Hochschule Mainz: University of Applied Sciences: Past workshops

From Lisbon to Helsinki, from Dijon to Wrocław

Over more than two decades, COEUR has travelled across Europe, with additional workshops in Guangzhou and Florianópolis to explore entrepreneurial cultures worldwide.

COEUR 22 · Lucerne, Switzerland · 5–11 Sept 2026

The Mainz participants of COEUR 22 in front of the Lion Monument in Lucerne — COEUR 22 in Lucerne: the students from Mainz in front of the Lion Monument

From Arenas to Algorithms: The Event Innovation Challenge. Hosted by BHMS, teams turned observations into business concepts for the future of events, with guest talks by Sebastiano Mereu and Joern Schlimm. Highlights included a behind-the-scenes tour of the ice hockey stadium in Olten, a visit to the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil and a fine-dining evening by the Lucerne students. Eight students from Mainz took part. You will find their full report below.

COEUR 21 · Edzell, Scotland · 7–12 Sept 2025

Students from Mainz with Prof. Matthias Eickhoff in Scotland 2025

Digital-preneurs in Scotland: bringing the old into the new. Lectures, guest talks, coaching and a ten-minute final pitch at The Burn. Five students from Mainz took part and highlight the intercultural teamwork, Scottish hospitality and the farewell ceilidh. You will find their full report below.

Edition	Year	Location	Theme	Host
COEUR 22	2026	Lucerne (CH)	From Arenas to Algorithms: The Event Innovation Challenge	BHMS
COEUR 21	2025	Edzell (UK)	Digital-preneurs in Scotland	RGU
COEUR 20	2024	Wrocław (PL)	Man vs. Machine	Wrocław University of Economics and Business
COEUR 19	2023	Porvoo (FI)	Tourism of Happiness	Haaga-Helia UAS

Student reports

Students from Mainz report on their workshop weeks.

RECAP COEUR WORKSHOP 2026: From Arenas to Algorithms – The Event Innovation Challenge

by Niklas Stark

The 22nd COEUR Idea Generation Workshop took place from 5–11 September 2026 in Lucerne, Switzerland. Under the theme “From Arenas to Algorithms,” students from different countries came together to develop innovative ideas for the future of events while experiencing the incredible hospitality of the Business & Hotel Management School.

Throughout the week, we worked in multicultural teams, turning initial observations into actual business concepts. We learned to identify relevant problems, understand the people affected by them and develop products or services that could provide convincing solutions. Guest talks by Sebastiano Mereu and Joern Schlimm added new perspectives along the way. Working across different cultures was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. What started with some hesitation quickly developed into great group dynamics. Communicating in English, adapting to different personalities and managing time pressure made the teamwork challenging, valuable and, most importantly, fun.

Some of the most memorable moments happened outside the classroom. One highlight was our visit to the ice hockey stadium in Olten, where the club’s CEO took us on a journey through the entire stadium. Along the way, we got a behind-the-scenes look at how a professional sports club operates, the challenges it faces and how these affect both everyday operations and the fan experience. Connecting these real-world insights with the challenges we were working on during the workshop made the visit particularly valuable.

Our visit to the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil offered a completely different perspective, as we had the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences from people living with spinal cord injuries. The week also gave us a taste of Swiss hospitality, with a fantastic fine-dining experience organised by the Lucerne students as another highlight. After days of brainstorming, discussions and probably one too many PowerPoint slides, everything came down to ten minutes: Our final pitch in front of a jury and our fellow students.

More than just developing a business idea, COEUR showed us how quickly different cultures, perspectives and personalities can come together. We returned to Mainz with new skills, new connections and plenty of memories. If you get the chance to become part of COEUR, take it! We highly recommend it.

(Alba Franck Jové, Alexey Raufenbarth, Tim Wurzinger, Niklas Stark, Zoe Tsui, Christin Wolff, Luisa Filbert, Annabelle Lennartz)

RECAP COEUR WORKSHOP 2025: Digital-preneurs in Scotland - Bringing the Old into the New

The 21st COEUR Idea Generation Workshop took place from 7–12 September 2025 at The Burn in Edzell, Scotland. Under the theme "Digital-preneurs in Scotland - bringing the old into the new", entrepreneurial ideas were created by students in international teams.

The programme featured lectures, guest talks, teamwork, and cultural activities. Inputs on entrepreneurship, creativity and self-initiative were considered very inspiring. Among the highlights was a presentation by David Hunter (The Habitat People), who shared his dream of rewilding large parts of Scotland with wildflower meadows. Throughout the week, we – five students from Mainz – were taught how to define problems, develop solutions, and effectively pitch our ideas. The process included brainstorming, developing an idea for a business, check-ins on these ideas with our coaches, and ended with a concluding ten-minute pitch in front of a jury.

One of the most rewarding experiences was working in multicultural, international teams. We practiced speaking English on both business and personal matters, adapted easily to new situations and personalities, and experienced how different cultural mentalities affected teamwork. While the start on day one was still a bit shy, good group dynamics developed faster than expected. The main challenges were staying on task during problem definition and dealing with time limits, but these too were worthwhile learning experiences.

The workshop's cultural dimension left a lasting impact. We experienced the Scottish sense of humour, hospitality and sociability. Meeting businesspeople and other students opened our eyes, for example through political debates or comparisons of daily life in the different countries. Cross-cultural friendships formed readily under the week's intensity.

Beyond the teamwork, the location contributed to the experience: the green surroundings, forests and animals around The Burn were relaxing during the little free time available. Excursions such as the visit to Glamis Castle and the farewell Ceilidh with Scottish dancing gave further insight into the regional culture.

For many, it was the first time in Scotland - and the week proved to be a rewarding experience that combined teamwork, innovation and cultural exchange, leaving every participant with new skills, broader horizons and lasting connections. Especially for us who had come all the way from Mainz. So overall, it was a truly rewarding experience, and if you ever get the chance to take part in a future COEUR, we can highly recommend it.

(Jakob Mackenberg, Lara Knell, Nils Behrens, Selin Emin, Svea-Elin Milius)