The first CU.mil Slowkathon - and first Circle U. Slowkathon - has come to a close, and what a journey it has been! More than 100 people took part altogether, offering creations of all kinds: from apps to artistic performances, from handmade items to creations supported by technology but always with humans at the heart, from humorous takes on language to deeply moving testimonies. Entries came from students, academics, and even school pupils with their teachers, bringing together an extremely large diversity of voices, languages (written, spoken and signed), and cultural references.
Each contribution touched us - sometimes with humour, sometimes with courage - and impressed us. We are deeply thankful for the trust, energy, and creativity that went into them. The jury, as diverse as the submissions, faced a very difficult task in selecting winners in the Group and Solo categories. True to our promise, we are delighted to announce the results today, on the European Day of Languages!
And the winners are….
- For the solo category : Vladimir Vojnak’s winning creation in the solo category is a unique Circle U. anthem, composed with the support of AI while deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Drawing inspiration from well-known traditional songs of all Circle U. member countries, he carefully selected emblematic stanzas, wrote the chorus himself, and used the AI tool SUNO to generate the melody. The piece, which moves geographically from north to south, brings together languages and voices from across Europe in a symbolic expression of unity.
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For the group category: In the group category, the jury has chosen to celebrate the remarkable creativity and commitment of the teenagers and classroom groups led by their teacher, Thibaut Cirriez. Rather than selecting a single group, the prize recognizes the collective spirit, imagination, and energy that all of these young participants brought to the Slowkathon! Their original videos reflect their talent and joy in exploring languages and cultures together, showing us that these matter deeply to them and that they devoted time and care to bringing their creations to life.
Check out their creative projects here.
The winners will be contacted personally to receive their 500€ prize, which is meant to help them support projects that foster linguistic and cultural diversity!
Every participant will also soon receive a certificate of participation from Circle U. and the CU.mil. As a token of our appreciation, the creations - depending on their types - will also be highlighted on our Circle U. website or in our physical university sites! The participants will be informed in due time of when and where their creations are highlighted.
Thank you again to all who made this Linguafest Slowkathon such a rich and inspiring celebration of languages and cultures!
