Advanced Creative Thinking & Communication

The Advanced creative thinking & communication micro-credential is a postgraduate-level programme co-designed and delivered in collaboration by five partners, European pioneers in creative thinking, AI, and persuasive communication – Vilnius University Business School, Maynooth University, University of Minho, Graz University and Kaospilot – combining rigorous science with hands-on, experiential learning.

Delivered in a blended format, the course will enable participants to explore how to generate original ideas, communicate them effectively, and integrate responsible AI use into creative processes.

Registration for students Registration for life-long learners

Key information

Fee of the micro-credential: 1500 EUR (free of charge for Arqus Master and PhD students enrolled part-time or full-time at any Arqus university and full-time Kaospilot students – they will have to cover their own travel and accomodation costs)
The deadline for registration is 10 May 2026
The course will take place between 11th May to 30th June 2026
Credits: 5 ECTS*
Workload: 130 hours (32 contact hours + 98 independent work)
Language: English (minimum B2 required)
Format: Blended (online + in-person)
Level: postgraduate and professional learners (EQF Level 7)
Participants: 20–150

*Recognition depends on the student’s home institution. Please contact the administrative staff responsible for knowing more about the recognition of this micro-credential within your institution.

Programme highlights:

Combines creativity, AI, and communication
Strong focus on real-world application
International and interdisciplinary collaboration
Delivered by leading experts in creativity and innovation

Target audience, dates and contact

This course, that will be held from 11th May to 30th June 2026, is designed for:

Arqus Master and PhD students enrolled part-time or full-time at any Arqus university – They can attend the course free of charge but will have to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.

Full-time Kaospilot students – They can attend the course free of charge but will have to cover their own travel and accommodation costs.

Lifelong learners – For them, the training fee is 1500 EUR (travel and accommodation expenses are not included). Lifelong learners include individuals who are not degree programme students at an Arqus university or full-time students at Kaospilot, as well as non-degree students from Arqus universities and non-full-time students at Kaospilot.

Any professional, regardless of profession, industry, or country, can sign up for the micro-credential as a lifelong learner. No specific academic background is required beyond English proficiency.

The course includes:

Online introduction session
3-day in-person workshop in Aarhus (Kaospilot, Nørreport 20, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark)
3-week virtual creative challenge (individual or team-based)
Online reflection session

Important: The in-person workshop in Aarhus is mandatory and cannot be attended online.

To solve any question or ask for any further information, please contact:

Administrative contact:
Rasa Makaveckiene
rasa.makaveckiene@vm.vu.lt

Academic contact:
Dr. Christian Byrge
christian.byrge@vm.vu.lt

Content of the course

In today’s fast-paced world, the ability to generate truly novel and impactful ideas is a competitive edge. Whether it’s rethinking everyday challenges or sparking revolutionary changes in a field, profession, industry or domain, creative thinking and persuasive communication of new ideas has become a crucial asset. This course is designed to help individuals who are ready to transform how they approach problems.

The course will help participants unlock their creative potential, equipping them with fresh perspectives and the ability to challenge conventional thinking. It offers a playful yet structured approach to nurturing creativity, allowing participants to push organisational and personal endeavours to new heights.

Participants will learn to navigate ambiguity, uncover hidden assumptions, and shift fluidly between divergent and convergent thinking. The course explores creative confidence, intuitive knowing, and collective intelligence – not just in theory, but through lived experiences. While there is a strong emphasis on developing each participant’s individual creative approach, the course will also include elements focused on collaborative creativity.

As such the Advanced Creative Thinking and Communication course is for anyone looking to enhance their creativity – whether they are seeking to innovate in business, architecture, public management, leadership, product design, biotech, marketing, nanotech, finance, deeptech, medicine, engineering, law, wind energy, or any other field/domain/industry/profession, including personal and entrepreneurial projects.

The course provides universal problem-solving tools that lead to unique, competitive solutions across industries and professions. It is for everyone who is ready to play a bigger role in shaping the future of their industry.

This co-offered course brings together five European pioneers in creative thinking, AI, and persuasive communication, combining rigorous science with hands-on application from Vilnius University Business School, Maynooth University Design Innovation Department, the University of Graz interdisciplinary TIMEGATE program, the University of Minho’s real-world complex problem-solving approach, and Kaospilot’s world-renowned entrepreneurial pedagogy

The course combines theory on creative thinking and AI with real-world challenges, reflective practice, and deliberately thought-provoking hands-on study activities. The course is intensive, immersive, scientific and highly practical.

Participants will be nudged, stretched, and occasionally disrupted – intellectually, emotionally, and creatively to experience their own creative potential, in both individual and team settings.

Programme directors

Dr. Christian Byrge, Professor — christian.byrge@vm.vu.lt

Christian is an internationally recognized expert in creative thinking and a key figure behind the Creative Genius programs. He has authored more than 70 works on creativity and has 19 years of experience in research and teaching. Christian has facilitated creative processes for global companies such as Novo Nordisk, LEGO, and TotalEnergies.

Dr. Iain Macdonald, Associate Professor — Iain.Macdonald@mu.ie

Iain is Head of the Department of Design Innovation at Maynooth University and a Member of the Chartered Society of Designers. He has over 25 years of experience in the creative industries, including roles as a motion graphic designer at the BBC and a commercials director in London, before moving into academia. He currently serves as Vice-President of the UK’s National Society for Education in Art & Design.

Dr. Isabel Macedo, Assistant Professor — imacedo@eeg.uminho.pt

Isabel’s research explores nonprofit and public marketing, ICT, and services marketing, with publications in journals such as the European Journal of Marketing, the Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, and Computers in Human Behavior. She is deeply committed to fostering creativity and innovation in learning, integrating design thinking and experiential approaches to cultivate critical and reflective engagement.

Dr. Fritz Treiber, Molecular Biologist — fritz.treiber@uni-graz.at

Fritz has a background in microbiology and molecular biology. At the Institute for Molecular Biosciences and the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Graz, he focuses on creative problem solving and the role of AI in creativity. He is the author of several non-fiction books and has produced two independent films, for which he served as both screenwriter and director.

Dennis Dybdal, Kaospilot & Entrepreneur – dd@kaospilot.dk

Dennis is an innovation and strategy expert with over 15 years of experience in start-up development and leadership training. As the founder of Green Zebra in East Africa, he has focused on impactful education and corporate training. He holds a business degree from Kaospilot, served on its Board until 2023, and has completed executive programs at Stanford, Harvard, and Cambridge.