Between individual exam achievement and shared pizza orders: how a university weekend at IB Hochschule unfolds

"And it is a shared path that also follows the professional successes, the opening of new possibilities of each individual. Sometimes there are setbacks or doubts but also private happiness that then sometimes extends the programme."

With these words Stefanie Bautsch, graduate of the Health Education (B.A.) programme, describes for us what a university weekend at IB Hochschule means for her – more than just lectures and exam achievements. It's about exchange, community and personal development.

The Health Education (B.A.) programmes and the Applied Therapy Science (B.Sc.) programme are designed as part-time or training-integrated. Their teaching formats are based on the needs of working students – with in-person phases on weekends. Unlike the full-time programmes of Psychology or Digital Health, where teaching takes place during the week, students come together on campus once a month from Friday to Sunday.

The model offers many advantages: intensive specialist input, lively group work and close personal contact. But how exactly does such a weekend proceed – and what makes it special? We spoke with Stefanie Bautsch, who gives us an insight into a university weekend at IB Hochschule on the Health Campus.

She describes the weekend starting with the study letter framing the topic and assignment. Friday often starts online with a possible on-site option. Each university weekend includes an exam achievement – presentations, written assignments, exams, videos or screencasts – in group work or individual performance. The various forms of assessment bring variety and creativity to the programme. Many students find their way into teaching during their studies, and presentations in front of fellow students still make even confident teachers nervous. Tips are exchanged and experiences gathered, and reflection often missed in everyday teaching takes place through feedback.

The special thing about university weekends is the intensive interdisciplinary exchange that creates deep insights into other professional fields. Of course there are also topics that personally touch or move, that can stimulate intensive exchange in groups. It is a shared path that also follows professional successes and the opening of new possibilities. Many thanks to Stefanie Bautsch for the open conversation and all the best for the future as an IB Hochschule graduate!