On Tuesday, June 16, 2020, the Creative Space of the Social Innovation Lab of the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences (HWG LU) opened its doors and presented the project and the associated premises to the public.
Yesterday, after the Corona-related delays, the time had finally come: the "Social Innovation Lab" project of HWG LU presented itself and its "Creative Space" to the public in Ludwigshafen's city center. In this new seminar and creative space of the university, teaching and research projects on so-called "social innovations" from the fields of business and society will be worked on in the future. The Creative Space offers space for groups of 25 to a maximum of 50 people - with row seating. Opening up to urban society is an important part of the program.
How do we want to live in the future? How do we want to move from A to B? How should the city change so that we feel more comfortable in it? Or more concretely: How can young women be inspired for IT so that the development of AI is not left to male ideas alone? How can the Bürgerhof be developed into a place for meeting and learning? - These and many other questions will be discussed here in the future with students, representatives of regional companies and social organizations as well as the city's population, and possible solutions will be developed together. Health, sustainability and the reduction of inequalities are important guiding themes.
"We see ourselves as an interface between the public, the university and the business community, picking up on ideas and matching them, for example, with university lecturers or student groups," explained Imke Buß, project developer and head of the university's Department of Studies and Teaching, during one of the five tours of the new premises at Bismarckstr. 55. This light-filled room, which measures around 130 square meters and has a wide window front facing the pedestrian zone, provides the ideal setting for the further development of these ideas with the involvement of the urban community: "In itself, it is divided into two parts: In the front area, with its bar tables, bar stools, pin boards and flip charts, flexible work is possible in ever-changing settings. In the rear area, with its workbench, large dining table and kitchenette, there is space for creative model setups or brainstorming with joint cooking and eating," explained project coordinator Marie Kammler, who designed the conversion of the former "Foto Porst" and accompanied it with active support from the university's facility team.
Even though there were already two creative meetings, one real and one virtual, in the run-up to the opening - the Creative Space will experience its first real practical test next week with a group of students from the Master's program in Social Work: "I am particularly looking forward to this first group work in this great space after the many weeks of virtual teaching," said Prof. Dr. Ellen Bareis, Professor of Sociology and Social Exclusion and Participation, with whom, as Vice President for Studies and Teaching, Quality Management and Art and Culture, the Social Innovation Lab is located in the university management.
Text: Wassmann Photos: Kammler
