Successful start-up in the Ruhr area: The Student StartUp Camp in focus

Successful start-up in the Ruhr area: The Student StartUp Camp in focus

On July 14, 2025 there will be good news at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB). Entrepreneurship education. Dr. Andreas Bonse, managing director of the Center for Economic Education, launched the Student StartUp Camp almost ten years ago. This special coaching workshop format has now become firmly established and aims to make the area of ​​entrepreneurship practical and interdisciplinary.

The Student StartUp Camp offers participants the opportunity to develop their own business ideas and develop them into business plans. It takes place twice a year, during the semester breaks in February and September, and is open to students of all disciplines.

Interdisciplinarity and practical implementation

Since its founding, the camp's offerings have been in high demand. According to Dr. According to Bonse, three workshops in the Faculty of Economics alone could be filled at the same time. The workshop promotes creative exchange between students and teachers and is part of a three-stage teaching concept that includes a lecture, a seminar and the workshop.

The workshops not only focus on creative ideas, but also on teaching business basics, market analyses, marketing strategies and financial planning. An important component is also the pitch training, which helps the participants to present their idea convincingly. Dr. Bonse notes that today, students must follow a thematic framework for idea generation, which structures and focuses the process.

The role of WORLDFACTORY

An important partner for the implementation of these practical approaches is WORLDFACTORY. The team there not only accompanies the participants during the workshop, but also deals with the necessary skills for successful entrepreneurship. The connection between industry, universities and transfer activities in the Ruhr area plays a central role.

As part of entrepreneurship education at RUB, the local start-up ecosystem is actively supported. The aim is to give students the knowledge they need to operate successfully in dynamic and competitive markets. The focus is on interdisciplinary teaching approaches that prepare students for real-world challenges.

Improved framework conditions and future perspectives

Dr. Bonse is optimistic about the development of the framework conditions for entrepreneurship education, which have continuously improved since 2016. There are now numerous offers and stronger curricular connections. Nevertheless, he sees a need for improvement and would like more space for entrepreneurship education in examination regulations in order to further promote business start-ups.

The next round of the workshop will take place from September 8th to 19th, 2025. This represents an excellent opportunity for students to gain practical experience and prepare for a career in entrepreneurship. The challenges and opportunities that present themselves in today's economic landscape can therefore be effectively used to put innovative ideas into action.

In summary, entrepreneurship education at the Ruhr University Bochum is not only important for those who want to start a business, but also for all students who want to expand their business knowledge and soft skills. As has already been confirmed in various studies, entrepreneurship education plays a crucial role in sustainable development and in shaping the future labor market.

Given the lively discussion about corporate responsibility and sustainability in corporate management, RUB's commitment to entrepreneurship education is more than just an academic initiative. It is a step into the future that is of immense value to students of all disciplines.

The article provides further insights into relevant discussions and research results Nature, which addresses the connection between entrepreneurship and sustainability in practice-oriented teaching approaches at universities.