At Mälardalen University, students are active contributors to innovation, not just participants in education. By connecting perspectives from across countries and disciplines, they help turn ideas into solutions with real-world impact.

This showcase highlights the power of global citizenship and the importance of involving students directly in innovation processes. Through international collaboration and hands-on projects, MDU empowers students to co-create knowledge and shape a more connected, sustainable future.

Project 1: Occlusion-resilient target tracking in maritime environment

Ilhana Agic and Nicolae-Alexandru Calvun are part of the student project “Occlusion-Resilient Target Tracking in Maritime Environments” at Mälardalen University. Ilhana joined MDU from Bosnia as an exchange student in the final year of her Master’s studies, while Nicolae-Alexandru came from Romania and is currently pursuing his third degree.

The project focuses on developing camera-based tracking systems capable of maintaining reliable target identification in complex maritime environments. In real-world conditions, ships are frequently obscured by other vessels, infrastructure, or environmental factors. These interruptions, known as occlusions, often cause conventional tracking systems to lose accuracy or fail entirely over time.

To address this challenge, the project aims to design methods that can continue tracking a vessel even when it is temporarily hidden from view. By estimating the ship’s position during and after occlusion, the system can maintain continuity and improve overall tracking reliability.

This work has important implications for maritime safety, surveillance, and autonomous navigation. By enhancing the robustness of visual tracking systems, the project contributes to safer and more efficient monitoring of maritime traffic. The goal is to deliver a working prototype that demonstrates how resilient tracking can support real-world operations in dynamic and unpredictable environments.

Project 2: One Stop Shop

Antigona Llozhi and Johan Bandilli are part of the “One Stop Shop” student project at Mälardalen University, where they are spending a year as exchange students from Albania while pursuing their Master’s degrees in Computer Science. Johan specializes in Software Engineering, while Antigona complements her Computer Science studies with a parallel degree in Cyber Security in Albania.

The project aims to design and develop a digital platform that connects students, researchers, and companies in one shared space. By bringing these groups together, the platform seeks to simplify how people find collaboration opportunities, discover emerging talent, and engage in research and innovation.

At its core, One Stop Shop addresses a common challenge in academia and industry: fragmentation. Opportunities often exist, but they are scattered across institutions, networks, and platforms. This project envisions a centralized, user-friendly solution where individuals and organizations can easily connect based on shared interests, expertise, and goals.

The goal is to deliver a functional prototype that demonstrates how a single access point can strengthen collaboration ecosystems. In the long term, the platform has the potential to support knowledge exchange, foster innovation, and create more inclusive pathways between education and industry on a global scale.

Project 3: 3D scene generation and interaction via LLM

Dzenana Selimovic and Rajza Selimovic are contributing to the student project “3D Scene Generation and Interaction via LLM” at Mälardalen University, where they joined from Bosnia. Alongside their studies in Software Engineering, Intelligent Embedded Systems, and Electrical Engineering across two countries, they bring an interdisciplinary perspective to the project.

At its core, the project explores how Large Language Models (LLMs) can be used to democratize 3D content creation. By enabling users to generate and modify 3D environments through natural language, the system removes the need for advanced technical or design expertise. This opens up new possibilities for individuals and communities who are currently excluded from digital content creation due to skill or resource barriers.

Beyond accessibility, the project addresses a growing global need for high-quality training data in AI development. The generated 3D environments can be used to create synthetic datasets, supporting the development of more robust and scalable AI systems in fields such as education, simulation, and smart technologies.

By combining language-driven AI with interactive 3D generation, the project aims to deliver a working prototype that demonstrates both technical innovation and societal impact. In the long term, it envisions a future where creating immersive digital environments is as intuitive as describing an idea—empowering a wider range of voices to shape the digital world.

Project 4: Inclusive Perspectives By Students, For SUNRISE

Melia Zinou and Sophie Kirk are master's students in Innovation and Design. We are taking part in the “Inclusive Perspectives” project within the SUNRISE Alliance at MDU. Our work is driven by a simple belief that students should not just be part of the system, but they should help shape it. SUNRISE brings together universities across Europe to collaborate, innovate, and create impact. But in the middle of all this potential, one important voice is often underrepresented, which is the students themselves.

This project asks: what happens when we truly listen to students?

Through workshops, interviews, and conversations with students from different countries and backgrounds, we uncovered something important. Students want to be involved, not just informed. They want to contribute, co-create, and feel that their perspectives actually matter. When students feel heard, something shifts. Engagement becomes motivation. Participation becomes ownership. And collaboration becomes meaningful.

At the heart of the project is the SUNRISE Student Engagement Guide, a practical, flexible resource designed to help turn these insights into action. It supports SUNRISE teams in creating initiatives that are more inclusive and connected to the real experiences of students.

This is not just about improving a system. It's about building a community where diversity is truly lived, where voices are valued, and where students feel they belong. In the long term, Inclusive Perspectives aims to help SUNRISE grow into something more than an alliance.

Fueled by Sunlight and Ambition - Meet the MDU Solar Team

MDU Solar Team conssists of a group of driven students at Mälardaeln University from various fields such as mechanics, electronics, aerodynamics, and design, working together to build a race car powered entirely by solar energy. They all come from different educational backgrounds and experiences, but we collaborate to create a car that’s good and fast enough to compete with the best teams in the world.

The MDU Solar Team value knowledge, but above all teamwork, responsibility, and openness, where everyone contributes their own perspectives and insights. And on top of that, they have a lot of fun!