25. January 2018

Students on the Master's degree course in Innovation and Change Management at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences successfully demonstrated their communication and moderation skills at a large group event organised by the Regional Advisory Board for Labour Market Policy.

Cooperation agreements need to be filled with life - this is how Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences supported yesterday's workshop of the Regional Advisory Board for Labour Market Policy in the Nordhausen region, which was organised by the Gesellschaft für Arbeits- und Wirtschaftsförderung des Freistaats Thüringen (GfAW). While the morning was filled with exciting presentations on the topic of "Generation Z", the afternoon was dedicated to motivating the approximately 60 participants to actively exchange ideas. In three different themed workshops, the aim was to discuss, reflect and interact on the opportunities and risks that Generation Z brings with it. The event was organised and moderated by students from the Masters Innovation and Change Managementwho are taking the "Change Communication" module this semester at Dr Kareen Schlangen complete. The module focuses on training social skills.

"A win-win situation emerged: the GFAW workshop needed broad moderation support and the students needed an opportunity to train and ultimately demonstrate their communication and moderation skills," explained Dr Kareen Schlangen. The moderation of the three themed workshops therefore represented an ideal examination situation for the students - this time not in the protective rooms of the university, but under real conditions in practice on site. The teaching and learning effect is much greater in this way, emphasised the lecturer and her examinees.

Such examination situations are an exception, as such circumstances cannot be planned on a regular basis. However, when the opportunity arises, teachers and students at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences prove to be spontaneous and flexible. It also shows once again that cooperation between regional institutions and Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences can be organised in many different ways - to the benefit of both sides.