Excursions
Wednesday 26 March 2025 – Thursday 27 March 2025
This year's Spring Academy Sustainability is focussing on the various facets of equal access to education. This requires a precise and matter-of-fact analysis of the present, historical development and possible reforms of our education system. As well as a look at German and international education politics. In addition to the political and systemic distribution of resources and opportunities, a focus will lie on the removal of barriers and access to individual, supportive educational opportunities. This is why the Spring Sustainability Academy also emphasises the access to education - and how it can be made inclusive, integrative and independent of socio-economic background. Lastly, we will also take a look at how teaching and learning is influenced by digitalisation.
All excursions will focus on one or more of the four key areas: education system, education politics, access to education and teaching, learning and digitalisation. All participants will attend two excursions (one each on Wednesday and Thursday, á 2,5h) throughout the Spring Academy Sustainability.
This year’s excursions not only include places that can be visited and experienced, but also exchange formats in traditional seminar rooms. Due to the thematic focus, not everything can be experienced physically, but requires reflection and discussion. Please bear this in mind when selecting your excursions.
These are the available excursions for a less extensive version of the project week in English. You can still earn between 2-4 credits (LP) for participating. If you have sufficient German skills to actively take part in a seminar in German you may look at the German version of this website. In this case you will be able to choose between a wider variety of workshops and excursions (in English and German).
Excursion: Tuesday, 25 March 2025, 2:15 – 4:45 pm
 |
Title: | Empowering Student Innovators: Discover KIT’s Startup & Innovation Landscape |
| Contact Person: | Niels Feldmann | |
| Institution: | Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) | |
| Description: | Step into the world of innovation and entrepreneurship at KIT! This 2.5-hour campus excursion introduces you to key spaces and initiatives that empower students to turn ideas into action. Visit the CUBE, Karlsruhe’s Creative Hub Kronenplatz with its locations Triangel, Studio, and K26, to explore opportunities for collaboration, skill development, and startup support. Meet experts, engage with student organizations, and discover how KIT’s innovation ecosystem can help you kickstart your journey as a student entrepreneur, enabling you to solve pressing sustainability challenges and make a lasting impact. Whether you’re curious about new methods or ready to launch your own project, this is your chance to take the first step! | |
| Category: | Access to Education | |
| Excursion Days: |
|
 |
Title: | Educational Equity at KIT in Practice – Current Developments and Student Initiatives |
| Contact Person: | Franka Fockel | |
| Institution: | Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) | |
| Description: | The General Student Committee (AStA) advocates for all students at KIT, representing their interests across disciplines in dealings with politics, the university, and society. You’ve probably seen this statement on countless AStA flyers and booths—but let’s be honest, it sounds abstract and, frankly, a bit empty. So why not experience AStA’s work firsthand? Join discussions with dedicated student representatives in the areas of social affairs, international matters, equal opportunities, and socio-ecological transformation. Learn what’s currently happening at KIT in terms of educational equity and find out where students can make a difference. We want to create a space for open exchange—student to student—where we talk about challenges, share ideas, and explore solutions. And, just as importantly, discuss where things tend to get stuck in practice. | |
| Category: | Education System | |
| Excursion Days: |
|
Excursion: Wednesday, 26 March 2025, 2:15 – 4:45 pm
|
Title: | 2nd Chance – School Refusal, what’s next? |
| Contact Person: | Firdevs Kaplaner, Annemarie Imgraben, Andrea Hildebrand | |
| Institution: | AWO Karlsruhe | |
| Description: | Currently, around 8% of students leave school each year without a qualification. ‘I wanted to go to school, I got up and left the house,’ says one young person - and then adds quietly: ‘but then I went in a different direction’. The background experiences of many school refusers are characterised by relationship breakdowns, neglect, loneliness, violence, poverty and other violations of their psychological and physical integrity. As a result, they often lack the strength and energy to learn. Withdrawal and social isolation are often the consequences. The young people not only refuse to attend school, but also many other areas of life. The resulting lack of prospects leads to a spiral of powerlessness, especially for parents and guardians. The ‘2nd Chance’ programme aims to integrate young people with symptoms of active/passive school refusal into mainstream schools or external forms of schooling in order to increase their chances of successfully completing school. We will take you into the world of school absenteeism in Germany, look at the triggers and consequences as well as possible solutions using case studies and want to interact with you about possible obstacles in the relevant systems. Come with questions and interest, we look forward to meeting you! | |
| Category: | Access to Education | |
| Excursion Days: |
|