Changes

Women represent only 35% At TUHH, student well-being is increasingly being recognized as a vital part of the global STEM workforce academic and just 28% of STEM students at personal success. The TUHHalready offers valuable counseling support and targeted workshops for different student groups, helping them manage challenges such as stress, cultural adjustment, and academic pressure.

In STEM fields Yet, women even with these resources, many students hesitate to seek help. The reasons are often face societal stereotypesnot about access but about comfort; it can be the fear of being judged, isolationmisunderstood, lack of mentorship, and gender bias in education or seen as “struggling.” This hesitation leaves a gap between the support available and the workforcesupport actually received.

This project aims '''''Mind Matters''''' seeks to close the gender bridge that gap in STEM . It is an initiative to create a culture of open and stigma-free conversations around mental health at TUHH by creating a platform that fosters a digital and physical community for female students and faculty in STEM. The platform will centralize resources and offer peer-aim is not only to-peer supportthose facing visible mental health challenges but also to provide a space for any student who wants to talk, mentorship opportunitiesreflect, and collaboration to enhance the educational experience for women at TUHHor simply connect.

The initiative will include offerings such as study groupsvision is to build a safe, chatroomswelcoming space, networking eventsboth physical and digital, where students can share experiences, coaching workshopsfind peer support, and inspirational talkslearn new ways to care for their wellbeing. By connecting female students The concept extends beyond traditional counselling by including peer-to existing tools -peer reflection circles, creative expression sessions (like journaling or open mics), and initiatives, the platform will empower them to pursue leadership roles in what is currently community events that strengthen a male-dominated environmentsense of belonging.

Other universities in GermanyMind Matters will also collaborate closely with student bodies and faculty members to complement existing support systems while encouraging more informal, like RWTH Aachen and TU Dortmundeveryday engagement with wellbeing. Ultimately, have already developed innovative tools Mind Matters aims to empower women, such as shift the CHEFIN projectconversation around mental health, which supports female students on their path from something personal and private to leadership rolessomething collective, open, and empowering for the entire TUHH community.

'''[1] Creating Establish a supportive network central point of access for all mental health and community for female students at TUHHwellbeing resources.'''

'''[2] Expanding mentorship Encourage peer-led and leadership training opportunitiesinformal support systems (e.g., reflection cafés, art or journaling spaces).'''

'''[3] Facilitating Strengthen community engagement belonging by bridging cultural and collaborationacademic gaps, especially for international students.''' '''[4] Integrate preventive wellbeing education into campus life through events, workshops, and digital campaigns.'''

'''[1] Develop the platform structure with Research existing mental health and wellbeing programs already offered at TUHH and nearby universities.''' '''[2] Design a pilot group of female prototype template for ''Mind Matters'' that encourages studentsto engage and participate.'''

'''[23] Organize Collect student feedback to refine the first series of networking concept into something both useful and mentorship events for early 2025approachable.'''

'''[34] Partner Begin testing with TUHH Career Center and other local organizations to expand the initiativesmall-scale pilot activities like informal wellbeing sessions or peer cafés.'''

This project seeks Sustainability has become one of the most defining topics of our timeand TUHH, as a university of technology, is uniquely positioned to organize a multi-day lead by example. Across campus event that encompasses , several initiatives already contribute to a diverse range of activities. Over greener TUHH: the course of these Mensa’s vegetarian and vegan days, students and alumni can look forward to engaging with future lectures, hands-discounts on workshopsleftover food, and opportunities to connect with the institutes around campuscarbon footprint labels on meals are meaningful steps in encouraging responsible choices. AdditionallySome previous projects, numerous networking events will be availablesuch as bicycle stand programs and Blue Engineering student initiatives, facilitating connections between have also shown how much studentscare about sustainable living. Yet, alumnimany of these efforts remain isolated, and faculty membersstudents often struggle to see how their individual actions connect to the bigger sustainability picture on campus. This is where EcoTUHH steps in.

EcoTUHH envisions the TUHH campus as a living laboratory for sustainability, a place where ideas are not just discussed but experienced, tested, and shared. It aims to empower students, staff, and faculty to collaboratively turn sustainability into visible, everyday practice. The primary objective of this initiative is will bring together existing resources and new student-led projects under one umbrella, from waste-sorting workshops and digital carbon awareness campaigns to expand students' horizons eco-challenges, campus gardening, and energy-saving experiments. It encourages learning by doing and creates opportunities for hands-on engagement with real sustainability problems and foster stronger connections among studentssolutions. Partnerships with TUHH’s Sustainability Office, Facilities Management, alumnistudent AGs like Blue Engineering, and facultycity or industry partners will play a central role in making this initiative both practical and scalable. Furthermore Ultimately, this EcoTUHH aims to cultivate a mindset where sustainability is not a side project or a once-a-year event provides , but a shared daily habit that defines how the TUHH community learns, works, and lives together. It is a step toward transforming the university into a unique platform truly sustainable ecosystem, by the students, for interdisciplinary interactionsthe students, encouraging collaboration and knowledge exchange across different academic disciplineswith the planet in mind.

'''[1] Strengthening bonds among studentsPromote hands-on, alumnistudent-led sustainability projects (e.g., and facultywaste sorting workshops, tree planting, energy audits).'''

'''[2] Promoting interdisciplinary encountersEnhance digital and operational sustainability through automation and paperless systems.''' '''[3] Create awareness and engagement using gamified and social formats like Eco-Challenges or sustainability hackathons.''' '''[4] Build partnerships with the Sustainability Office, city networks, and local industries for real-world collaboration.'''

'''[1] Get feedback from AlumniResearch what sustainability initiatives and partnerships already exist at TUHH.''' '''[2] Develop a motivating project template to help students propose and lead their own eco-Officeprojects.''' '''[3] Identify quick-win pilot activities to make the project visible early (e.g., automatic lights or digital dashboards).'''

'''[24] Get feedback from the deaneriesEngage key institutional stakeholders to align EcoTUHH with TUHH’s sustainability goals.'''

The Tech-Detox Lock-In project, is designed to give TUHH students a valuable opportunity to disconnect from digital devices and refocus on personal wellbeing and meaningful social engagement for an entire day. By participating in organized weekly or bi-weekly Tech Detox events, students are encouraged to lock away their phones and gadgets, stepping away from social media and random internet browsing to fully immerse themselves in collaborative hands-on activities, brainstorming sessions, and creative projects with their peers. This intentional break from digital distractions promotes concentration, supports mental health, and allows for shared reflection where participants can showcase what they have learned or created during the detox—helping students rediscover the power of offline experiences and enabling them to create positive impact within the university community.To keep engagement high, campus-wide reminders and community messaging via posters, WhatsApp groups, and social media will highlight the benefits of digital detoxing, while small rewards like coffee vouchers or snacks will be offered to students who complete full sessions.