau.
As a facilitator, Gerlach mentored one of the ten student teams participating in the competition. The Ilmenau-led group brought together students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden.
We came from completely different contexts. But it quickly became clear that we shared a vision. It was a great experience to see how well international collaboration can work via online meetings and how a group feeling gradually emerges.
Sumit Sharma, a student on the English-language Research in Computer and Systems Engineering (RCSE) Master's degree program at TU Ilmenau, Theo Pereira de Araujo from the Université de Technologie de Compiègne (UTC) in France and Ebin Ephrem Elavathingal from Mälardalens universitet in Sweden also experienced this.
The students' idea: A Bachelor's degree program that prepares students for the digital transformation and enables them to help shape the future of the European higher education area. The Bachelor's program that the students developed is based on a strong scientific foundation, integrates sustainability aspects and international mobility within the SUNRISE university network and internships. The aim is to prepare students for the careers of the future and enable them to develop targeted digital solutions in three key areas: sustainable, inclusive and connected cities and regions (Smart Cities & Public Innovation), technology in the service of people (Industry 5.0) and innovation with added social value (Digital Entrepreneurship & Tech4Good).
The students were awarded 1st prize for this idea at the SUNRISE Summit in Compiègne, France, at the end of September.
More than a competition: a laboratory for the future of Europe
Winning the competition now enables Sumit Sharma and his winning team to further develop their concept together with experts from the SUNRISE universities. This is because the win was linked to the commitment to actually implement the program, at least in a similar way.
"Which universities in the university alliance will actually participate has not yet been finalized," explains Prof. Anja Geigenmüller, Vice President for Studies and Teaching at TU Ilmenau.
However, it would be desirable for students at TU Ilmenau to also study the program within the alliance and thus position themselves very well in a European job market.
For the students, winning the competition was therefore more than just an award: it was a laboratory for study content and study programs that are important for the future of Europe. Sumit Sharma
Our aim is to really bring this idea to life - not only to co-develop a new degree course, but also to keep an eye on progress together with the Alliance. We also want to make the idea of the alliance and our program better known among students and regularly gather feedback so that it continues to develop and really makes a difference.
SUNRISE is an alliance of nine European universities. In addition to their similar size and location away from urban centers, the partners in the alliance are united by their focus on STEM subjects - mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology - as well as a common goal: to shape the future of study, teaching, research and innovation for the benefit of society through intensive exchange and strategic cooperation and to grow together into a European university in the process.