The Department of Business and Entrepreneurship Education at WSF offers interdisciplinary seminars through the Center for Entrepreneurship (ZfE) that are aimed at students from all disciplines.
The goal is to raise awareness of the topics of entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship and to specifically promote and develop entrepreneurial skills and abilities.
Science and business are closely interlinked in this process. In addition to teaching key fundamentals—such as entrepreneurial behavior and environment, the economic significance of entrepreneurship, and the relationship between entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship—students actively engage with important requirements and competencies.
In addition, business plan development tools are introduced and applied in a practical manner.
Furthermore, students are encouraged and guided to develop their own ideas and generate projects. They analyze the possibilities for implementing these ideas and have the opportunity to test their entrepreneurial skills in realistic contexts.
The program thus offers a practice-oriented approach to various forms of entrepreneurial activity, regardless of the student's future career path.
Module I of the start-up course “Success factors for self-employment”
Sub-module I of the foundation course “Success factors for self-employment” serves to raise students' general awareness of the entrepreneurial perspective. Entrepreneurial skills are acquired that enable the innovative utilization of knowledge.
Content perspective:
Students learn
- to adopt the perspectives for professional independence and to develop their personal entrepreneurial skills,
- to research the significance of entrepreneurship for society as a whole and the regional economy,
- know how to identify sector-specific characteristics and their impact on the prospects of success of start-up projects,
- analyze start-up processes and
- know and apply entrepreneurial skills.
Competence perspective:
Students can
- define their personal performance profile and understand the targeted expansion of their skills profile as a fundamental element of their personal development,
- assess the importance of start-ups and SMEs in the economic and social structure,
- apply the process steps of setting up a business and
- analyze industry structures and draw conclusions for their own actions.
Credit points: 6
Recognition: The possibilities for recognition can be found in the respective study regulations or can be obtained from the relevant examination offices.
Information on time and place will be announced on StudIP.
Sub-module II of the foundation theory “Idea generation and development”
In sub-module II of the foundation course “Idea generation and development”, students learn the theoretical and practical basics of professional independence, work on a problem from the business world and develop solutions using the design thinking method.
Content perspective:
Students learn
- get to know creativity techniques,
- how to screen business ideas,
- use the SWOT analysis as a tool,
- know team and leadership skills (including cooperation and conflicts) and how to apply them,
- know the business model analysis, in particular the value chain,
- carry out re-engineering and process optimization,
- market research instruments and
- know about industrial property rights (utility models, patents).
Competence perspective:
Students will be able to
- identify and use creativity techniques,
- apply procedures/criteria for screening business ideas,
- use the SWOT analysis,
- apply the instruments of process optimization, taking into account the prerequisites for product and process innovation,
- assess the importance of protecting business ideas.
Credit points: 6
Recognition: The possibilities for recognition can be found in the respective study regulations or can be obtained from the relevant examination offices.
Information on time and place will be announced on StudIP.
Special module: “Factors for success in entrepreneurial activities”
The English-language seminar “Factors for Successful Entrepreneurial Activities” is aimed at interdisciplinary and international students and teaches the practical basics of entrepreneurial thinking and action. The focus is on developing your own business ideas, working on real entrepreneurial issues, and collaborating in intercultural teams.
Content perspective:
Students learn about key success factors and ways of thinking in entrepreneurship and explore methods of idea generation and creativity development. They conduct market and SWOT analyses, develop business models—using tools such as the Business Model Canvas—and learn the basics of business plan creation. They also practice presenting innovative ideas in a convincing manner, for example through pitch decks, storytelling, or elevator pitches.
Competence perspective:
Students strengthen their innovation and problem-solving skills and apply entrepreneurial methods to their own projects. In addition, they further develop their teamwork, communication, and presentation skills and gain valuable experience in interdisciplinary and international work contexts.
Recognition and organization:
Information on recognition options can be found in the respective study regulations or obtained from the relevant examination offices. Information on location and time will be announced via Stud.IP.
Important: The seminar is a special module and is not offered every semester, but only takes place irregularly.
Micro-learning modules
In addition to its courses, the Center for Entrepreneurship (ZfE) offers occasional micro-learning modules developed and conducted by ZfE colleagues. These short learning units are aimed at students from all disciplines and provide a compact insight into selected topics related to entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable problem solving.
The modules convey practical knowledge in a concentrated form and promote the development of key entrepreneurial skills. By focusing on a specific topic, students can quickly expand their skills and apply them directly to their own projects, ideas, or student research projects. The formats range from thematic impulses and short methodological training sessions to practical exercises in small groups.
Since the micro-learning modules are only offered irregularly, it is advisable to contact the ZfE early on if you are interested or to regularly check the current information provided by the ZfE.
Dr. Martin Setzkorn
+49 (0) 381 498 1198
martin.setzkorn@uni-rostock.de
Tino Arnhold
+49 (0) 381 498 1235
tino.arnhold@uni-rostock.de
Dr. Wieland Müller
+49 (0) 381 498 1164
wieland.muelleruni-rostockde