The Regional Selection Contest in the Central and Eastern Europe of GCD4FE was held in Zagreb, Croatia, from June 11-13, 2024. The event was organized by Beijing Normal University and the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, and co-hosted by institutions including the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences, the Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University, and the UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence in Education. The competition was held in conjunction with Croatia's annual "Printing & Design" international conference. In early July, the Regional Selection Contest of the Higher Education Track will also take place in the Maldives.

Scene of the Regional Selection Contest in the Central and Eastern Europe

Since its launch, the Regional Selection Contest in the Central and Eastern Europe has garnered widespread attention from the international academic community, with hundreds of participants from countries such as Croatia, Serbia, and Hungary registering to take part. After a rigorous selection and review process, 10 outstanding teams were selected to compete in the Regional Selection Contest.

The Regional Selection Contest spanned three days and encompassed various segments such as pre-competition training, design guidance, project presentations, and award ceremony. Participants from international universities like the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences, the University of Debrecen, the University of Szeged, and the University of Belgrade engaged in collaborative work and competition through a hybrid format, guided by five international mentors from the competition organizing committee and local Croatian experts.

Teams work collaboratively under the guidance of mentors

Pre-competition training

During the intense presentation and roadshow sessions, teams showcased their creativity, proposing innovative solutions that leverage AIGC, the metaverse, and virtual reality technologies to innovate education, enhance teaching experiences, and improve learning efficiency. The participants delivered passionate and insightful presentations, which were highly praised by the judges. The judges, in turn, provided in-depth analysis and feedback, offering guidance on creativity, design, implementation, and promotion of the projects.

Project Reporting and Judges' Comments

After a fierce competition, the Regional Selection Contest in the Central and Eastern Europe awarded the Gold Award, along with several other honors including Best Design Award, Best Science & Education Integration Award, Most Applicable Project Award, Best Planning Award, and Most Innovative Project Award. The awards ceremony took place during the "Printing & Design" international conference in Croatia, with Chen Guangju, the Chairman of the Competition Steering Committee and Vice Dean of the Smart Learning Institute of Beijing Normal University and Jana Žiljak Gršić, Dean at the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences presenting the awards to the winners.

Dean Jana Žiljak Gršić and Professor Chen Guangju Present Awards to the Winning Teams

The successful conclusion of the Regional Selection Contest in the Central and Eastern Europe at the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences not only provided a platform for international educators and students to present innovative educational concepts but also fostered in-depth exploration of the integration of cutting-edge technologies with the field of education. Following the success of the Regional Selection Contest in the Central and Eastern Europe, the Regional Selection Contest of the Higher Education Track will also take place in the Maldives. In late July, outstanding teams from universities worldwide will gather in Beijing to compete for the final honors of the competition, with best wishes for all participants to achieve excellent results.