Bridging studies: personal projects create added value
What happens when young people are given freedom – and make serious use of it? The second closing conference of the bridging studies programme at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) provided impressive answers to this question: Under this year's motto "Wertschätzen, was mehrWert schafft" ("Appreciate what creates added value!"), eleven students presented the personally motivated and socially relevant projects they had worked on during the semester.
The range of topics presented was wide – no two projects were alike. Whether social participation, cultural education or digital solutions – the projects reflected what the participants care about and what drives them. During an open tour of 360° BASE (the centre for start-ups and succession at Sparkasse Mainfranken Würzburg), guests, students, and teachers engaged in direct conversation with one another. Project stations invited visitors to exchange ideas, supplemented by selected presentations of the projects.
One example is the project by Chiara Gebeler and Moritz Rottmann, both graduates of the THWS bachelor's degree programme in Healthcare Management: with their Instagram account @altindeutschland, they are committed to raising public awareness of the issue of ageing and care in Germany – in an informative, educational manner and with a clear social agenda.
Tailwind for bold ideas
"The bridging studies are not an off-the-shelf format. The programme thrives on the people who shape it – and on the fact that they do so in different ways," emphasises Monika Waschik, research associate in the bridging studies and responsible for the course within which the final conference was organised. "The fact that so many completely new, bold ideas emerged again in the second round confirms that this study model not only provides space, but also momentum." Waschik's conclusion at the end of the bridging studies: "The event made it clear that the bridging studies are more than just a place for ideas – the programme is a space where projects grow, networks are formed, and students experience themselves as creators. For many, the closing conference was not the end of a process, but the beginning of a longer journey."
Further information on the bridging programme is available on the THWS website – enrolment for the winter semester 2025/26 is open until 15 August.
About THWS
The Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Bavaria and has driven teaching and applied research since it was founded in 1971. With about 9,000 students and a wide range of more than 60 degree programmes, we cover a broad spectrum ranging from technology to economics and social sciences, language and design. THWS is not only rooted in the region, but also has a strong international focus, which is reflected in numerous collaborations and exchange programmes worldwide and not least in a versatile English-taught degree programmes.
Contact:
Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Head of Campus for Applied Research
Dr. Christian Lengl
Münzstr. 12
97070 Würzburg
Press contact:
Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Angela Kreipl
Münzstr. 12
97070 Würzburg
+49 931 3511- 8354
