Last week, there was a great deal going on at the Stendal campus of Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. At the Summer Festival, Open Campus and Children’s University, visitors of different ages came to the campus to experience university life, engage in conversations and discover new perspectives. The Competence Centre for Inclusive Education Saxony-Anhalt (KIB) was also involved in several activities.
On Wednesday, KIB was already represented at the university’s Summer Festival. In summery weather, numerous visitors came to the campus. Many children in particular took the opportunity to try out the hands-on activities at the KIB stand.
The focus was on a playful change of perspective. By spinning a wheel of fortune, visitors were directed to different stations. There, they could, for example, complete puzzles, throw objects, explore by touch or navigate a wheelchair course – each task under conditions that made it possible to experience a hearing, visual or mobility impairment. The visitors took part with great enthusiasm and were curious to try out the different activities.
The wheelchair course was also very popular, with many participants trying to complete the route in the fastest time. In a practical way, it became clear how challenging paths, narrow spaces and changes of direction can be when someone depends on a wheelchair.
It was also encouraging to see that this year, ramps had been added to some of the pavilions. This had not been the case last year and shows that accessibility is increasingly being taken into account on campus, step by step.
On Saturday, the university opened its doors for Open Campus, welcoming prospective students, families and everyone interested in learning more about studying in Magdeburg and Stendal. At information stands, during campus tours and in sofa talks, visitors could ask questions about degree programmes, campus life and the path towards studying at the university. Open Campus showed how diverse university life is and how important personal encounters can be when young people are looking for guidance for their future.
The Children’s University Stendal also took place on Saturday. It is jointly organised by Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences and the Winckelmann Society. Children between the ages of eight and twelve were invited to attend lectures in the Audimax lecture hall, just like real students, complete with their own student ID.
In addition to a lecture on the Colosseum in Rome and gladiator fights in Ancient Rome, inclusion was also part of the programme. Under the title “Many minds, colourful plans – how every child can learn well! What does inclusion mean?”, educational specialists from the Competence Centre for Inclusive Education shared insights as experts by experience into different forms of disability, everyday barriers and the meaning of inclusion.
In plain language, they spoke about their own experiences with obstacles and barriers during their school years and discussed with the children what can make learning fairer for all children. Together, they collected concrete examples: respectful communication, accessible environments, suitable assistive tools, and different options for shared or individual learning.
The events on Stendal campus showed how valuable such encounters are. Whether through hands-on activities at the Summer Festival, conversations with prospective students or discussions at the Children’s University, inclusion becomes especially tangible when people talk to one another, ask questions and share experiences.
KIB would like to thank all visitors for their interest, openness and the many good conversations, as well as the students and everyone involved for the successful organisation of the events.