Knowledge exchange in teaching

Integrating knowledge exchange permanently into teaching is a core objective of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences. The aim is to address societal needs and analyze challenges faced by partner organizations through relevant, practical research. Co-creative research projects in applied teaching formats contribute to social innovation in tackling societal challenges.

Innovation and knowledge exchange are to be embedded as cross-cutting themes in departments and degree programs. (knowledge exchange strategy of the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences)

The process of knowledge exchange benefits everyone involved: students test and deepen their expertise and methodological skills, while instructors can offer students access to research fields of societal importance and gain valuable experience in science communication and project management to use in their careers. Meanwhile, practitioners gain valuable research-based insights.

This dynamic enhances the quality of teaching, equips society with knowledgeable and engaged experts to address its needs, and it creates exciting synergies.

Are you a teacher at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences interested in adding more practical relevance to your seminars?

Do you need with knowledge exchange activities in your teaching, or do you have a collaboration partner interested in contributing a research question to your course? The Office for Social Innovation is the faculty’s knowledge exchange hub. It brings greater real-world relevance and incorporates questions from societal partners into your teaching. Whether you need help choosing a suitable teaching format or finding the right partnership, contact us at rosi.wiso"AT"uni-hamburg.de.

Recurring knowledge exchange-oriented courses at the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences:

Foundation course in research methods for the bachelor’s degree programs in Sociology and Political Science

Since 2014, bachelor’s students in Sociology and Political Science have been conducting their first empirical research projects within this format, often in collaboration with practitioners. Through diverse collaborations with civil society associations, organizations, or initiatives, students can choose a project that aligns with their research interests and address a social science question grounded in real-world practice. This allows them to apply, expand, and reinforce their theoretical knowledge, gain valuable interdisciplinary skills, and contribute to civil society. See our website for more information.

The Campus-Meets-Community Lab (CC Lab)

The Campus Meets Community Lab (CC-Lab) is a knowledge exchange-oriented teaching project of the Research Office, in partnership with the Haus des Engagements. In Summer Semester 2024, the CC Lab entered its third round. Learn more about the CC Lab.

The knowledge exchange module in the Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Public and Nonprofit Studies

Since 2023, the master’s degree program in Interdisciplinary Public and Nonprofit Studies (PUNO) has included a knowledge exchange module in its subject-specific guidelines. This required module provides students with advanced academic insights into the relationship between science and society. Topics covered include the role of research in everyday life, its media portrayal, its relationship to politics, and the organization of participatory research, such as community-based research. These insights are not purely theoretical: through collaborative research projects or internships, students can apply them in real-world contexts alongside subject-specific content.

Professor Boenigk’s Service Learning Seminar in the Department of Socioeconomics

This project seminar has been offered annually since 2009. Service Learning, a teaching method originating in the United States, combines academic seminar content with practical experiences in civic engagement. Participants attend regular seminars (the “learning” element) at the University of Hamburg and additionally perform voluntary, community-oriented work (the “Service” element), often with a nonprofit organization. Read more about it on the Service Learning website.

Engagement Lecture Series by the #UHHengagiert Network

Since Summer Semester 2023, members of the #UHHengagiert network have organized a regular lecture series on volunteer work in collaboration with active volunteers. The summer lecture on studying and volunteering ("Studieren und sich freiwillig engagieren: Wie geht das zusammen?” is followed in Winter Semester 23/24 by a series on social discourses and practical knowledge related to volunteering (“Einfach mal die Welt retten!? Gesellschaftliche Diskurse und praktisches Wissen rund ums Ehrenamt”. Developed with the Aktivoli State Network, this lecture series fosters students’ civic engagement while providing theoretical foundations. The lecture series covers a wide range of topics, including the social responsibility of universities, the role of civil society in democracies, and practical skills for civic engagement. Attendees also have the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from student activists and volunteers involved in projects such as sea rescue operations.