English International Projects GXC

GlobalXChanges/Challenges (GXC) Project

Information about the DAAD-funded internationalisation project including the project's measures and outcomes.

GlobalXChanges/Challenges - GXC

With the DAAD-funded project "GlobalXChanges/Challenges (GXC)", HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences (HM) pursued the goal of internationalizing their innovation and knowledge transfer activities during the project period from October 2019 to December 2021. For this purpose, collaboration and networks with partners from industry, academia, politics and society in Germany and abroad have been expanded and joint student innovation projects and work experience placements were facilitated. In this project, HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences has worked closely together with the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship, the co-creation network HM:UniverCity and its Digital Transformation Lab, as well as with their four strategic partner universities in Europe and the USA.

UAS.International (=HAW.International in German) is a new program initiative of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) , specifically for Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS). The aim of the program is to further promote the internationalization of Universities of Applied Sciences, to increase their international visibility and to better prepare students for the globalized labor market of the future. The program consists of several modules and provides funding for model projects for internationalization at German universities as well as extensive scholarships for students.

The GXC project at HM is funded within Module A and has a funding period of two years (October 2019 to December 2021).

Program goals

The GXC project has had the following objectives:

  • To conceptually redefine the internationalization strategy and to increase international activities in the area of practical cooperation and knowledge transfer
  • To establish and develop international collaboration and sustainable networks for teaching, research, studies and internships with partners from industry, academia, politics and society in Germany and in the four partner countries (Austria, Finland, Switzerland and USA)
  • To introduce and implement preparatory and support activities for work experience placements in Germany and abroad

The GXC International Virtual Innovation Challenge is a unique action-learning experience for bachelor students. Public governmental and non-governmental organizations propose innovation challenges that can be solved through digital technologies. Students from HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences (HM) and their strategic partner institutions follow an innovation process to tackle these proposed challenges and prototype solutions in international interdisciplinary teams. The course includes video lectures and dynamic weekly live sessions with a professor for content input and additional tutoring and team coaching sessions with industry experts to advise on prototyping and mentor students in the challenges of remote international teamwork.

This newly developed online course is based on the “real projects” teaching format and students are therefore able to receive 5 ECTS upon successful completion. Here is a sample course syllabus.

Overview of all GXC challenges and summary reports of the approaches and prototypes that student teams have developed during the project duration:

Challenge winter semester 2021/22:

  • Deutsche Bahn Connect: How might we effectively integrate folding-bike-systems and rail usage in urban and rural areas?" Report

Challenges summer semester 2021:

  • Deutscher Skiverband (DSV) - German Ski Federation: How can the German Ski Federation make use of digital technologies to shape a sustainable future for winter sports? Report
  • European Championships Munich 2022: How can the European Championships Munich 2022 motivate their visitors and spectators to do more sports and inspire them to lead more active lifestyles, creating a positive impact for local sport clubs and society as a whole? Report

Challenges winter semester 2020/21:

  • City of Munich – Department of Labor and Economic Development: How can municipalities, through digital solutions, motivate local companies towards climate protection, in times of crisis? Report
  • Deutscher Skiverband (DSV) - German Ski Federation: How could the association digitally engage ski enthusiasts (amateur skiers) in a way that adds value to all stakeholders and leads to an active interconnected ski community? Report
  • Kreisjugendring München-Stadt - Munich City District Youth Association together with the M:UniverCity Co-Creation-Group: The future of youth participation: How to empower the youngsters? Report

Within the GXC project, students have been able to undertake 1-month long international virtual internships which have been supported by a monthly stipend financed through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Internships have been facilitated at

  • the Digital Transformation Lab (DTLab) at HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences (HM),
  • the Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub) at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly),
  • various international start-ups of the eBridge Alliance.

As part of the project, numerous English-language instructional videos on the topics of digitalization & prototyping, innovation & entrepreneurship, and teamwork & project management were created for the international and interdisciplinary online course "International Virtual Innovation Challenge" in collaboration with the Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship. The project team makes these available to all faculty and lecturers at HM Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences via a Mahara portfolio.

The GXC team won the 1st place in the 7th Entrepreneurship & Innovation Teaching Excellence Award at the European Conference in Innovation and Entrepreneurship 2021 (ECIE) for its innovative teaching format 'International Virtual Innovation Challenge'.

Overview of papers and conference contributions related to the GXC project and its virtual measures published and presented in 2021:

  • Arnold, P. ; Stolze, A. ; Socher, G.; Brandstetter, N.; van Kempen, A. (2021) Scaffolding International Interdisciplinary Innovation Challenges in Higher Education. In Pixel (eds.) The Future of Education. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference – Virtual Edition. Bologna: Filodiritto Editore, pp.332-338
  • G. Socher, A. Stolze, P. Arnold, N. Brandstetter, A. van Kempen (2021) Promoting Global Citizenship in Times of Restricted Mobility Through a Quadruple-Helix Educational Framework, EDULEARN21 Proceedings, pp. 1020-1028
  • Stolze, A. ; Socher, G. ; Arnold, P. ; van Kempen, A. ; Brandstetter, N. (2021) Third Mission Internationalization in Times of Travel Restrictions Through Digital Transformation: The Role of Dynamic Capabilities and Effectual Practices, in Proceedings Volume 2, of the European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, ECIE, Lisbon, Portugal, p. 995-1002
  • Stolze, A. and Socher, G. (2021) Promoting Entrepreneurial, Digital and Intercultural Competences with an Interdisciplinary International Innovation Challenge, in 7th Innovation & Entrepreneurship Excellence Awards 2021. Lisbon, Portugal, p. 167-178
  • Nguyen, S., & Medina-Kim, G., & Kurfess, F. J., & St. John, E., & Wu, J., & Socher, G., & Uppuluri, A., & Garcia Arevalo, A. P., & Sheets, E. (2021, July), Deep Learning for Safer School Infrastructure: An Interdisciplinary and Cross-organizational Collaboration Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access, Virtual Conference. 10.18260/1-2--36897

GXC Project Video Documentation