Workshop participants delved into topics related to emotions and their influence on personal life and professional relationships. The first part of the workshops was dedicated to understanding the basic mechanisms governing emotions. Participants learned about their nature, debunked popular myths—such as the belief that some emotions are “negative”—and discovered that even pleasant emotions do not always work in our favor. They also learned to identify emotions, and the needs associated with them.
In subsequent sessions, the focus was on the practical application of the knowledge gained and developing skills for conscious emotion regulation. Participants learned effective techniques that help manage emotional states—both in everyday situations and in particularly difficult moments, such as during conflicts or when faced with challenging memories. Thanks to the knowledge gained, they are now better equipped to understand themselves, consciously influence their well-being, build emotional resilience, and develop inner peace.
A Journey Through Darkness
The training program also featured an extraordinary workshop called BLACK WORLD, which took place in complete darkness. This moving experience was designed to increase awareness of the daily realities of people with visual impairments and to break down stereotypes and barriers related to disability.
In specially prepared rooms, participants were guided by blind guides who helped them explore the world without the use of sight—using only hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Everyday activities turned out to be real challenges, taking on a completely new meaning in the dark.
This unique experience taught not only trust in one’s own senses and the ability to navigate unfamiliar surroundings, but above all, empathy and a deeper understanding of the perspective of people with visual impairments.
When the Game Becomes an Empathy Lesson – “Let’s play EQUNI” Workshop
The “Let’s play EQUNI” session was met with great interest. During this session, participants had the opportunity to get to know an original board game created as part of the project. Set in a university environment, the game presents players with a unique challenge: confronting an invisible opponent—the Monster of Discrimination. Divided into two teams, participants traverse symbolic academic spaces, completing tasks that test their knowledge, empathy, and teamwork skills.
The aim of the game is to raise awareness of discrimination and to show how strongly it affects the daily functioning of the community. In a safe, metaphorical form, participants experience what discrimination is and what the consequences of passivity towards it can be. Through shared play and reflection, players develop social competencies, emotional intelligence, and the ability to respond empathetically in difficult situations.
Fighting the Monster of Discrimination is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the problems faced by members of the academic community.
Feel to Understand – Empathy in the World of Mixed Reality
On the last day of the training, participants visited the Voxel Research Lab, where universal design workshops were held. During the sessions, they analyzed the barriers faced daily by people with various disabilities. A key element was an immersive session that allowed participants to step into the roles of people with limited mobility or sensory impairments.
Thanks to the use of modern educational tools and mixed reality technology, they had the opportunity to experience on their own skin the challenges encountered by such people in everyday life. During the classes, they used, among other things, a geriatric suit simulating typical mobility limitations of older people, VR glasses enabling the simulation of visual impairments, as well as a pregnancy simulator and a wheelchair, which allowed them to feel the physical changes affecting mobility.
As part of the immersive exercises, participants moved into a virtual environment—including a realistic VR shop—where they had to perform everyday tasks such as shopping, with limited field of vision, weakened motor skills, or reduced coordination.
As part of the training, participants also visited the Marek Edelman Dialogue Center in Lodz, where they toured the Park of the Survivors and learned about projects implemented by the Center, based on the values of empathy and openness. They also had the opportunity to look at Lodz from the perspective of the four cultures that shaped its unique identity.
More editions of the training will take place this autumn—you are warmly invited! Together, we can build a more inclusive and socially sensitive academic environment!
The EQUNI Project
The training was implemented as part of the Erasmus+ project “EQUNI – Implementation of Effective Practices for the Development of Students' Emotional Intelligence with Particular Emphasis on Anti-Discrimination Activities at European Universities.” The main goal of the project is to develop emotional intelligence in the academic environment in order to effectively prevent and counteract discrimination and support equal opportunities at European universities.
The project is coordinated by Lodz University of Technology in cooperation with the University of Algarve (Portugal), the University of Groningen (the Netherlands), and coaching companies: SumFuo from France and Team Coaching Rafał Nykiel from Poland.
More information can be found at: www.equni.eu