Vukovar in the Spotlight: A Repository of Innovation, Inclusion, and Inspiration Copy
18/07/25
As part of our Croatia spotlight for EU Code Week, we’re proud to shine a light on the vibrant and forward-thinking community of Vukovar. This town has become a hub of innovation, hands-on learning, and inclusive digital education. From creative coding challenges to smart tech for social good, these initiatives reflect the heart of what EU Code Week is all about — empowering the next generation with digital skills, curiosity, and a strong sense of purpose. Below is a repository of inspiring stories and standout projects from the past year. We hope they motivate others across Europe and beyond to dream big, build boldly, and use technology for positive change. And we can’t wait to see what’s next from Vukovar!
Tech for Inclusion: Arduino Smart Cane for the Visually Impaired
First-year students from Vukovar Gymnasium, David Pendić and Nikola Uglik, developed a smart cane equipped with an Arduino microcontroller, ultrasonic sensors, and a vibration motor to help blind and visually impaired people navigate the world more safely. The project not only showcased their technical skills but also their deep commitment to building a more inclusive society. Supported by their school and EU Code Week’s Outstanding Leading Teacher recognition, this initiative demonstrates how youth innovation can truly make a difference.
Education in Motion: Arduino Express Smart Train
A group of enthusiastic students from Vukovar designed and built the Arduino Express, a smart train that makes STEM learning fun and interactive. Each 3D-printed carriage carries out a specific educational task: from environmental monitoring to Geiger counter readings — all controlled wirelessly. It’s more than a toy; it’s a mobile STEM classroom that brings coding and electronics to life through play. This project encapsulates the spirit of Code Week: creativity, teamwork, and applied knowledge in action.
Girls in Digital: Decoding History, Empowering the Future
Hosted at the Vukovar City Library, the “Decode the Findings” workshop focused on promoting gender equality in STEM. Participants explored the legacy of women in computing through interactive tasks, encryption challenges, and chemistry experiments inspired by scientific pioneers like Marie Curie and Rosalind Franklin. By linking history, science, and digital skills, the workshop helped empower the next generation of girls in tech and opened the door to inclusive opportunities in STEM.
Cybersecurity Meets AI: Brute-Force Attack Simulations
In a hands-on project, students explored how brute-force password attacks work — first by manually unlocking padlocks, then by coding their own simulators in Python. With the support of AI-powered coding tools, they learned how to improve algorithms, optimize security, and understand password vulnerabilities. This experiential activity combined technical education with a vital life skill: digital awareness and cybersecurity.
Creativity Unleashed: A Week of Discovery at Gymnasium Vukovar
During EU Code Week, Gymnasium Vukovar hosted a wide range of activities, each aimed at sparking curiosity and building digital skills: unplugged coding games, IoT and sensor workshops, soldering and electronics, Arduino traffic light simulations, big data and digital ethics discussions, chess competitions linking strategy to algorithms, and 3D printing with Tinkercad. Led by outstanding teachers Sanja Pavlović Šijanović and Davor Šijanović, these workshops gave students the chance to explore the vast world of technology and find their unique entry points into digital education.
Looking Ahead
Vukovar’s incredible range of EU Code Week activities serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when young minds are empowered with the right tools, guidance, and support. We look forward to even more inspiring initiatives from Vukovar and across Croatia — and we invite educators, students, and partners everywhere to share their stories, spark curiosity, and join the movement. Let’s keep building a more creative, inclusive, and digitally skilled Europe — one idea at a time.
