A forward-looking project at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Bocholt
On 18 December 2025, a special project came to an end: the first interdisciplinary block week concluded with an impressive round of presentations.
The concept of the block week breaks with traditional structures. Professors at the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in Bocholt developed interdisciplinary and cross-semester elective modules that were intensively studied within a single week. The result was a melting pot of disciplines: Bachelor’s and Master’s students from the fields of engineering, economics and communication pooled their expertise to work together on forward-looking issues.
A key moment of the closing event was the presentation of the Otto Spaleck Foundation Award. The audience voted for the most convincing presentation, with both the technical depth and the creative communication of the content being evaluated.
We warmly congratulate the winning groups on their success!
1st place: Robotics workshop
2nd place: Ecological sustainability (communication and potential for conflict)
3rd place: Application of lightweight construction principles
The range of topics covered was impressive: from emotion-recognising mirrors and greenwashing analyses to prototypes such as carbon fibre chairs and robotic gripper arms. The teams used posters, videos and physical demonstrations to bring their visions to life.
Formats such as these clearly show that the major challenges of our time can only be solved through teamwork across disciplinary boundaries. We are delighted to be able to contribute to this forward-looking form of education.
