22 May 2025

Three days, three teams, three major challenges - the first HIKEathon in the HSN Edition took place at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences from 19 to 21 May 2025. Under the motto "Shaping our future together", committed members of the university worked in interdisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions for real challenges relating to the future viability of the university.

The HIKEathon Team "HSN Edition" 2025:

above from left to right: Marcel Wagner, Mandy Tabatt, Thomas Herwig, Nadine Kathrin Luschnat, Prof Dr Cordula Borbe, Nicola Bargfrede, Kathleen Hahnemann, Manuela Krieghoff, Christian Zoll, Avishek Chatterjee

below from left to right: Prof Dr Maik Arnold, Dr Kareen Schlangen, Prof Dr Andreas Bergknapp, Tina Bergknapp, Jonas Mielke

(Photo: HSN | not in the picture: Dr Pascal Leibbrandt)

Initiated by the Executive Board in cooperation with hike (University Incubator for Entrepreneurship), the format focused on the structured design thinking process - supplemented by modern AI tools - and combined creative work with team spirit, user-centredness and practical relevance.

COLOURFUL TEAMS, REAL CHALLENGES

In three thematically focussed groups, representatives from very different areas of the university - from the Executive Board and departments to administration, public relations and alumni - worked together on specific issues for the future:

Group 1: Strengthening student engagement

How do we create a culture of involvement that promotes identification and participation?

Group 2: Developing authentic content marketing

How can content from students and alumni be used automatically in order to conduct authentic, resource-saving marketing?

Group 3: Rethinking study formats & enabling growth

How can Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences grow to 3,000 students - and which innovative (study) formats will help?

THEORY MEETS PRACTICE - ACCOMPANIED BY EXPERTS

The participants received important theoretical input from Prof Dr Lutz Göcke, Professor of Digital Management at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and founder of hike. He accompanied the event with impulses on innovation methods, the possible applications of generative AI in the university context and the strategic anchoring of the ideas developed. His expertise was an important bridge between theory and practical feasibility.

STUDENTS AS A RESONANCE CHAMBER

A special element of the HIKEathon was the direct dialogue with students. During the course of the process, all teams obtained targeted feedback from the target group - in an uncomplicated, face-to-face dialogue on campus. The spontaneous dialogue led to valuable feedback, realistic perspectives and directly implementable suggestions for improvement.

"This feedback was worth its weight in gold," reports one participant. "It was motivating to see how open the students were and how seriously they engaged with our ideas."

WITH STRUCTURE TO INNOVATION: THE DESIGN THINKING PROCESS

All teams went through the entire design thinking process - from problem definition and the empathy phase through to brainstorming, prototype development and testing. They were supported not only by the hike coaches, but also by the use of modern generative AI tools, which were used specifically for brainstorming, visualisation and the development of text modules.

The resulting prototypes impressively demonstrated how interdisciplinary collaboration, a structured approach and creative freedom can lead to viable ideas. Ideas that have the potential to help shape the future of the university.

A FORMAT WITH RADIANT POWER

The HIKEathon has shown that when different perspectives and competences come together, space is created for real innovation. Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences not only gained new ideas with this format, but also provided a strong impetus for participatory, future-orientated university development.

VOICES FROM THE TEAM: INTENSE, CHALLENGING - AND INCREDIBLY ENRICHING

Tina Bergknapp, University Communications and Marketing Officer and graduate of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, sums up just how intensive the HIKEathon was:

"For me, the HIKEathon was an extraordinary experience - exciting, challenging and absolutely worthwhile. It was incredible fun to think and design together as a team and to work on solutions with full commitment. At the same time, it was an intensive format that really demands everything from you: for three days, we thought, developed, generated AI prompts, discussed, readjusted, optimised, discarded and restarted almost without a break - a permanent cycle of creative tension. And that's exactly why I'm so proud of everyone involved: this format requires not only expertise, but also a lot of energy, passion and team spirit. It was impressive to see how committed everyone was - in the spirit of our university and as a real sign of the innovative power that is sparked by the hike. I have already taken part in three AI boot camps organised by the hike - number four is already booked. But the HIKEathon was in another league."

FROM IDEAS TO CONCRETE SOLUTIONS

The range of prototypes developed was impressive - each group brought its own perspective to the challenges of the university and created creative, realistic approaches:

• Group 1 developed "Credit Hero", a concept for the visible and recognisable appreciation of student commitment. The idea: in future, anyone who is involved in committees, acts as an ambassador at trade fairs or contributes to the visibility of the university on social media should receive microcredits for this - recognition that is both motivating and visible on their CV and in the context of their studies.
• Group 2 focussed on the question of how authentic content from the student body can be used sensibly - and proposed the creation of an HSN community: A digital, supervised exchange platform with topic-related groups about studying, campus life, career, leisure, family and more. The special feature: prospective students can also read along here, gain insights and feel part of the community at an early stage. This strengthens identification and reduces fear of contact - a valuable contribution to communication and marketing.
• Group 3 presented "Plug & Match", an interactive application that guides prospective students, students and alumni through all phases of their educational journey. At its centre is an AI-supported bot that queries individual interests and makes targeted study programme recommendations. The tool is supplemented by an interactive map "Explore Nordhausen", which provides orientation at the study location - from leisure activities and accommodation to counselling services. Other components such as "StudyConnect" (peer-to-peer community) and a commuter platform make the concept a holistic companion for student life. The aim is not only to create the "perfect degree programme", but also the right environment for a good arrival and a sense of belonging.

The high degree of connectivity between the three ideas was also impressive - all of the concepts can be linked together perfectly and have the potential to strengthen Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences in the long term as an integrative overall project.

The results developed in the HIKEathon are now being collected, systematically analysed and presented to the extended Executive Board of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. The aim is to carefully examine the potential of the ideas and further develop promising approaches.

We hope that one or two prototypes will find their way into realisation - as a visible sign of the innovative strength of our university and as a practical result of an unusual format.