IU Spirit Award: Innovation Prize for dual students awarded for the first time by IU International University of Applied Sciences

Jonathan Siepmann

With its LIFT simulator, Jonathan is setting new standards in the training and further education of lift maintenance specialists. The innovative lift model, which is based on the company's own headquarters, offers unique and practical training opportunities - both internally and for external companies. Career changers in particular benefit from this training opportunity. As there is no specific vocational training for this job, the LIFT simulator offers a unique opportunity to gain practical knowledge for day-to-day work and facilitate familiarisation. The project enables new employees to be trained in realistic situations on a model for handling lift systems. This allows them to get to know both the technical and organisational activities, which improves teamwork. Thanks to the use of the LIFT simulator in the home office, the project also contributes to sustainability and thus reduces carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, the LIFT simulator can be used at trade fairs or university events to attract potential new employees. Another important point is the use of the model for cyber security tests to protect lift systems in sensitive facilities such as hospitals from cyber-attacks. An innovative approach that skillfully implements current guidelines and standards and is forward-looking.

"We chose to honour Jonathan Siepmann's LIFT simulator because its unique combination of innovation and practical application is truly impressive and unprecedented in this field. It not only fulfils the clear need for training for specialist personnel, but also demonstrates future possibilities in mechanical engineering," says Prof. Dr. Peter Neumann, Chairman of the jury and Professor of Tourism Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences.

"I'm allowed to do that!" - A workshop: Everything children should know about their rights

IU Spirit Award winners 2024 (audience prize): Jasmin Saffari Esfahani and Elnara Valiyeva 

Jasmin Saffari Esfahani

The winners of the audience prize at the IU Spirit Awards are graduates Jasmin Saffari Esfahani and Elnara Valiyeva from the Social Work B.A. programme. Their project "I’m allowed to do that!" addresses the ten most important rights of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and conveys these through an interactive workshop for fourth-grade pupils. The innovation of the project lies in its holistic approach, which not only conveys knowledge but also actively involves the target group in the design of the workshop. Creative methods such as guessing games, role-playing games and radio plays created by the students are combined with integrative and didactic techniques to promote a playful learning process. In line with the principles of empowerment, education and participation, the children learn how they can behave in a self-determined way, which democratic values are important and how they can stand up for their rights and successfully assert themselves.

Elnara Valiyeva

An ideal cooperation partner was found thanks to outstanding collaboration and networking with Prof Dr Kemal Bozay, Professor of Social Work at IU and educational director of the organisation interKultur e.V. in Cologne. With the support of interKultur e.V., the project idea was successfully developed and implemented as a workshop. At the same time, IU graduates Jasmin and Elnara succeeded in asserting themselves with their project as part of the federal "Demokratie leben!" programme. As a result, they received support from the City of Cologne in the form of funding totalling around 5,000 euros. The workshop has already been implemented at six primary schools in Cologne and long-term cooperation is on the cards.

"What characterises this project by Jasmin and Elnara and obviously also convinced the audience is the creative and effective approach to communicating children's rights. They actively involve the pupils and manage to promote the learning process through playful methods. Such innovation and commitment to such a crucial area as children's rights education deserves our full recognition and support," said Prof. Dr. Regina Kostrzewa, jury member and Professor of Social Work at IU International University of Applied Sciences. 

About dual study programme at IU

The dual study programme at IU offers students the opportunity to gain practical experience in their regional company in addition to theoretical lectures and seminars. This model allows students to apply their acquired knowledge directly into practice, either in a weekly rotation or a split-week model. The theoretical part of the study programme can be completed in different ways: traditionally on-site at the campus, through online teaching or also independently of a location via our virtual campus. 

About the IU Spirit Award

The IU International University of Applied Sciences presented the IU Spirit Award for the first time in 2024 and plans to present it annually. The six-member jury currently consists of Prof Dr Peter Neumann (Professorship in Tourism Management), Prof Dr Julia Hilgers-Sekowsky (Professorship in Marketing Management), Prof Dr Regina Kostrzewa (Professorship in Social Work), Prof Dr Felix Wölfle (Professorship in Tourism Management), Prof Dr Nicola Zech (Vice Rector Campus Studies) and Alexander Krösser (Chief Marketing Officer at IU). Students on dual study programmes at IU have the opportunity to submit individual or group work - also across degree programmes and/or campuses - in recognition of particularly innovative, creative and practice-oriented work or projects. The audience award will be selected as part of an online pitch. Each finalist will be given the opportunity to present their project using the "Pecha Kucha" method, followed by an online vote by the audience. The IU Spirit Award is presented as an innovation prize in honour and memory of the former Vice-Rector Prof Dr Patrick Geus and is endowed with a prize of 500 euros each for the jury award and the audience award.