A BTU Teaching Award 2021 goes to our interdisciplinary module "DURCHSTARTEN"

The module Key Qualifications for Everyday Work combines theoretical with practical learning content for a sustainable experience on the student side and at the same time raises awareness for start-ups. Since 2021, it has been held in cooperation with the CreativeOpenLab (COLab) in the STARTBLOCK B2 start-up center and is offered every winter semester for all study programmes as a module in the context of the General Studies (FÜS) module. The FÜS module of the Department of General Business Administration (ABWL) - esp. Organization and Business Management - takes place as a five-day block event in the context of the intensive workshop "DURCHSTARTEN - Schlüsselqualifikation für deine Idee". The event is divided into two alternating phases, each of which builds on the didactic design of activation, mediation and supervisor.

The students have the goal of implementing a sustainable idea during this week. In order to ensure the most intensive supervisor possible, the students are divided into groups. When putting them together, the greatest possible diversity (in terms of study programmes, number of semesters and gender) is taken into account in order to reduce inhibitions and to achieve the greatest possible exchange of experience. With the clear goal of having to present a start-up idea, including a vivid prototype, after five days of collaboration, the participants not only practice creativity and the application of knowledge, but also a high degree of teamwork.

While one group gains valuable input in seminars on start-up-related topics such as Business Model Canvas, PR and marketing for founders, business plan preparation, visual design and presentation techniques, the other group works actively in their founding teams on their respective prototypes. This takes place in alternation, so that all students can take advantage of the same offer. Here, the focus is clearly on the strong input of knowledge, which has been implemented through the aforementioned topics. Thanks to the deliberately small number of participants, teachers can respond individually to the plans of the individual founding teams and impart knowledge, experience and key competencies in equal measure.

As a free working and creative space, the COLab makes a special contribution to strengthening group dynamics and free communication. Teachers as well as Staff Members of the COLab are on site at any time and can support the individual project ideas with valuable feedback.

The BTU Teaching Award characterizes the special appreciation of good university teaching at our university. The goal is to recognize teachers for their special commitment to knowledge transfer and education. At the same time, examples of good practice in teaching are to become known throughout the university and motivate all teachers to further develop their teaching concepts and the modules.

There were a total of 16 applications for the 2021 teaching award. Of these, eight modules and their teachers were nominated. The selection was made in a public university presentation by a teaching award jury, in which university teachers, teaching and research fellows as well as students participate.