The finale of CReative University Sustainability Hub 2026 is now behind us—an event carried out as part of the WSB University project GETTIN IN CRUSH WITH WSBU – MORE THAN JUST A STUDY, funded under the Welcome to Poland programme of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.
CRUSH 2026—a hybrid program and competition in which students from Poland and abroad jointly developed innovative solutions for sustainable business—began with an online component held on March 18–20, 2026. This was followed by an on-site session at WSB University on March 24–27, 2026. The event culminated in CRUSH Pitch Day, featuring presentations by the competing teams.
The CRUSH 2026 program was designed as an intensive pathway from idea to solution. During the online phase, participants learned the principles of teamwork, the fundamentals of design thinking and business modelling, worked on initial concepts based on the SDGs, and developed skills in understanding the user perspective and formulating value propositions. The on-site component enabled teams to deepen their problem analysis, better understand user needs, develop and test prototypes, refine their business models, and prepare their final presentations. The program also included expert sessions on intercultural teams, sustainable entrepreneurship, challenge-based learning, pitching ideas, and sustainability standards in the business world.
Participants developed their ideas under the guidance of an international group of specialists: Rii Slingerland from Rotterdam Business School, Sonia M. Gómez Puente from Eindhoven University of Technology, Marisa R. Ferreira from the School of Management and Technology of Porto Polytechnic Institute, Muhammad Mazhar from Nottingham Business School, George Ionescu from Romanian-American University, as well as representatives of WSB University: Małgorzata Małecka-Tomala, Paweł Urgacz, and Denis Spahija. The mentors supported teams in areas such as international collaboration, solution logic, social impact, financial feasibility, communication, and the practical translation of sustainability ideas into real business models.
CRUSH 2026 was won by the group CIRCULAR X, represented by students from Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Albania, Rwanda, and Turkey. The winning team developed a project based on the idea of giving a second life to unused or damaged electronic devices. Their concept involves acquiring equipment through collection, drop-off points, shipping, and trade-in incentives, then restoring the devices to circulation and offering them to customers at attractive prices, with warranties and strong promotional support through digital channels.
The CIRCULAR X concept was built around a clear value proposition: “From idle devices to active value.” The model addresses both the needs of individuals who own unused electronics and customers seeking more affordable devices. In their final presentation, the team also highlighted the connection of their solution to SDG 12, SDG 13, and SDG 9 by reducing electronic waste, supporting responsible consumption, and promoting more sustainable industrial practices.
CRUSH 2026 demonstrated that internationalization can be a real, engaging, and creative experience. The event not only integrated students from different countries and backgrounds but also created a space for shared learning, the development of entrepreneurial competencies, and the advancement of responsible solutions to contemporary challenges. Through teamwork, mentoring, and practical methods such as design thinking, customer development, lean startup, business modelling, and storytelling, participants were able to follow the full journey from inspiration to a concrete and compelling business concept.
For WSB University, this was not only the successful implementation of a prestigious international program but also a strong signal that the institution is consistently developing its brand as a modern, open university focused on education that responds to global challenges. CRUSH 2026 is an example of how to combine internationalization, innovative working methods, and sustainable development within one coherent educational format.
We thank all participants, mentors, experts, and everyone involved in organizing the event. It is thanks to this shared energy that CRUSH 2026 became something more than a competition—it became a space for collaboration, inspiration, and the creation of ideas with the potential to genuinely change the world for the better.