Entrepreneurship and Technology through Thomas More LEF-Lab

Thomas More University of Applied Sciences teaches a varied curriculum of courses to undergraduate and post-graduate students at their campuses across Belgium. The University is particularly noted for their innovative approaches to learning through technology and entrepreneurship. A key resource is the Thomas More LEF-Lab which challenges students to consider different aspects of the creative and technological processes behind project success.

In a multidisciplinary team, students work on an innovative challenge from an external client. They work together to understand the problem, brainstorm and make critical analyses to arrive at a concrete solution or prototype. Students are introduced to relevant methodologies such as design thinking and business model canvas.

After putting together the multidisciplinary teams, students immediately start working with their client and the LEF-Lab coaches to develop their own innovative idea into a fully-fledged prototype, which is pitched to a professional jury.

Objectives

• Act entrepreneurially (creatively, innovatively, planning/organising, taking calculated risks…), by turning an idea into practice
• Apply the design thinking methodology to arrive at an innovative solution
• Working together efficiently and effectively in a multidisciplinary team in function of an assignment for a customer.
• Achieve a workable and well-founded final result.

Here are some of the project students have worked on:

The mARTa Project

mARTa is a deconsecrated church that is being converted into a neighbourhood cultural centre in the Heihoek district of Mechelen.

We want to make mARTa the beating heart of the neighbourhood again. An open house that is inclusive, where every inhabitant of Mechelen feels at home, while also breathing art and culture. How do you ensure a successful revenue model for this cultural house without losing sight of its low-threshold operation? What business model is needed for this? How do you give shape to the mission and vision of this house, both in the building and in the accompanying garden? How do you communicate the offer to different target groups?

Client: City of Mechelen

For students on the Mechelen, Antwerp and De Nayer campuses

Help build the future, with the “3D concrete printer”

Challenge: start-up around the new technology of the 3D concrete printer

The world’s largest 3D concrete printer will get a permanent home on the campus in Geel this semester. Thomas More, the pioneer in 3D concrete printing, has taken ownership with the intention of exploiting the concrete printer ‘economically’ (Business students) while further perfecting and expanding it technically (Technology students from Construction, IT, Electromechanics, …). During this LEF Lab, we will lay the foundations of a Start-up and make further technical optimisations to appeal to multiple target groups.

Will you soon be building your own house with Thomas More’s 3D concrete printer?

All students are welcome, but we definitely need Technology students (Construction, Electromechanics, IT, ….) and Business students (B&O, Marketing, Event, Communication, Accountancy, etc.).

For more information about the Thomas More Lef Lab, please visit the project website (in Dutch).

Katerina Flouraki

Education and Learning Associate

Bantani Education