25. March '24
Four people seated at a table participate in a panel discussion at the esteemed Hochschule Coburg. The table, draped with a white cloth, is equipped with microphones and water bottles. Behind them, the screen prominently displays “Podiumsdiskussion IMPACT24.
Four people seated at a table participate in a panel discussion at the esteemed Hochschule Coburg. The table, draped with a white cloth, is equipped with microphones and water bottles. Behind them, the screen prominently displays "Podiumsdiskussion IMPACT24.
A group of people seated in a conference room at Hochschule Coburg faces a presentation screen displaying “IMPACT 24” and “Schön, dass ihr da seid!” Two speakers stand on stage, amidst wooden paneling and red chairs.
A group of people seated in a conference room at Hochschule Coburg faces a presentation screen displaying "IMPACT 24" and "Schön, dass ihr da seid!" Two speakers stand on stage, amidst wooden paneling and red chairs.
A group of people from Hochschule Coburg is seated around a table filled with colorful LEGO pieces, each reaching in to select pieces from the central pile, with drinks and containers adding to the lively atmosphere.
A group of people from Hochschule Coburg is seated around a table filled with colorful LEGO pieces, each reaching in to select pieces from the central pile, with drinks and containers adding to the lively atmosphere.
A group of people from Hochschule Coburg sit around a table covered with LEGO bricks, engaged in conversation. Some hold LEGO pieces while smiling. Bottles and drinks are also on the table. Large windows in the background offer a view of trees.
A group of people from Hochschule Coburg sit around a table covered with LEGO bricks, engaged in conversation. Some hold LEGO pieces while smiling. Bottles and drinks are also on the table. Large windows in the background offer a view of trees.
People participating in a Hochschule Coburg screen printing workshop outdoors. A screen with the word “IMPACT” is in the foreground, while attendees are engaged in creative activities at tables in the background.
People participating in a Hochschule Coburg screen printing workshop outdoors. A screen with the word "IMPACT" is in the foreground, while attendees are engaged in creative activities at tables in the background.
A group sits around a small campfire outside Hochschule Coburg, with one person playing an acoustic guitar and singing. Others hold sticks with bread dough over the fire, enjoying an outdoor, casual gathering near the brick building.
A group sits around a small campfire outside Hochschule Coburg, with one person playing an acoustic guitar and singing. Others hold sticks with bread dough over the fire, enjoying an outdoor, casual gathering near the brick building.
A group of people stands smiling in a room at Hochschule Coburg. A woman in a yellow coat is prominent at the front. The room features tables, chairs, and some decorative plants and pictures on the walls.
A group of people stands smiling in a room at Hochschule Coburg. A woman in a yellow coat is prominent at the front. The room features tables, chairs, and some decorative plants and pictures on the walls.
A person wearing a long coat and glasses gives a high five to someone in a colorful outfit outside Hochschule Coburg. Another person stands nearby, witnessing the cheerful moment in front of an orange building on a cloudy day.
A person wearing a long coat and glasses gives a high five to someone in a colorful outfit outside Hochschule Coburg. Another person stands nearby, witnessing the cheerful moment in front of an orange building on a cloudy day.
People gather around colorful chalk drawings on a gray pavement, featuring words like “Musik,” “Fernseher,” and “Fussball.” Among the visible feet, Hochschule Coburg students appear to be engaged in a lively group activity or game.
People gather around colorful chalk drawings on a gray pavement, featuring words like "Musik," "Fernseher," and "Fussball." Among the visible feet, Hochschule Coburg students appear to be engaged in a lively group activity or game.
Two people happily pose on a street adorned with chalk drawings near Hochschule Coburg. One kneels while the other crouches nearby. Chalk writings include “Herzlich Willkommen” with a heart, and in the background, there’s a fenced area with trees and a truck.
Two people happily pose on a street adorned with chalk drawings near Hochschule Coburg. One kneels while the other crouches nearby. Chalk writings include "Herzlich Willkommen" with a heart, and in the background, there's a fenced area with trees and a truck.
For five days, 149 students from Coburg University of Applied Sciences had time to work in groups on problems submitted by external project sponsors from the region.
The results can form the basis for the development of new innovative approaches in the Coburg-Kronach-Lichtenfels innovation triangle and beyond.
The “IMPACT’24 – Innovation and Learning Festival” aims to develop new ideas and solutions for the region.
With this goal in mind, 149 Coburg University of Applied Sciences students from the fields of social work, applied digital transformation and design spent five days working on projects in groups at the start of the summer semester.
The students were able to choose from 14 projects from the categories of health, social affairs and sustainability.
Six of these projects were carried out in cooperation with external partners.
Each group was assigned a learning coach – one of whom was Dr. Christian Schadt, research associate in the Entrepreneurship Track for Regional Impact on Global Challenges (ERIC) project.
“The great thing about the festival was the interdisciplinary collaboration and learning from each other. The results may hold potential for the development of new, innovative business ideas,” he summed up at the end of the week.
He himself supervised the seminar “Upcycling and ‘cradle to cradle’ – ‘Back to the future'”, which took place in the CREAPOLIS Makerspace, the public workshop at Coburg University of Applied Sciences.
Here, leftover pieces from IKEA were converted into new furniture under the guidance of a carpenter.
Thinking outside the box
Two further examples illustrate just how interdisciplinary the festival was: one project group was tasked with developing a concept for the youth spaces in Schalkau and Almerswind in the Sonneberg district.
Together with their learning coach Prof. Björn Bicker, Dean of Studies at the Faculty of Social Work, the students gained an impression of existing and potential youth spaces on site.
Ideas and visions were developed together with a social worker from Volkssolidarität Thüringen, a representative of project partner Flechtwerk and pupils from a community school.
“What better experience could there be for the students? Learning and applying go hand in hand during the project week.”
Two projects submitted by Coburg-based automotive supplier Brose were concerned with raising awareness of mental health in a corporate context using modern media and developing a diversity concept with recommendations for action.
Steffen Tauss, Head of Social and Health Care at Brose, was impressed by the results: “The students not only developed a well thought-out concept in a very short time, but also presented initial drafts for concrete implementation.
We are excited to see how the ideas will prove themselves in practice.” In addition to Brose and carpenter Rudolf Worofka, other external partners whose projects were worked on included the Albertinum grammar school in Coburg, Bürgergenossenschaft Dorfladen Marktgraitz and the social and insurance office of the city of Coburg.
Theme days with supporting program
The “IMPACT’24 – Learning and Innovation Festival” was planned and organized by the Transfer and Entrepreneurship Department, the Science and Culture Centre and the Teaching Innovation and Quality Department .
In order to provide the students with as many different ideas as possible, each day had a different theme.
To kick things off, the founders of smoothie manufacturer Kraftschluck introduced the students to the topic of innovation on Monday in a short excursus on their own start-up story.
On Tuesday, the students had the opportunity to get to know various creativity methods, such as brainstorming using Lego bricks.
In keeping with the theme of entrepreneurship, a podcast episode on the topic of “Social innovation, technical innovation and entrepreneurship” was recorded live in the auditorium on Wednesday, and the Founders’ Award was presented in the evening.
The supporting programme for this day was organized by the ERIC project.
On Thursday, the students were able to get a taste of “research air”.
The “AI4Coping” research project presented by Coburg University of Applied Sciences is investigating whether and how artificial intelligence can help with stress management.
