Courses

Get to know our programs

In our courses you can work in international and interdisciplinary teams, mixing engineering, design, business, computer science and more, addressing challenges from various industries, NGOs and the public sector.

What students say

"The CBI programme has been a game-changer for me as a tech student, allowing me to break free from traditional ways of thinking,  leave my comfort zone, develop a more open-minded and innovative mindset and collaborate with a wide range of professionals, which has helped me to develop my creativity and problem-solving skills beyond what I thought was possible."

- Maren Isabella Leidner, Masters in Computer Science - CBI 2022/2023

"As part of the CBI project, you learn interdisciplinary skills that no normal course of study can offer. Especially the deep insight into future-oriented technologies of ATTRACT and CERN gives the students a profound understanding of technology. Learning about such technologies in their infancy is very exciting. The special thing about CBI is that it relates the whole project to actual important problems of mankind and thus shows the students at a young age what needs to be done for a better future."

- Paul Mohaupt, Masters in Chemical and Process Engineering - CBI 2022/2023

"The ME310 program really taught me a lot about myself, team work and project management. I learned how to use my skills in an international setting, understand different cultures and reach a goal together with a corporate partner. I would recommend this course to every student, who wants to enter working life with a boost!"

- Lia Habben, Masters in Communication Design - DTP 2021/2022

"Start with a brainstorm, continue with an idea, explore technologies, change the properties, rewrite everything, hard work until the end and then you realize, that the real fun just started."

- Matthias Bachstädter, Masters in Chemical and Process Engineering - CBI 2021/2022

"The first real interdisciplinary project in the degree program. A completely different challenge, not to be given a discrete task and already have the path to a solution in mind, but to first find out what the users really need. This requires a lot of social interaction and communication before the practical part and solution-oriented development can begin. It is precisely this social exchange that ultimately led to a lot of fun and to the fact that fellow students have become friends in the meantime."

- David Keller, Masters in Biomedical Engineering - DTP 2020/2021

"You learn how what you learn can fit to the things you need. You need to make the connections. (…) The main learning was how far you can get from a simple sketch … it’s really impressive what you can achieve in such a few months."

- Mariya Bolotnikova, Bachelors in Communication Design – CBI A3 2019/2020

"It’s a different workflow and people bring different perspectives. It showed how this collaborative work can lead to great results. You have to put a lot of your own thoughts, you are open to try new things, which is great. (…) You learn what you are really capable of."

- Sarah Lottner, Masters in Medical Engineering – CBI A3 2019/2020

"I discovered new ways of doing innovation, it was the first time you’re not just learning from slides but you actually are doing the process. (…) I enjoyed the freedom to decide what we are going to do and how we are going to that and it’s completely different. I would say it’s an actual learning approach. (…) If you’re getting the right question at the right time, you’re exercising what you learn, it’s action-based learning."

- Markus Knödler, Masters in Business Engineering – DTP 2018/2019

"It was a big responsibility, a lot of work and a demanding challenge but a great chance to grow above myself! The freedom of following our own ideas paired with the international and interdisciplinary setup was inspiring. The project always felt full of purpose and meaning. The lectures I attended, the friends I made and the skills I acquired certainly made this a chance of a lifetime."

- Christoph Bruthscher, Master in Computer Science - DTP 2016/2017

"In the DTP Project I learned to have an open mind to all ideas. Most important I experienced the need to try these ideas out and not give up on them too early. Considering this we accelerated ideation and came up with unexpected new ideas. I brought this mindset to my life: don’t judge ideas as bad or good too early, build on them and test them to create the best experience."

- Emylie Pereira, Master in Computer Science - DTP 2015/2016

"A lot of the things I learned will pay off in my future. It was a very exhausting time but also it was the masters course program that I learned the most in. A really deep and intense learning experience!"

- Max Becker, Master in Computer Science - DTP 2016/2017

Design thinking project (DTP) - ME310

In DTP-ME310 masters students work on questions from business and society using design thinking methods. The students work in international teams with 6-9 members and are accompanied by experienced coaches. The teams consist of students from different fields of discipline of the HS Mannheim and members from another international university. Through close collaboration with the corporate partner and the high practical relevance of the challenges, the teams learn how to develop innovative products and service concepts in a team. In this way, they are prepared for the innovation tasks of tomorrow.

At the end of the course, the final concept is in the form of an executable prototype. The project is based on the ME310 course taught at Stanford University. The university collaborations take place within the SUGAR Network.

PROCEDURE

Our courses start a week before lectures begin, so we would ask you to contact us early if you are interested, preferably in the semester before! To apply send a short motivation letter and your CV to the inno.space e-mail.

The project requires strong commitment and promises an intensive learning experience. Especially in the last quarter you spend a lot of time with the project.

KEY FACTS

  • Open for masters students from all faculties of the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences
  • Duration: 2 semesters (end of September - beginning of June)
  • ECTS: 20 ECTS (the recognition of credits is handled by the respective faculty). The workload is approx. 2 days a week.
  • For more information, see the DTP presentation

Design Thinking Project (DTP) - Challenge Based Innovation (CBI) A3

The DTP-CBI A3 program combines CERN technologies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). For the duration of 7 months, students design applications relevant to future scenarios for 2030-2050.

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, develops numerous complex technologies on their conquest to discover the answers to some of humankind's fundamental questions. Often, however, the usage of these technologies remains confined solely within the realm of CERN research. CBI aims to combine real life problems with deep tech and give them a societal application, thus closing the gap between super-science and society. CBI runs in collaboration with the Design Factory Melbourne, New York City Design Factory and IdeaSquare CERN.

PROCEDURE

Our courses start a week before lectures begin, so we would ask you to contact us early if you are interested, preferably in the semester before! To apply send your CV to the inno.space e-mail.

In this course, students work within a multidisciplinary local team while having an international "buddy team". During the course, teams will get to explore the problems from their local context, deep tech and spend 2 weeks at CERN in Switzerland to get more insights from researchers and meet all the other global teams. The project is finalized in the end of April with a proof of concept prototype and a presentation.

There are fixed times when you meet in a team with the supervising professors and coaches. In addition, you will arrange common times for the project work in the team according to your individual availability. Since the course ends in April in the second semester, classes also take place during the semester break, but in exchange you will be finished well before the end of the semester. The project requires a strong commitment for two semesters and promises an intensive, challenging learning experience.

KEY FACTS

  • Open for master students of the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences
  • Duration: 7 months (end of September - end of April)
  • ECTS: 20 ECTS (the recognition of credits is handled by the respective faculty). The workload is approx. 2 days a week.
  • For more information, see the CBI presentation

Product Development Project (PDP)

In PDP, bachelor students 6th semester plus and master students work on resolving broad business and societal challenges using design thinking methods. Accompanied and guided by experienced coaches they learn to develop innovative products and service concepts. Close collaboration with a corporate partner ensures high practical relevance of the solutions. This way, they are prepared for tackling the innovations of tomorrow.

At the end of the course, the final concept is in the form of an executable prototype.

PROCEDURE

To apply, send an email to inno.space.

There are weekly appointments with the course coaches to guide you through the project. In addition, you need to arrange meetings with your team. The average workload per week is 1,5 to 2 days.

The project requires sufficient commitment and promises an exciting and intensive learning experience within a vibrant community.

KEY FACTS

  • Open for bachelor students 6th semester plus and master students from all faculties of the Mannheim University of Applied Sciences
  • Duration: 4 months (mid March - beginning of July & October - January)
  • Credits: 10 ECTS (The recognition of credits is handled by the respective faculty.) The workload is 1,5 to 2 days a week.

Global Digital Innovation Project (GDIP)

GDIP allows students to address real-world challenges in the area of digital innovation using Design Thinking methods. They develop solutions in the form of physical and digital prototypes that show the desirability, viability and feasibility of their concept. The overall goal is to acquire the skills necessary to deal with an ever-changing and complex work environment with an international, interdisciplinary setup. The challenges are provided by a company, an NGO or a public-sector organization and arise from the current pressure in the area of digital transformation.

The course is organized as an action-based project with international teams: three to four students from Mannheim and three to four students of a partner university from the Design Factory Global Network (DFGN).

PROCEDURE

Our courses start a week before lectures begin, so we would ask you to contact us early if you are interested, preferably in the semester before! To apply send a short motivation letter and your CV to the inno.space e-mail.

The international team of 6 to 8 works on one company challenge with a teaching team guiding them throughout process. In several sprints the students work on assignments leading them through the problem solving process and different facets of innovation. Several methods like user research, problem reframing, prototyping, user testing, etc. are introduced. At the end of the semester the student team presents one solution to the problem as proof-of-concept demonstrator.

The course is suitable for students with a strong interest in working in an international setting. Moderate English skills are required to handle the communication with the international partner. The students get the chance to learn state-of-the-art methods in Design Thinking and problem solving and they gain international experience.

KEY FACTS

  • Open for bachelor students from all faculties: 6th or 7thsemester
  • Duration: 4 months (September - December)
  • Credits: 5 ECTS (The recognition of credits is handled by the respective faculty.). The workload is approx. 1 day a week.
  • For more information, see the GDIP presentation

Prototype It Yourself (PIY)

You have a good idea and want to find out if it can be implemented in the real world? Or you don’t have an idea, but would still like to participate in a hands-on project? Then you’ve come to the right place. In Prototype It Yourself you will learn how to create prototypes in various forms and, above all, what you can do with prototypes. In interdisciplinary teams of students from various universities in Baden-Württemberg, you will learn how to operate digital manufacturing (e.g. 3D Printers, Vinyl Cutter, Laser Cutter) equipment and how to flesh out and perfect ideas.

This course is organized in a blended setup, which includes: lectures online, lab and developing prototypes at inno.space. At the end of the course, you will present the final concept in the form of an executable prototype..

PROCEDURE

The interdisciplinary team of 3 to 6 works on one idea with a teaching team guiding them throughout process. In several sprints the students work on assignments leading them through the problem solving process and different facets of innovation. Several methods like user research, prototyping, user testing, etc. are introduced.

The course is suitable for students with a strong interest in working in an interdisciplinary setting. The students get the chance to learn state-of-the-art methods in Design Thinking and problem solving and they gain prototyping experience.

KEY FACTS

  • Open for bachelor and master students from the faculties Biotechnology, Design, Computer Science, Information Technology, Industrial Engineering: from the 3rdsemester on
  • Duration: 4-5 months (September - January)
  • Credits: 5 ECTS (The recognition of credits is handled by the respective faculty.). The workload is approx. 1 day a week.

What's in it for you?

New way of thinking

Hands-on approach

Improved and newly acquired skills

Interdisciplinarity and networking

International collaboration

Expanded horizon of opportunities

Interested in taking part? Applications are open! Contact us via e-mail: