THWS master's programme Managing Global Dynamics integrates state-of-the-art AI
The English-taught master's programme Managing Global Dynamics at the Business School of the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) has expanded its practice-oriented profile with a new teaching format: Students use the AI-supported start-up platform Icanpreneur to develop sustainable digital business models that are aligned with their personal ikigai – their reason for being.
"Our goal in the master's programme Managing Global Dynamics is to enable students to shape international companies sustainably in the digital age – or to found their own," emphasises Programme Director Professor Dr. Harald Bolsinger. "With Icanpreneur, we are integrating a digital 24/7 learning lab in which global dynamics are shaped responsibly and at a high level through students' own business models," adds THWS lecturer Bernd Hanheiser, who initiated the cooperation with the Bulgarian start-up platform for his course Sustainable Digital Business Models.
From the first idea to a marketing strategy
As part of a project-based module, international students work with Icanpreneur, an AI-powered startup platform that acts as a strategic partner, guiding them from the initial idea through validated market feedback to a clear go-to market strategy. In this way, students put the entrepreneurial journey previously taught in class into practice: They define challenges, develop value propositions, test assumptions in the market, and, at the same time, reflect on how their ideas contribute to global sustainability and societal value creation.
Master's student Julia Löhe sums up her experience as follows: "Overall, the Icanpreneur platform is very helpful and, especially thanks to the AI support, provides major relief throughout the entire process. The idea of using AI to generate personas, research, and even complete landing pages is fundamentally very powerful and, in particular, a great advantage for users without any programming skills."
A platform matching the degree programme
Icanpreneur supports this process with AI-based workflows for problem discovery and validation, interview design and insight analysis, validation tools, and structured assessments for product–market fit and investor readiness. The platform thus perfectly matches the focus of the degree programme, which combines business expertise with intercultural and strategic competencies and enables students to further develop organisations in a constantly changing, globalised environment. Professor Dr. Bolsinger is already looking beyond the current teaching format: "The initial results are very promising: Many students, using the tool and the didactic concept we specifically developed over two years for this master's programme, are demonstrating an unprecedented level of clarity, responsibility, and entrepreneurial maturity in their work." As a result, the use of AI will now be systematically anchored in the master's programme Managing Global Dynamics to ensure that international start-up ideas are developed to be competitive from the outset.
Developing individual start-up ideas
For many students, the project is not just an examination requirement but a starting point. Some are planning to continue working on their digital business models afterwards and to shape their transition from studies to their own purpose-driven entrepreneurial careers. "The master's programme offers excellent conditions for refining and implementing these business models," explains lecturer and entrepreneur Bernd Hanheiser, "because the topics can be further developed directly within a research seminar and the master's thesis."
About the master's programme
The English-taught, three-semester master's degree programme Managing Global Dynamics (Master of Arts, M.A.) at THWS combines in-depth, application-oriented business knowledge with intercultural and strategic competence. A mandatory semester abroad at one of THWS' partner universities promotes the students' abilities to navigate a global and dynamic environment responsibly and sustainably, and to grow a global network.
To the degree programme and the admission requirements
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 more than 9,100 students, a wide range of more than 60 degree programmes, and two doctoral centers, THWS covers 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
THWS Business School
Professor Dr. Harald Bolsinger
Münzstraße 12
97070 Würzburg
Press contact:
Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Angela Kreipl
Münzstraße 12
97070 Würzburg
+49 931 3511-8354