“What do you want to achieve in the world?” is Witten/Herdecke University’s ideas competition for young people in their final years of secondary school, those undertaking a Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) or Federal Voluntary Service (BFD), or those about to start university. A jury assesses the entries, followed by a two-day camp on the Witten campus, where the teams work on bringing their ideas to life.
Do you know any interested students who would like to participate in the competition? If so, please feel free to share this information and spread the word about the UW/H camp.
About the competition
Teams of two to five people develop their own project idea addressing an issue that really matters to them, whether local or global, social or business-related. The spectrum ranges from neighbourhood initiatives and NGOs to start-up ideas involving a product that makes a positive difference. Anyone wishing to enter as an individual may do so and will be supported in finding a team.
Entry requirements
Submissions may be made in any format of the entrant’s choice:
- written proposal
- presentation
- website
- animation
- video
- Podcast
It is crucial that the team describes the problem it is tackling and how its approach can be effective. The use of AI tools is expressly permitted and encouraged, but must be made transparent: teams must specify where and how AI has been used.
A jury comprising alumni, professors and students from UW/H will assess all submitted ideas. Rather than awarding first, second and third places, awards will be given at the gold, silver and bronze levels, with as many awards as the content warrants. For each award level, there is prize money per team member (the exact amount will be announced in due course). In addition, the jury will award a research prize for the project idea with the strongest scientific rationale.
Award-winning teams will then be invited to this two-day camp on the campus of Witten/Herdecke University.
The UW/H Camp
The camp begins on Thursday with a joint kick-off session, during which the teams and their projects briefly introduce themselves to one another. Each team is assigned a dedicated mentor for the entire duration, with whom they will agree on the roadmap for the next one and a half days. The teams then work independently on implementing their idea and can seek support from the UW/H community as required, for example on legal issues, technology, funding or design. In the evening, there is an informal get-together with the other teams, the mentors and students.
On Friday, work continues in the morning before the teams begin preparing for their pitch from midday onwards. In the afternoon, all teams present the progress of their implementation and their future plans at a formal event attended by the press and guests from the university and the wider community. One person per team, chosen by the team itself, will give the pitch. Following the presentations, the awards will be presented, along with a special prize for the best implementation. This will be followed by a networking session with all guests for discussions and questions about university life.
Further information
Even teams that have not received an award can take part in the camp and submit an application for the special prize for the best implementation work. Participation in the camp is free for award-winning teams; all other teams pay a fee including meals (39 euros); if you face financial difficulties, simply send an informal email to find a solution.
Immediately following the camp, the UW/H Open Day takes place on Saturday, where those interested can simply stay on for an extra day to get to know the university and its range of degree programmes. The project idea developed remains entirely the property of the respective team in all cases, even beyond the camp.
Registration by email is required.