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About COEUR

Upcoming Workshop

22th COEUR EuroPreneurship Workshop
September 2026
Business & Hotel Management School, Luzern (Switzerland)

Further information on the program and costs will follow in spring 2026.

 

Application

Information on application for the next COEUR workshop will be announced in the summer semester of 2026. 

COEUR Idea

COEUR stands for "Competence in EuroPreneurship". It represents an initiative of European higher education institutions seeking to innovate entrepreneurial education at European universities.

Its education concepts focus on BUSINESS CREATIVITY and the GENERATION OF CREATIVE IDEAS which finally end up in a concrete VALUE PROPOSITION. Thus the COEUR learning opportunities clearly distinguish from business planning.

By concentrating on the PROCESS OF PROBLEM DEFINITION and IDEA DEVELOPMENT the COEUR learning opportunities contribute to harvest the most important resources on which Europe will have to build in the future: creative ideas!

All COEUR learning opportunities are based on DIVERSITY to stimulate creative thinking with the help of cultural, personal and educational diversity of participants. Focusing on DIVERSITY all learning opportunities are open to participants from any discipline.

Currently, COEUR is offering 2 options to participate:

  • the COEUR Workshop (studium integrale course "Business Creativity Workshop") and
  • the COEUR Business Creativity Module (studium integrale course "Business Creativity Module")

How to Participate in the COEUR Project

Every September 30 to 40 students from different universities in Europe (such as Finland, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Scotland) gather together in an isolated location to participate in the COEUR workshop and create NEW IDEAS for Europe.

Based on the principle of DIVERSITY groups of participants are formed, in which they have to create an idea, evaluate its potential and finally provide a concrete value proposition. At the end of the 5-day workshop, the interculturally mixed teams present their value proposition in front of a jury.

The COEUR workshops look back on a tradition of more than 15 years, having taken us to many different places in Europe, reaching from Lisbon to Helsinki, from Dijon to Wroclaw and in-between. Workshops in Guangzhou (China) and Florianopolis (Brazil) were held to develop an understanding for entrepreneurial cultures around the globe.

Facts about the COEUR Workshop

  • Participation as part of Studium Integrale in the 2nd or 4th semester/5 ECTS
  • Only in the winter semester
  • 5 days of workshop at a location abroad
  • Intercultural team work + entrepreneurial education
  • Costs: approx. €350-600 (depending on Workshop location, full board, excluding flight)
  • Application in the preceding summer semester necessary 
 

22th COEUR EuroPreneurship Workshop
September 2026
Business & Hotel Management School, Luzern (Switzerland)

Further information on the program and costs will follow in spring 2026.

 

COEUR Business Creativity Module (BCM) is the second learning opportunity students can choose. In contrast to the COEUR Workshop, BMC runs during the regular semester time. Based on the COEUR principles groups of international students are formed to achieve diversity.

The group members communicate online and hence are working in VIRTUAL TEAMS. Within these teams a value proposition has to be created and finally presented in front of a jury (entrepreneurs, investors, etc.) – all based on an online communication system.

Students choosing this alternative not only learn about business creativity, but also practice virtual team work, which tends to become more important in the future.

Facts about BCM

  • Participation as part of Studium Integrale in the 2nd or 4th semester/5 ECTS
  • Only in the summer semester
  • During the whole semester
  • Intercultural and virtual team work + entrepreneurial education
  • Registration via the regular registration process
 

The COEUR University Network

RGU - Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, Scotland

Wroclaw University of Economics, Wrowclaw, Poland

HAAGA-HELIA UAS, Helsinki, Finland

Estonian Business School, Tallinn, Estonia

Business & Hotel Management School, Luzern, Switzerland

Mainz University of Applied Sciences, Mainz, Germany

More Information

  • Mainz (Germany) 2008: 2nd 'Europapreis' of the Federal State Rhineland Palatinate for learning opportunities fostering intercultural communication amongst students, awarded on the 6th of May 2008, City Hall, Mainz
  • Riga (Latvia) 2006: Best Paper Award for the 'Most Creative Effort', paper presented at the 6th International Entrepreneurship Forum (IEF), Riga, 31.8.- 2.9.2006
 
  • Eickhoff, M./Trigo, V./Turnbull, A./Dyczkowski, T. (2014): COEUR: Developing Business Creativity and Entrepreneurship in European University Networks, in: Journal Advances in Higher Education, Volume 6, Issue 1/2014, pp. 76-101.
  • Eickhoff, M. (2014): Zehn Jahre COEUR - A European Dream, in: Jahrbuch 2013/14 des Fachbereichs Wirtschafts der Fachhochschule Mainz, Mainz 2014.
  • Eickhoff, M./Turbull, A.: Business Creativity: A New Educational Challenge for European Students. Presentation at the XV International Scientific Conference: Human Capital and Investment in Education, Prague, September 2012.
  • Eickhoff, M./Dyczkowski, T. (2012): Creative in Diversity: Developing Entrepreneurial Talents in European University Networks - Experiences from an Intercultural, (Blended-) Team-learning Opportunity. In preparation (Abstract accepted) for the 17th Nordic Conference on Small Business Research, Helsinki, May 2012.
  • Eickhoff, M./Turnbull, A. (2011): All Business is Glocal: The Importance of a Regional Entrepreneurship Culture. Experiences from the COEUR-Project - Competence in EuroPreneurship. Paper presented to the conference "Entrepreneurship and new venture creation - International models and benchmarks" at the Indian Institute of Management at Bangalore (India), December 9, 2011.   
  • Turnbull, A./Eickhoff, M. (2011): Business Creativity - Innovating European Entrepreneurship Education.Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Special Issue: Entrepreneurial Marketing: Volume 24, Issue 1/2011, pp. 139-150.
  • Kardasz, A./Dyczkowski, T. (2009): Discovering the Entrepreneurial Potential in Differences between Europe and China. Paper presented at the 3rd Polish-Chinese-German serial conference in Opole, Poland on October 14-16, 2009.
  • Eickhoff, M./Müller, S. (2008): The ‘COEUR’ - University Network: Experiences with Joint Learning Opportunities in European Entrepreneurship Education. CIDD Papers on International Business Education, No (2) Paris.
  • Eickhoff, M. / Müller, S. (2008): The Business Creativity Module (BCM): Pilot Run of a Joint European Course educating Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation, paper for the G-Forum 2008, 6th-7th November 2008, Dortmund.
 

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)

Impressions

Downloads

COEUR application form
XLSX, 25 KB

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