The 4Vision student team from the University of Maribor achieved outstanding success at the Global Competition on Design for Futures (GCD4F) 2026 Global Finals, held from 23 to 25 October at Beijing Normal University in China. The team ranked among the top 10 teams and received two awards:
- the Best AI Stakeholder Award and
- the Excellent Technology Innovation Award.
The 4Vision team consists of students from two faculties of the University of Maribor: Maja Kocbek and Ana Potočnik from the Faculty of Education (UM PEF), and Lara Podjavršek and Marcel Strahan from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (UM FERI). The team was mentored by Dr. Maja Pušnik from the Institute of Informatics at UM FERI and Dr. Maruša Laurin from UM PEF.
From the Regional Finals at UM FERI to Global Success
The journey to the Global Finals began in June 2026, when UM FERI organised the GCD4F Central and Eastern Europe Regional Finals in Maribor. Among the 12 participating teams, 4Vision emerged as the winner and secured its place at the Global Finals in Beijing.
At the Global Finals, the team presented its innovative solution to an international panel of experts and ranked among the top 10 teams. It also received two awards recognising innovation, the application of artificial intelligence, and the importance of stakeholder engagement in developing technological solutions.
Connecting Research, Education, and Innovation
The success of 4Vision is also a significant achievement for the Institute of Informatics at UM FERI, where our research and educational activities focus on the development of information systems, user experience, digital accessibility and inclusion, and the responsible application of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The collaboration between students from UM FERI and UM PEF demonstrates the value of combining technological and educational expertise to develop solutions that consider not only technological possibilities but also user needs and broader societal challenges.
Participation in the Global Finals also provided students with a valuable international experience, opportunities to exchange ideas, and exposure to innovative approaches developed by teams from around the world.
We warmly congratulate all four students on this outstanding international achievement!
Their success highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and provides further motivation for involving students in research, project-based, and international activities at the Institute of Informatics.
More information:
- GCD4F: https://gcd4fe.bnu.edu.cn/en/
- Regional Finals at UM FERI: https://feri.um.si/en/notices/global-competition-on-design-for-futures-gcd4f-2026-regional-competition-slovenia/
