iLab: Also a Success in the Summer Semester

Following three successful iLab generations in the past winter semesters, this excellent and innovative elective module, which was honoured with the Ars Docendi award, was offered in the summer semester 2021 as well for the first time.

Despite the difficult framework conditions due to the pandemic, we were able to welcome eight incoming students from Poland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, and Romania to the St. Pölten UAS. Together with our internal students, they were given the unique opportunity to discover a teaching and learning format which is still unparalleled in the German-speaking world.

Growing with the iLab

For the fourth time in a row, the iLab has successfully fulfilled its diversity objectives – not only when it comes to different cultures and languages but also in terms of interdisciplinarity. Students of various disciplines could contribute their know-how to their groups and their common projects.

"Next to the implementation of this project, there is one important focus: the personal goals and the development of every individual participant", says Katharina Auer-Voigtländer, who is one of the Lab Masters. "We see working on the projects and in teams as the way and the means to promote personal further development."

iLab Trailer – become part of the iLab family!

Reflection is an important component of the iLab concept. Our student Clement tells us that, above all, he learned a lot about himself during his time with the iLab. "Self-reflection and reflection on others are very important to grow as a person and this is maybe one of the most important things that I learned in the iLab. It’s not only a group project, it’s also an amazing human experience", he says.

Projects for Sustainability

By adopting an interdisciplinary approach while working on the challenges of today’s society, the students gained a broadened perspective on the discipline that builds the foundation of their degree programme and honed their competencies both within their field of studies and across disciplines.

So-called "decision gates" ensure that only the most promising ideas make it to the next project stage when the project teams continue working in depth on the "finalist projects" in the second half of the semester.

Project presentation dedicated to sustainability | Copyright: iLab SS21

The three projects that made it until the end were brought to stage for the final iLab presentations in front of fellow students, coaches and invited guest at the end of June. All projects had one thing in common: they sought to make our lives more sustainable.

Be it by developing a prototype that helps us reduce our ecological footprint in our own bathrooms, setting up an online platform to reduce food waste, or launching a creative campaign on raising awareness on plastic toys in our children’s rooms.

"We are impressed by the innovative force and the high relevance of the presented projects", says Kerstin Blumenstein, Lab Master and Academic Director of the bachelor degree programme Media Technology. "For us coaches, it is always a pleasure to see how the students gather in interdisciplinary teams to work on innovative solutions to current social challenges and find ways to put their ideas into practice."