Ella Hafermalz and Christer Guldemond have received a Global Citizenship Award for their IBA Lab course at the School of Business and Economics
The IBA Lab is a two-part course in the International Business Administration programme. IBA Lab I is guided by Guldemond from the Management and Organization department, invited students to developed innovative ideas for the social stakeholders. Then, they transition to IBA Lab II, led by Hafermalz from the KIN Center for Digital Innovation.
Students work on answering a client’s real world question while also developing themselves as future professionals. They prototype and test their ideas, build their collaboration skills, and reflect on a question that runs throughout the course: "Who am I in the Age of AI?"
Hafermalz and Guldemond were recognized for treating community partners as genuine co-educators rather than case providers in their International Business Administration courses. The award will support them in continuing to bring students into contact with real problems that have no clear-cut solutions - and with the kind of open-ended reflection that defines good education in uncertain times.
This year, eleven proposals were submitted by VU teachers committed to using Community Service Learning to help students grow as global citizens. Community Service Learning (CSL) is an innovative form of education that connects students with societal actors to collaborate on real-world challenges. This approach fosters deeper understanding of course material, personal growth, and social responsibility. In line with this year's VU theme of Global Citizenship, CSL helps students develop the skills and mindset to engage with the world around them and contribute meaningfully at local, national, and global levels. By working with societal partners, students also connect their efforts to the Sustainable Development Goals, making abstract global ambitions tangible through concrete action.