MIT World Peace University, Pune, was honoured to host a week-long immersive programme- Co-Creation for solving social problems from 20th to 24th January 2026. It brought all students together to collaboratively address complex social problems and find solutions to them through design thinking.

Overview of Co-creation Programme :

First-year students participated in the Co-Creation Programme, which promoted collaborative work between disciplines. This programme emphasised the university's commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. It was developed under the direction of Dr Rahul V. Karad, Executive President of MIT-WPU, Pune, and Prof. Dr Joske Bunders, Director, Co-Creation Research Institute, MIT-WPU, Pune & Founding Director Athena Institute, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. This programme encouraged students for experiential learning and networking with other communities to get a variety of viewpoints, and it enhanced students’ ability to solve problems creatively.

Key-Highlights of the Programme :

• Collaborative Learning : Participants brainstormed and developed creative solutions in groups.
• Hands-on Experience : Right from problem identification to finding a sustainable solution to it, students got hands-on experience of the whole process
• Real-World Impact : Students interacted with critical issues in society by conducting interviews and research
• Professional Guidance : Students were guided professionally throughout the programme to conduct in-depth research and find sustainable solutions
• Community Involvement : Students became part of a dynamic group coming from different streams and ideologies.
• Academic Credits : While having a significant influence, participants received one credit.

Session Breakdown :

The programme consisted of five structured sessions.

Session 01 (Day 1) : Students initiated the process by choosing a social issue to work on, and understood the complexity of the problem.

Session 02 (Day 2) : Students designed the questionnaire for the interview required for field research.

Session 03 (Day 3) : By qualitative analysis of data, students solved the problem with creative Problem-Solving using SCAMPER and SMART exercise.

Session 04 (Day 4) : Students refined and evaluated solutions for feasibility, robustness, and impact.

Session 05 (Day 5) : Students presented their research and suggested solutions for helpful criticism.

In conclusion

The Co-Creation Programme at MIT-WPU, Pune, integrated academic learning with societal requirements, which is a major improvement in education. In addition to developing students' critical thinking skills, this programme gave them the confidence to act decisively in the face of today's problems.