Entrepreneurship Week "Moving the Cities": International cooperation more important than ever

27 October 2023 | Münster

Working with students from six different countries on a solution to the world's challenges - this was the opportunity offered by "Moving the Cities". The Entrepreneurship Week took place for the fifth time but for the first time at FH Münster University of Applied Sciences.

In the anniversary year of the Peace of Westphalia, our university is setting an example for global peace: 64 students from six countries developed solutions for the world's challenges during the international entrepreneurship week "Moving the Cities". In their project work, they focussed on the Peace of Westphalia and the 17th UN Sustainable Development Goal "Partnerships for the Goals".

One team, for example, developed ideas for reducing food waste. Another team jointly considered how to save water. And other students designed an approach to overcome language barriers. The focus was on strengthening entrepreneurial thinking and action as well as teaching international and interdisciplinary skills. "International cooperation is more important than ever," says Carsten Schröder, Vice President for Cooperation, Innovation and Marketing at FH Münster. "As a university, we see it as our responsibility to strengthen this." "Moving the Cities" is an ideal opportunity for this.

"All the participants were really keen to get stuck in, which was great to see," says project coordinator Sarah Lassek. "And we are creating global friendships here!" In small groups, the students from Germany, Austria, England, the USA, Brazil and Chile developed their ideas, which they presented to a jury at the final event - each in just three minutes. "The entire concept thrives on the fact that the participants bring different perspectives to the table and find meaningful solutions for regional problems in particular," says co-organiser Prof. Dr Tatiana Rocha from the Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS). She is also the contact person for South America at UAS7, an alliance of seven research-orientated German universities of applied sciences with a representative office in Brazil.

An intercultural training session, organised by the university's International Office, created a lot of group dynamics - and then things got underway: every day, the students were given the so-called "Challenge of the Day", i.e. the topic they were to focus on in the following hours. "We very quickly came up with some really good ideas," says Network Manager Rolf Laakmann from TAFH Münster GmbH. Some of them are now even being pursued further - "so that we don't just inspire start-ups, but real entrepreneurs develop here," says Laakmann.

"Moving the Cities" is an initiative designed by UNISINOS and FH Münster University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with UAS7 to promote the development of solutions through international and intercultural cooperation between science, entrepreneurship, innovation, technology and society. The project is embedded in the international initiative "xRegions", which was recognised by the Stifterverband as one of Germany's 30 best ideas for education, science and innovation in 2020. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Iulia Stroila, in her role as co-head coach and in charge of the didactical course, led the organization of the 'Design Thinking Sprints' on behalf of the Science-to-Business Marketing Research Centre at the FH Münster. Her involvement was key in coordinating these sprints, creating an environment that encouraged creative problem-solving and strategic thinking.

In previous years, "Moving the cities" had already taken place twice in Brazil and twice - due to the pandemic - online.