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Interdisciplinary first-semester project successfully completed – Practical introduction to university studies
The interdisciplinary first semester project (ESP) for economics and management degree programs took place again last winter semester.
As a central component of the start of studies, the project supports students at Clausthal University of Technology in combining theory and practice and experiencing interdisciplinary collaboration early on in their studies.
The aim of the first-semester project is to give students a realistic insight into project-oriented work. In a total of nine modules, participants explore different technical perspectives – from the development of sustainable business models to market research, project management, and economic contexts to the technical implementation and manufacture of their own product. Students from different degree programs work together in teams and learn to structure tasks, take on responsibility, and develop solutions together.
There is a particular focus on combining economic and technical content. Students develop their own product concept, analyze it from a market and sustainability perspective, and implement it as a prototype in the manufacturing module. This is supplemented by content on team organization, communication, and scientific work, which strengthens technical, methodological, and social skills in equal measure.
The event concluded with a poster session in the Aula Academica, where the project groups presented their results and discussed them with teachers and fellow students. For the first time, a prize was awarded for the best poster, providing additional recognition for the students' outstanding achievements.
The event was moderated by Svenja Schachten, who was also responsible for organization and project management. She emphasized the importance of the format for the start of studies:
“The first-semester project enables students to work in an interdisciplinary manner right from the start of their studies, to take on responsibility, and to implement their own ideas in a real project. It is precisely these experiences that have a lasting impact on the rest of their studies.”
We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the students for their commitment and to the professors and staff involved for designing the content of the modules. We would also like to thank Sara Shafiei Sarvestani and Ahmad Alaa Sharif Talib, who both helped organize the project, Ms. Schütte and the Aula Academica team, the press department with Sarah Wruck and Sofia Dell'Aquila, and the film team Marvin Zägel, Kilian Saebel, and Tobias Schmiedel for supporting the project. The videos created for the individual modules will be published shortly on the institute's website and will provide further insights into the first semester project.
With the successful completion of the program, we can look back on an intensive winter semester and look forward to welcoming numerous students to the first semester project again next year.
