This year’s Concluding Conference, organized annually by the MSc Digital Transformation & Sustainability students, stands out as a pinnacle in their master’s journey. Held under the theme „From Ideas to Impact: Encouraging Change for a Digital and Sustainable Tomorrow,“ the event showcased 16 short presentations. These weren’t just summaries of their thesis projects; they were catalysts for the digital and sustainable evolution of our lives and workplaces.

The first part of the event took place on February 26, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 3:45 pm. The first two speakers delved into the idea of “Scenarios as Tools for Strategic Decisions” and “Twin Transformations,“ illustrating how technology and sustainability must collaborate for a successful sustainable future in our organizations and the societies they operate in.

The discussions continued, touching upon the major themes of sustainability and digital transformation, foundational pillars of the Master’s Program, which came alive through projects on topics like food packaging and sustainable coffee farming. Presentations were delivered in both German and English, reflecting the international flavor of the master class. It was like a puzzle coming together, leaving everyone with new perspectives and tools to drive sustainability at various scales and formats.

Throughout the talks, two participating students, Annika and Xenia, kept the breaks lively. They posed questions, engaging the audience with personal insights and acting as friendly guides, aiding in the understanding of all the projects.

Another presentation tackled how the  Healthtech industry can think about collaborating with startups, and another one got more technical though his analysis on using SAP’s traceability solutions for climate impact drivers on water and land used. They shared a plan to use digital tools to spark new ideas while keeping things eco-friendly. It was like finding a balance between being creative and being responsible to our Earth. Another presentation emphasized the need to use the right tools for explaining your impact story – a challenging task considering the difficulty in measuring impact.

By the end of the session, you could feel the excitement in the room. Each presentation painted a picture of a future where we use tech to make a real difference. The students left us with a lot to think about, and we left feeling hopeful about the possibilities.

Annika and Xenia played a big role too. They kept the energy high during breaks, making the whole event more enjoyable. It was clear they were just as passionate about the topics as the students.

It was an afternoon were we didn’t just learn about sustainability and digital approaches. We saw the future can be shaped through the individual input of each and one of us as part of a global community. It was an inspiring way to spend an afternoon – thinking about the world we live in and how we can make it better with the help of technology and a bit of creativity.