BOKU Spring School on Sustainable Entrepreneurship
The Spring School at BOKU Vienna, which took place from 2 to 6 April 2024, offered participants from EPICUR universities the opportunity to work on real-world problems affecting local climate-friendly partner companies such as "Viva con Agua", "Protect our Winters" and "Beetles for Tech".

These partners gave the students challenges to work on during the week and to develop a concrete proposal for a solution. During the week, the students were supported by experts from three different universities who provided valuable knowledge and coaching, as well as a pitching coach. 

The programme included an intensive five-day event where participants were introduced to design thinking methods and went through the entire entrepreneurial process from brainstorming to prototyping and pitching. This hands-on approach helped participants develop their entrepreneurial skills while integrating sustainability concepts into their ideation.

Students were able to improve their soft skills by working in international teams. This not only improved their teamwork skills, but also their intercultural communication. The highlight of the Spring School was the pitching of the developed ideas to the Challenge partners, who acted as a jury. This experience provided a platform for participants to present their innovative solutions and receive valuable feedback. 

Now that the teams have presented their project, the students have the opportunity to stay in touch with the partners to actually implement their ideas. 

Overall, the Spring School at BOKU Vienna provided students with a profound learning experience that enhanced their competences in entrepreneurship and sustainability and prepared them for future challenges.

Photos: © Lena Peterstorfer