Students at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences set up a management consultancy (press release)

They are young, motivated and already running their own businesses whilst still studying. Seven students on the Bachelor’s degree programme in International Business Administration at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences have founded the non-profit association ‘Rhein-Waal Studentische Unternehmensberatung e.V.’. The idea for the organisation first emerged in autumn 2017 and was further developed as part of the nationwide ‘Gründerwoche Deutschland’ (Start-up Week Germany) initiative, in which Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences regularly participates alongside the NiederRhein Innovation and Start-up Initiative (IGNI). The aim of Start-up Week is to motivate and inspire students to consider starting their own businesses as early as possible. This group of students put their idea straight into practice.

The association serves as a platform for mutual exchange between students, the university and local businesses. In keeping with the ethos of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, the aim is to apply the knowledge gained in practice. The founding members, who come from various countries, bring a range of skills and specialist knowledge to the table. Whilst Anna Garms and Fabian Rockelsberg are primarily responsible for project management, Patricio Vega is the expert in marketing and public relations. Jörn Teßmann, Julius Garms and Lara Hilse’s strengths lie in finance. David Bender completes the team with his administrative and organisational skills, as well as his expertise in human resources. The association’s board of trustees includes tax advisers Christian Schulte and Wolfgang van Bebber from Rhein-Waal Steuerberatung Schulte-Van Bebber GbR in Kleve, who act in an advisory capacity to the young association. The student consultancy offers support in the areas of preparing market analyses and marketing concepts, public relations, conducting SWOT analyses and benchmarking studies, as well as employee satisfaction surveys.

As one of its first projects, the association planned and co-ordinated an academic conference on the topic of ethics and social responsibility, which took place in November 2018 at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The aim of the so-called ‘Ethics Day’ is to raise awareness that the decisions we make today have a lasting impact on the future. In line with the association’s aim of applying acquired knowledge in practice, the students, under the guidance of Professor Dr Klaus Hegemann, Professor of General Business Administration, developed the concept for the academic lecture series, organised the case study competition for university students and school pupils, invited the speakers, companies and guests, and planned the varied evening programme. The lecturers at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences were delighted to support the dedicated team with their expertise. “I welcome the initiative and determination shown by this group of students. As a university of applied sciences, we are particularly pleased to see students quickly finding their way into the professional world,” said Professor Hegemann.

In future, the student consultancy aims to attract new clients and thereby establish the association on a sustainable basis. To this end, it has already reached out to regional companies. Students will also have the opportunity, for example as mentees, to learn from the practical experience of the association’s members. The aim is to create a network from which both students and businesses in the region can benefit. Students will be better prepared for the start of their careers, whilst businesses will have access to qualified professionals with initial work experience. That’s what you call a genuine win-win situation. Furthermore, the consultancy also acts as a kind of role model for other students at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, encouraging them to pursue their own business ideas and turn them into start-ups.