On 6 November 2024, the National Conference on Innovation and Creativity in HEI’s took place at the University of Economics in Bratislava. The event was part of the international project CT.Uni – Creative Thinking: Taking an Innovative and STEAM Approach for a Transdisciplinary University.

The conference opened with a keynote lecture titled "Why Innovation Needs Creativity: The Role of HEIs in a Changing World", which emphasized the importance of creativity as a fundamental prerequisite for innovation and highlighted the need for higher education institutions to play an active role in societal and technological transformation.

This was followed by a panel discussion titled "How Can Universities Collaborate Effectively with External Stakeholders?", which explored opportunities for connecting academia with cities, businesses, and the non-profit sector. Participants agreed that collaboration with external partners is essential for enhancing the quality of both teaching and research.

In the afternoon session, the results of the CT.Uni project were presented, followed by a hands-on workshop titled "How to Identify and Integrate Real-World Challenges into Teaching". Participants explored how to identify real-world challenges, assess their potential for educational use, and effectively integrate them into study programs. The workshop fostered the exchange of experiences between academics and practitioners and provided concrete tools for innovative teaching.

The conference concluded with the formulation of practical recommendations and a discussion on the future direction of innovation in higher education.