The goal of the “Team Öko 2017” event, held on November 3, 2017, for students in the Ecology and Environmental Protection program (NÖb17), was to help them get to know their degree program and fellow students better. In collaboration with the Ecology and Environmental Protection Department of the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, the Career Service ’s “Learning to Learn” project organized this new format. The 20 participants had the opportunity to get to know each other better in the morning through playful activities.

Afterward, in a World Café setting, the participants shared knowledge and experiences on topics such as group and teamwork, personality, social roles, and corporate culture. The basic idea behind the exercise was to show the participants that, as a group, they already possess a great deal of knowledge and expertise and that this can be supplemented through various offerings, such as those provided by the Career Services office at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences.

The afternoon session included subject-specific tasks that the students had to work on and complete at Lake Olbersdorf. In the process, the new students not only gained a better understanding of their coursework but also learned about Lake Olbersdorf, its history, and its flora and fauna. In addition to academic knowledge, however, the focus was particularly on having fun and the opportunity to solve problems together. The faculty members in attendance had the chance to get to know the students better and answer questions about the program. After the social wrap-up at the Dezi-Bar student club, everyone involved agreed to offer this event again next winter semester.

We would like to once again extend our heartfelt thanks to all participants, organizers, and volunteers!