NEOLAiA

Bielefeld University is organizing the NEOLAiA Focus Academy for the first time. The theme of the course is “Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship.” The course, organized by researchers from the NEOLAiA universities in Bielefeld, Jaén, and Örebro, consists of virtual phases in November and December. The highlight will be the in-person week from 24 to 28 November 2025 at Bielefeld University. During this week, students from all NEOLAiA partner universities will gather in Bielefeld to explore the course topic from various perspectives together with experts. This is the first time the Academy is being led by teaching staff from Bielefeld within the framework of the European University Alliance NEOLAiA.

The teaching team—Prof. Dr. Sabrina Backs and Dr. Markus Günther (Bielefeld University), Sebastian Bruque (University of Jaén, Spain), and Vojtech Klezl (Örebro University, Sweden)—will equip participants with key knowledge and methods related to digital transformation processes. The course focuses not only on technological developments but also on their societal and economic impacts.

Students will learn how digitalization is changing entrepreneurial activities, what opportunities arise from it, and what risks are involved. They will apply their knowledge directly by working in interdisciplinary teams on real-world case studies. Presentations and online quizzes will be part of the performance assessment.

The program begins on 3 November with an online introduction and takes place in several phases: online workshops, an asynchronous phase, and a five-day in-person week in Bielefeld. The course is aimed at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students interested in digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and international perspectives. Each NEOLAiA partner can nominate three students. Remaining spots will be filled from a waiting list. Participants will earn 3 ECTS credits, which can be directly used in the Individual Supplementary Area. Further academic recognition may be requested.

Nominations must be submitted by 22 September 2025 via email to markus.guenther@uni-bielefeld.de.

More information about the Focus Academy can be found here.

For questions, please contact: markus.guenther@uni-bielefeld.de, cc: neolaia.courses@uni-bielefeld.de