In our research, a model for teaching first-year university physics courses within the European university context has been developed, incorporating interactive engagement (IE) methods into the currently existing course format. During the lectures, interactive lecture demonstrations and conceptual questions with online e-voting were implemented using the peer-instruction method. The problem-solving classes were enhanced by more interactive student-centred activities using digital tools for data collection, mathematical modelling, data analysis and interpretation. Finally, students in groups also work on a long-term project, solving a research problem with the help of experimenting and modelling. The model has been employed for the last ten years within the study program for future physicists and physics teachers, demonstrating a higher and statistically significant impact on the conceptual understanding of mechanics concepts compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, by utilising open modern data science tools for analysis, the data processing was significantly simplified and the interpretation of student results was improved, further enhancing the evaluation of the effectiveness of IE methods in European educational settings.