Hello lovelies,

We are the student-led initiative lab at Witten/Herdecke University. We are Chiara (Psychology), Laurent (WPR) and Pauline (Psychology). Our aim is to strengthen, consolidate and make visible student commitment to a fairer and more sustainable world in the long term at Witten/Herdecke University and in the city of Witten. The Initiativlabor supports, advises and networks student initiatives and at the same time embodies the student sustainability office of Witten/Herdecke University. We are located at the WittenLab.Zukunftslabor Studium fundamentale of the UW/H.

At our university, we are home to almost 50 initiatives that are involved in very different areas of everyday (university) life and thus help to shape our society in their own way.

Have you become curious and would you like to get involved to help shape the university and life in Witten according to your own ideas? Then take a look around to see what opportunities already exist, ask us or get in touch with an initiative directly!

Can't find what you're looking for and already have an idea of what our university needs? Then why not set up an initiative yourself or with your friends? Get in touch with us via the contact form or contact us personally.

We look forward to you and your commitment!

The initiatives at UW/H are as diverse as our students - everything can, nothing has to! However, there are some basic characteristics that apply to most initiatives.

• An initiative consists of a group of (predominantly) students who work on a specific topic on a voluntary basis.
• Initiatives should be open to anyone who is interested and should therefore be able to accept members from across faculties.
• As a rule, initiatives are long-term projects that continue through changing generations of members.
• An initiative should have a certain connection to the UW/H - this is usually given by the fact that students of the university are involved in it. Note: University groups of existing NGOs such as Amnesty or Greenpeace can also register as an initiative - as long as students are involved.
• Initiatives differ from university political groups such as student councils, student councils and working groups in that they have their own institutional place in the university political landscape and are often tied to a specific faculty.

Do you already have an idea of what the university and Witten are missing? Then why not set up your own initiative yourself or with a friend? Or is there a change within your existing initiative? Simply get in touch using the contact form at the bottom of this page.

If you're already curious, take a look at the Starting Kit for Initiatives, in which the Initiative Lab has compiled useful information on founding initiatives.

It answers the following questions:

• What is an initiative?
• How can I set up a new initiative?
• Where can I find support with questions and the right contacts at the university, e.g. for fundraising, data protection, room bookings?
• What services does the Initiativlabor offer for initiatives?
• Which tools, e.g. for project management or media design, make the initiative's work easier?
• Where can an initiative and its events be advertised?

Market of Opportunities (MDM): At the start of each semester, the Initiativlabor organizes the MDM. This is where all initiatives can introduce themselves and find new members. The Initiative Lab contacts all initiatives in good time before the MDM so that they can register.

Funding: The University Foundation provides the UW/H initiatives with an annual initiative fund, which is used to finance materials, lecturers' fees or room rents. The Initiativlabor manages this fund and can be contacted if required.

VernetzBar: In addition to the public MDM, the Initiativlabor organizes a cozy initiative meeting with snacks and drinks every semester so that the various initiatives can network with each other, give tips and ask questions. The Initiative Lab also uses this opportunity to find out what the current status of the individual initiatives is.

Initiatives room: The Initiativlabor provides a room at Stockumerstraße 10-12 (D.046 - in the attic) for initiatives to work in. The Initiativlabor must be contacted to use the room.

E-mail address for initiatives: Initiatives can apply for their own e-mail address. The Initiativlabor provides information on what needs to be considered and helps to set up a x@uni-wh.de address.

WhatsApp group for initiatives: For easy communication with each other (e.g. requests for appointments or information from the Initiativlabor), the Initiativlabor offers a WhatsApp group in which contact persons from many initiatives are represented. Anyone wishing to join must contact the Initiativlabor.

General help: The Initiativlabor is happy to help with questions about funding, networking with experts and other problems and issues.

Email: initiativlabor@spam protectuni-wh.de

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/initiativlabor/

UW/H website: https://www.uni-wh.de/unser-vibe/studileben/studentische-initiativen

Initiative room: Bahnhofstraße 63 (1st floor - above the Unikat), 58452 Witten

You can have your involvement in an initiative recognized in the Studium fundamentale. The following PDF summarizes what you need to do to obtain this credit:

This form can be used to report either the founding of a new initiative or changes to an existing one. This enables the Initiative Lab to better plan the Market of Opportunities or the UW/H initiative meeting, for example.