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=<big>Cohort 2025</big>=
=='''Strategy 1: MindMate'''==
[[File:MINDMATE.png|link=link=Special:FilePath/Imagen_de_WhatsApp_2024-11-11_a_las_08.07.07_813cb22d.jpg|thumb|MindMate]]
Mind Mate is a digital platform powered by artificial intelligence that supports UPC students in managing their emotional well-being. It seeks to detect early signs of stress, anxiety, or burnout, provide personalized micro-interventions (such as guided reflections, breathing exercises, and self-care challenges), and connect users with professional support from the university’s counseling and psychology services when needed.
By combining AI technology, gamification, and human-centered design, Mind Mate promotes accessible, stigma-free, and continuous emotional care across the academic journey.
'''Main Objectives'''
#Provide students with a 24/7 emotional-support channel that encourages healthy mental-health habits.
#Enable early detection and timely response to emotional distress through ethical use of AI.
#Foster student engagement and self-awareness through gamified, evidence-based tools.
#Strengthen the connection between students and institutional wellness services, creating an integrated ecosystem of care within UPC.
'''Alignment with UPC Student Priorities'''
Previous UPC UIF cohorts focused on initiatives such as Social Purpose, Connect UPC, and Portafolio UPC, aiming to enhance community, inclusion, and purpose-driven innovation.
Mind Mate expands this mission by addressing the emotional and psychological dimension of student life. It promotes empathy, balance, and human connection as essential components of academic success.
This project aligns with UPC’s commitment to fostering innovation with human impact, integrating technology and emotional intelligence to strengthen student well-being and institutional culture.
'''Impact and Success Metrics'''
The success of Mind Mate will be measured by its ability to create sustainable, measurable impact across the university community. Key indicators include:
*Adoption Rate: Percentage of students actively engaging with the platform as part of their well-being routine.
*Emotional Health Outcomes: Improvement in students’ self-reported stress management, emotional awareness, and sense of belonging.
*Institutional Integration: Degree of adoption by the Psychology, Academic Advising, and Student Wellness Departments as a recognized support tool.
*User Trust & Satisfaction: Students’ perceived safety, empathy, and usefulness of the AI interactions.
*Sustainability: Continuity of the initiative through UPC’s official wellness and innovation programs beyond the UIF cohort period.
=='''Strategy 2: Buzzly AI'''==
[[File:Buzzly AI.png|thumb|link=Special:FilePath/Buzzly_AI.png]]Buzzly AI is an AI-powered companion designed to support UPC students in managing both their emotional well-being and productivity. Operating through accessible platforms like WhatsApp, it proactively seeks to mitigate stress, anxiety, and burnout associated with academic life. Initial user research with UPC students revealed a strong need for a private, non-judgmental outlet, with many describing the concept as having a "psychologist in my pocket who can't judge me." The bot provides personalized reminders, "quick win" tasks to build positive momentum, and interactive, game-like therapies. When needed, it serves as a bridge, connecting students to professional support from the university's counseling services.
'''Main Objectives'''
#Provide students with a 24/7 proactive companion that encourages healthy mental habits by directly linking productivity with well-being.
#Enable early detection of students experiencing high levels of stress, anxiety, or creative blocks through non-intrusive interactions.
#Foster student engagement and self-efficacy through gamified, evidence-based tools like "quick wins" and interactive therapies.
#Strengthen the connection between students and institutional wellness services, creating an efficient and integrated ecosystem of care within UPC.
'''Alignment with UPC Student Priorities'''
Validation through interviews with over 25 students confirmed that many feel they have no one to talk to about private or serious issues and that student interactions are often limited to academic work. Buzzly AI directly addresses this validated gap by offering a confidential and accessible support channel. This project expands on the mission of previous UPC cohorts focused on community and purpose-driven innovation by addressing the emotional and psychological dimension of student life. It promotes resilience, balance, and well-being as essential components of academic and creative success. This aligns directly with UPC’s commitment to fostering innovation with human impact, integrating technology and emotional intelligence to strengthen the student experience.
'''Impact and Success Metrics'''
The success of Buzzly AI will be measured by its ability to create a sustainable and measurable impact. Key indicators include:
*Number of students identified and referred before escalation to crisis intervention
*Ratio of automated triage to in-person consultation requests
*Percentage of bot users rating health as "good" or better
=='''Strategy 3: InnovaQuest'''==
[[File:Fellowship.jpg|thumb|InnovaQuest|link=Special:FilePath/Fellowship.jpg|alt=]]
'''InnovaQuest''' is a gamified mentorship challenge that extends Innovate UPC beyond a single event, transforming it into an ongoing journey of academic exploration and emotional resilience for prospective students. Unlike traditional career fairs that focus only on information, InnovaQuest immerses high school students in short, interactive missions co-designed with UPC professors and student mentors.
These missions combine career exploration with resilience-building practices, helping students face the anxieties of choosing a major, managing academic stress, and imagining their future with confidence. By blending gamification, mentorship, and well-being strategies, InnovaQuest positions UPC not only as an innovative university but also as a caring community that values balance as much as success.
'''Main Objectives'''
* Provide high school students with a supportive bridge into university life, reducing anxiety about academic and personal transitions.
* Integrate resilience-building into career exploration, showing that academic excellence and well-being go hand in hand.
* Humanize professors as approachable guides and mentors, breaking the perception of faculty as distant authority figures.
* Strengthen UPC’s reputation as an institution that educates with innovation and empathy from day zero.
'''Alignment with UPC Student Priorities'''
Previous UPC UIF cohorts have launched initiatives such as Social Purpose, Connect UPC, and Portafolio UPC, focusing on inclusion, collaboration, and purpose-driven innovation.
InnovaQuest builds on this foundation by targeting the pre-university stage, where many students carry hidden stress and uncertainty. By reframing Innovate UPC as more than a fair, it becomes a '''continuous''' ecosystem of support. Students see UPC not only as a place of academic rigor but as a community where care, resilience, and mentorship are built into the educational journey.
This initiative redefines recruitment as a holistic experience, aligning with UPC’s vision of innovation with human impact. InnovaQuest ensures that students arrive on campus not only informed, but also emotionally prepared to thrive.
'''Impact and Success Metrics'''
The success of InnovaQuest will be measured by its ability to reduce student anxiety, foster engagement, and reshape perceptions of UPC. Key indicators include:
* '''Anxiety Reduction:''' Percentage of prospective students reporting greater confidence about choosing a career after completing the missions.
* '''Engagement:''' Active participation rates in WhatsApp challenges, faculty-led workshops, and debrief sessions.
* '''Perception Shift:''' Surveys measuring whether prospective students and parents associate UPC with care and resilience as well as innovation.
* '''Faculty Involvement:''' Number of professors requesting to adopt InnovaQuest formats for future recruitment or orientation activities.
* '''Sustainability:''' Institutionalization of InnovaQuest as a recurring feature of Innovate UPC and as a bridge to UPC’s wellness and mentoring programs.
=='''Strategy 4: UPC Rest'''==
[[File:UPC Rest.jpg|link=link=Special:FilePath/Social_Purpose.jpg|thumb|UPC Rest]]
'''UPCRest''' is a campus-based wellness initiative that supports UPC students in managing stress and maintaining balance during midterm and final exam periods. It provides spaces and activities designed to promote relaxation, recovery, and social connection—transforming high-stress academic weeks into opportunities for wellbeing and community care.
Through simple, human-centered interventions like rest zones, coffee gatherings, de-stress kits, and therapy animal sessions, UPCRest helps students decompress, recharge, and sustain their performance in a supportive environment.
'''<small>Main Objectives</small>'''
*Create safe, inclusive spaces for students to rest and recover physically and mentally during exam weeks.
*Reduce academic stress and burnout through proactive, low-barrier wellness activities.
*Foster a stronger sense of community and emotional resilience by connecting students through shared wellbeing experiences.
*Integrate wellness as a consistent element of the academic experience at UPC, complementing counseling and academic services.
'''<small>Alignment with UPC Student Priorities</small>'''
Previous UPC UIF cohorts have developed initiatives like ''Social Purpose'', ''Connect UPC'', and ''Portafolio UPC'', which focus on inclusion, collaboration, and student purpose.
'''UPCRest''' builds on this foundation by addressing the need for balance and mental restoration within academic life. It promotes empathy, rest, and collective wellbeing as drivers of academic excellence, aligning with UPC’s vision of human-centered innovation and holistic student development.
By focusing on both emotional and physical restoration, UPCRest strengthens the culture of care and belonging on campus, making wellbeing a visible and accessible part of student life.
'''<small>Key Tactics</small>'''
*'''Post-Exam Coffee Silent Raves:''' Host energizing, music-filled coffee gatherings after exams to help students decompress, connect, and celebrate completing their tests.
*'''Healthy Snack Corners:''' Set up free stations with nuts, fruit, and water during finals to support focus and reduce stress-related fatigue.
*'''Exam De-Stress Kits:''' Distribute small care packages with tea, stress balls, and motivational notes to promote calm and balance.
*'''Animal Therapy Sessions:''' Organize visits with trained therapy animals during finals week to reduce anxiety and lift morale.
'''<small>Impact and Success Metrics</small>'''
The success of '''UPCRest''' will be measured by its capacity to enhance student wellbeing and create lasting institutional impact. Key indicators include:
*'''Participation Rate:''' Number of students attending or engaging with UPCRest activities during exam periods.
*'''Wellbeing Outcomes:''' Improvements in students’ self-reported stress levels, focus, and sense of community connection.
*'''Institutional Collaboration:''' Degree of involvement from the Wellness Office, Facilities, and Academic Departments in sustaining the initiative.
*'''Student Satisfaction:''' Positive feedback on accessibility, comfort, and usefulness of the spaces and events.
*'''Sustainability:''' Inclusion of UPCRest as a recurring wellbeing initiative within UPC’s academic calendar and wellness programs.
==Fellows==
'''Fall 2025'''
[[Fellow:Cristobal Cortes]]
[[Fellow:Maria Jose Boza]]
[[Fellow:Kiara Melissa Sanchez Copare]]
[[Fellow:Fernando Benites]]
=<big>Cohort 2024</big>=
=='''Strategy 1: Portafolio UPC'''==
[[File:Imagen de WhatsApp 2024-11-11 a las 08.07.07 813cb22d.jpg|thumb|PORTAFOLIO UPC|link=Special:FilePath/Imagen_de_WhatsApp_2024-11-11_a_las_08.07.07_813cb22d.jpg]]
Portafolio UPC is an innovative digital tool that will allow our university’s students to officially showcase their final projects, validated by the institution. This digital portfolio aims to provide a solid, professional endorsement of each student’s knowledge and skills, making their academic achievements visible and recognized in the professional and job market.
The platform ensures respect for authorship and protects each user’s information. It also includes quality ratings (excellent, regular, poor) and specific feedback from professors on performance and skills gained, offering an objective, detailed evaluation that will be invaluable to both students and recruiters.
This project will significantly contribute to UPC’s reputation as an institution that supports and promotes the academic and professional growth of its students. By integrating the Portafolio UPC with Blackboard, we facilitate quick, efficient, and secure access to students' progress, projects, and capabilities, giving them a competitive advantage and fostering an ecosystem of transparency, merit, and academic recognition.
=='''Strategy 2: Crea Bond'''==
[[File:CreaBond.jpg|thumb|CreaBond|link=Special:FilePath/CreaBond.jpg]]
Our university platform facilitates the exchange of skills between students from various disciplines. Through intelligent recommendations, students can form multidisciplinary groups to participate in events and competitions. This collaboration allows students to apply their knowledge in creative and innovative ways, enhancing their learning and professional development.
'''Key features:'''
*Skill Sharing: Students can offer and request specific skills, creating a collaborative learning environment.
*Group Formation: The platform suggests the formation of groups based on the skills and needs of the students, optimizing the synergy of the team.
*Participation in Events: The groups formed can register for various events and competitions, putting their knowledge into practice in real situations.
=='''Strategy 3: FellowShip'''==
[[File:Fellowship.jpg|thumb|Fellowship UPC|link=Special:FilePath/Fellowship.jpg]]
It is a chatbot integrated into the UPC virtual classroom to help those students who are introverted and do not socialize with other students, especially those in virtual environments. This chatbot will allow you to create your profile and connect with other students who have similar tastes or preferences, in addition, goes to randomly generates activities, where it will pair students so they can interact, get to know each other more, and for each extracurricular activity students do, they will receive a reward of points for participation to encourage engagement to use this chat bot.
'''Benefits'''
*Encouraging Socialization: Helps introverted students break the ice and form meaningful connections.
*Active Engagement: Participation rewards motivate students to become more involved in extracurricular activities.
*Social Skills Development: Facilitates the development of interpersonal skills in a safe and controlled environment.
*Inclusion in the Community: Promotes a sense of belonging and community among UPC students
=='''Strategy 4: Social Purpose'''==
[[File:Social Purpose.jpg|thumb|Social Purpose|link=Special:FilePath/Social_Purpose.jpg]]
The training workshop for students developing a social project is designed to provide a comprehensive experience that includes both social awareness and the development of essential soft skills. During the workshop, students will engage in social awareness activities that will allow them to better understand the realities and challenges of the communities they will work with.
Additionally, there will be improvisation and networking sessions, where students can practice and enhance their leadership, assertive communication, analysis, and problem-solving skills. These activities will not only foster creativity and collaboration but also help students build a valuable network for future projects. The primary goal is to equip students with the necessary tools to approach social projects effectively and collaboratively, ensuring they can make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.
'''Benefits:'''
*Development of Soft Skills: Students will enhance their leadership, assertive communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills, essential for their personal and professional growth.
*Social Awareness: Through awareness activities, students will gain a better understanding of the realities and challenges faced by communities, fostering greater empathy and social commitment.
*Teamwork: They will learn teamwork and project management techniques, enabling them to coordinate efforts and resources efficiently.
*Networking: Networking and mentoring sessions will help students build a valuable network of contacts, facilitating future collaborations and professional opportunities.
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=<big>Cohort 2023</big>=