{"id":78979,"date":"2025-10-16T22:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/?post_type=kb_magazin&p=78979"},"modified":"2025-10-20T14:27:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T12:27:01","slug":"travelling-light","status":"publish","type":"kb_magazin","link":"https:\/\/magazin.tu-braunschweig.de\/en\/m-post\/travelling-light\/","title":{"rendered":"“Travelling light”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the <\/b>project launch<\/b><\/a> and the <\/b>mood survey<\/b><\/a> during the summer break, the TU Braunschweig transformation project “Travelling light”, led by Dietmar Smyrek, TU Vice-President for Human Resources, Finance and University Construction, is entering the next stage of a special expedition: 22 prototypes to simplify everyday university processes.<\/b><\/p>\n

Project coordinators Madita Olvermann and Sarah Zerwas report on the start of this stage:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dialogue, courage and creative enthusiasm<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

The open space was ready for the presentation of the prototypes. Photo credit: TU Braunschweig<\/p><\/div>\n

Every expedition has its stopover: a moment when the team pauses to check the route, recharge their batteries for the next few kilometres, and discover amazing things in their luggage. That’s exactly how the interim event of “Mit leichtem Gep\u00e4ck” felt: Last Friday, the nine teams gathered in the open space, ready to present their prototypes, encourage each other, and boldly embark on the final seven weeks of the project phase, which involves testing the prototype ideas. Dietmar Smyrek, the client and project initiator, is enthusiastic about the teams: \u201cThe format chosen by the project house has triggered an unimaginable desire for innovation and a wealth of great ideas among the expedition participants. The teams were wonderfully productive and created great prototypes. Now it’s time for testing, and I hope that many of the prototypes will be realised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

The prototypes were presented in lively pitch rounds. Photo credit: TU Braunschweig<\/p><\/div>\n

Amid lively discussions and fast-paced pitch rounds that were both entertaining and engaging, the approximately 50 project team members impressively demonstrated the great potential for innovation in administrative processes at the interim event.<\/p>\n

Upon arrival, there was a mixture of curiosity and scepticism. \u201cI was a little sceptical at first, but now I have a good gut feeling,\u201d admitted one participant, offering an honest reflection on a project that requires courage and a willingness to embrace change. Overall, the day offered a “refreshingly low threshold” and a “great space for ideas – which everyone is open to for now” said Dr Maurice Scheer, a member of the staff council and an employee at the Gauss IT Centre. Petra Eimbeck, Head of Department 22, agrees, saying, “Overall, it’s a great platform for trying out new working formats and getting support to pursue these new paths.”<\/p>\n

During the open exchange on the team islands after the short pitch rounds, the teams demonstrated their creativity and curiosity. My colleague Sarah Zerwas and I once again made it clear to today’s participants how much fun we had supporting the teams in workshops, work meetings, feasibility walks and poster production in our role as process facilitators over the past few months. Despite varying workloads and levels of frustration, we are grateful that everyone put so much energy and commitment into the project. We were thrilled by the enthusiasm for design. This was celebrated with a high five at the start of the event.<\/p>\n