Ludwigshafen am Rhein – Our students in the bachelor’s program Health Economics in the Practice Network (4th semester) demonstrated how scientific methods can create tangible added value for real-world applications. As part of a case study spanning several weeks, Dana Ehret, Lily Niebes, Chiara Jahn, Alissa Hoffmann, Laura Süntzenich, Seren Özkan, and Etiosa-Rivers Atohengbe analyzed the GO-LU eG and presented their findings on June 2, 2026, to representatives from the company and the university.
The case study is part of HWG LU’s practice-integrated teaching concept, which specifically strengthens the connection between academic training and real-world challenges in the healthcare sector. Instead of working with fictional scenarios, the students worked on a concrete real-world case from the region and took responsibility for analyzing, evaluating, and presenting their findings.
Systematic Analysis of the Ludwigshafen Health Organization (GO-LU)
The goal of the case study was a thorough examination of GO-LU eG. The focus was on identifying strengths and weaknesses, deriving key success factors, and developing recommendations for action. The deliberately open-ended assignment required a high degree of independence and analytical thinking and was perceived by the students as both challenging and particularly instructive.
GO-LU eG is a cooperatively organized network of physicians in the metropolitan area Rhine-Neckar. As an organization operating at the intersection of the public good and economic demands, it offers a particularly suitable environment for applying health economic analysis approaches.
Scientifically sound and practice-oriented
Over the course of the project, the students collected and analyzed relevant organizational data, conducted a benchmarking study with comparable healthcare networks, and, based on this, developed concrete recommendations for action. From Go-LU’s perspective, structuring the numerous recommendations based on the criteria of “relevance” and “implementation effort” was helpful, as this facilitated the selection of measures to be implemented in the short, medium, and long term. The students also applied methods of strengths-weaknesses analysis as well as tools for strategic environmental analysis, as taught in their coursework.
The final presentation was given to the management of GO-LU eG and the supervising professors. The subsequent discussion showed that the student team had developed relevant and practical recommendations.
Close Support from the University and the Professional Field
The project was supervised by Prof. Dr. Elke Raum and Prof. Dr. Eveline Häusler, who guided the work process from conception through to presentations. On behalf of GO-LU eG, Managing Director Petra Höhn supported the project as the primary point of contact and provided the students with in-depth insights into the organization’s structures and challenges.
Prof. Dr. Elke Raum praised the results, stating:
“Today, the students presented you with a wide range of measures from which GO-LU can select the initiatives that are right for them.”
Concrete Ideas for Corporate Practice
The presented results cover a broad spectrum of areas of action—from digitalization and communication strategies to questions of strategic positioning in light of changes in the healthcare landscape and the needs of young physicians. Ms. Höhn confirmed that some of the concrete proposals from the presentation will be reviewed and implemented.
Prof. Dr. Eveline Häusler expressed particular interest in the proposed GO-LU “Digital Practices” certificate, given the digital innovations in healthcare and the diverse starting conditions in local practices.
Learning Through Dialogue
The project highlighted the added value of practice-oriented teaching formats for both sides: While the students gained valuable experience in analysis and professional communication, the practice partner received new insights from an external perspective. Petra Höhn praised the quality of the recommendations developed and encouraged the students to approach their professional roles with confidence. For herself, she took away education to focus more closely on the research question in future projects in order to make the work even more targeted. At the same time, she expressly expressed interest in repeating the case study format in collaboration with HWG LU. “The topic of education is very close to my heart. The case study is an excellent opportunity for students to work on real-world issues from professional practice. For us as a practice partner, the insights from academia and the students’ fresh ideas are extremely valuable. We’d be happy to participate in the next case study as well.”
A Partnership with a Future
The successful collaboration between HWG LU and GO-LU eG demonstrates the potential of close partnerships between the university and the regional healthcare sector. For the students, the project served as a valuable supplement to their studies: they acted as competent discussion partners and were able to apply their knowledge directly in a real-world context.
