„Project Management for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development“

Attending the STUBE Niedersachsen weekend seminar on Project Management for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development was one of the most enriching learning experiences I've had since coming to Germany.

Right from the start, the seminar felt special — not only because of the topic, but also because of the setting. The event took place at Kloster St. Ludgerus in Helmstedt, a beautiful, old monastery that now functions as a conference center. The architecture, the peaceful atmosphere, and the quiet surroundings made it an ideal space to disconnect from daily routines and dive deep into focused, meaningful conversations.

The weekend began with a warm welcome by Andreas Kurschat, the STUBE Program Manager, who also facilitated a fun and interactive round of introductions. It was great to meet such a diverse group of international students, each with different backgrounds and ideas, yet all sharing a common interest in sustainable development and social change.

The core sessions were led by Irina Ruoff from Deine Hilfe zählt e.V. — and I must say, she did a brilliant job of breaking down complex project management concepts into digestible modules. We started with an introduction to social entrepreneurship, sustainable development, and inclusive project cycle management (IPCM). These concepts laid the foundation for the hands-on work that followed.

One of the first exercises we did was sharing startup ideas from our own contexts. Everyone came up with interesting and impactful suggestions, and seven of them were shortlisted. Based on our interests, we were then divided into groups to work on developing these ideas further. My group had a great mix of people, and we jumped right into the process of building a challenge tree and a goal tree for our idea. It was a new way for me to think about problems — not just what they are, but why they exist and how we can turn them into concrete goals.

Later, we translated these goals into a logframe matrix, which helped us organize the project step-by-step — from setting objectives to planning activities and identifying indicators. It made the entire project idea feel much more real and achievable.

One module that really stuck with me was on SMART goals. I had heard of the term before, but Irina’s explanation made it click. She used simple examples, and we had group tasks that helped us understand how to make goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. It’s definitely a tool I’ll be using a lot going forward.

But the seminar wasn’t all theory and structure — we also had some fun, creative moments. One of the most memorable activities was when we were asked to draw a future vision of our startup — but without talking to each other! Each group had to silently draw on one sheet of paper, trying to express our idea visually. It turned into a hilarious and eye-opening team-building exercise. Afterwards, we took a walk outside the conference center (a welcome break from sitting!) and presented our drawings while walking through the beautiful monastery grounds. It was such a relaxed yet meaningful way to reflect on our work.

The final day ended on a high note with a one-minute pitch session. Each group had just 60 seconds to present their idea. What amazed me was how different every pitch was — some used storytelling, some were super structured, and others added humor or a personal touch. It showed just how creative everyone was, and how much we had learned in just two days. The energy in the room during the pitches was so positive, supportive, and full of enthusiasm.

Looking back, I’m really grateful I attended this seminar. It wasn’t just about learning project management — it was about working with others, thinking critically about real-world problems, and building something meaningful together. I met passionate, like-minded people, gained tools that I can use in my future work, and walked away with a clearer vision of how I want to contribute to sustainable change.

Big thanks to STUBE Niedersachsen, Andreas, and Irina for putting together such a thoughtful, inspiring, and well-structured space for learning, collaboration, and personal growth.

Rohan Manjesh