STARS EU Working Days at Hochschule Bremen

  • Lukáš Wicha
  • 14.11.2024
From November 4 to 7, 2024, STARS EU Working Days took place at the STARS EU partner university Hochschule Bremen. Representatives of the Silesian University in Opava involved in various areas of this project attended this meeting, which aimed to discuss key topics related to the development and implementation of project initiatives and other possibilities for continuing cooperation within the alliance.

The Silesian University was represented at this meeting by the vice-rectors Prof. Ing. Daniel Stavárek, Ph.D. (Steering Committee and WP5) and doc. PhDr. Michaela Weiss, Ph.D. (WP3), by the dean doc. RNDr. Ing. Roman Šperka, Ph.D. (Steering Committee) and vice-deans Ing. Jana Šimáková, Ph.D. (WP3) and RNDr. Tomáš Gráf, Ph.D. (WP4). Individual work packages were represented by Ing. Tomáš Pražák, Ph.D. (WP2), Ing. Dalibor Šimek, Ph.D. (TIGs and WP3), Ing. Petr Korviny, Ph.D. (WP5), Ing. Petra Daníšková (WP6), Ing. Irena Szarowská, Ph.D., MPA (WP7), Mgr. Barbora Hamplová (WP8, STARS EU Communication), Mgr. Anna Novák Šefraná (WP1, STARS EU Office), and Bc. Kristina Novotná (Student Board).

The Silesian University is the leader of WP5, which deals with developing the STARS EU Alliance campus, especially with the gradual building of its digital part. In Bremen, representatives of all alliance partners thus discussed different model development scenarios and their possible advantages and disadvantages. Key elements of a digital campus were identified, such as the connection to the website via a portal, the login and authorization method, the platform for delivering teaching, a videoconferencing application, the module for collaboration across the alliance or a repository of data and publications within the Open Science initiative. A specific working package has been designated for each element of the digital campus and will be intensively working on possible solutions in the coming months.

WP2 focused on specific points of preparing the FutureLab and LivingLab activities and their organization. Essential aspects of student involvement in FutureLab activities and ways to motivate students across universities to participate were discussed, along with the form of a joint subject thematically focused on business and entrepreneurship development. Important questions regarding cooperation with stakeholders, including regional and business entities, were answered, as well as which forms of LivingLab are most developed in practice.

WP3 Curriculum Lab focused on establishing processes for realizing and implementing joint courses, microcertificates, and study programs.  The discussion also brought new ideas from representatives of Thematic Interest Groups (TIGs) and students. The key point was the connection of individual tasks within the working group and the definition of basic terms and processes that will simplify the implementation of joint partnership projects.

A critical aspect of the meeting was also the students' active involvement in the working package meetings, where they had the opportunity to follow the progress of discussions and the adoption of important decisions. The students' interest in individual project topics opens possibilities for greater involvement in the project.

The meeting in Bremen was crucial not only for deepening the cooperation between the individual representatives of the working packages but also for their mutual connection and clarification of the common goals of the development of STARS EU.