Design Thinking Workshop with guests from Groningen
The guests from the University of Groningen together with representatives from our faculty and the Jackstädt Center. Photo: Tim Schüring
It was a privilege to host David Langley, Emma Folmer, Selma Bakker, and their contingent of MBA students from the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen's "Sustainable Business Models" program at the University of Wuppertal this April.
The visit stemmed from an ongoing collaboration and academic exchange between our institutions. Initiated by a prior engagement between Markus Thomanek, doctoral student at the Jackstädt Center, and David Langley, professor at the University of Groningen, this visit was seen as an opportunity to deepen our mutual understanding of sustainable business practices and initiatives.
In collaboration with our faculty members Philipp Trotter, professor of Sustainability Management, and Julian Lauten-Weiss, also doctoral student at the Jackstädt Center, arrangements were made to enrich the visit with a focused workshop. We extend our gratitude to Kristin Krebs (doctoral student at Wuppertal’s UNESCO-Chair for Entrepreneurship and Intercultural Management) for her instrumental role in organizing a design thinking workshop that facilitated meaningful interaction and collaboration between the MBA students from Groningen and our faculty’s Master's and PhD students.
During the workshop, interdisciplinary teams tackled real-world sustainability challenges faced by the MBA students in their respective companies. The exchange of insights and perspectives was not only enlightening but also underscored the importance of cross-institutional collaboration in addressing contemporary business and environmental challenges.
As we are committed to fostering academic exchange and advancing knowledge in sustainability, we are grateful for the opportunity to host such esteemed colleagues and students from Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. We look forward to continued collaboration and the possibility of reciprocating the visit in the future.
We extend our appreciation to David Langley, Emma Folmer, Selma Bakker, and all participating students for their engagement and contributions to this enriching experience. The success of the workshop is a testament to the value of collaborative endeavors in academia.
For further inquiries regarding our Jackstädt Center’s research initiatives or collaborations, please do not hesitate to contact us via mail: jackstaedt[at]wiwi.uni-wuppertal.de. Together, let us continue to pursue innovative solutions for a sustainable future.
