It is exactly 8.45 a.m. when I push open the heavy iron door – the Entrance door of the CDTMMy gaze is caught by a poster that has been affixed to the door. It wasn't there yesterday, I think and lean back a little to be able to decipher the letters: CDTM Hacks – APPLY NOW, it says in dark blue letters on a light background.
Ah, the hackathon – of course. Some of the students, especially the Marketing Task Force, are currently organizing a large hackathon with 125 participants. Everyone I've met on the organizing team so far is so passionate about it that the event can only be a success. And the poster design is really well done, too. Mega, I mutter quietly to myself as a few audible footsteps approach from behind.
I turn around and recognize today's lecturer for the session I organized in the core course "Managing Product Development."
"So, Felix? How are you? It's great that you're here today," I greet him. Felix, a CDTM alumnus, enjoys returning to CDTM again and again – especially to pass on knowledge from his own, relatively new startup to the current generation of students.
“I’ll take you to the room we’re in today.”
"Great—I'm happy to be here," says Felix as we walk up the stairs to the first floor. This is where the seminar rooms where we usually hold our workshops are located.
"Tell me—it's been a while since I did it. What exactly is the MPD about? Don't worry, I've still prepared well for my session today," he says, grinning.
"Sure, no problem," I reply. "The MPD is about developing a digital product based on real-life problems from industry – from problem definition to ideation and solution development. The teams are interdisciplinary."
"Right, now that you mention it – I still remember my team back then. It was an exciting mix."
“Oh, very cool – are you still in touch with some of them?”
"Yeah, sure," says Felix. "Not with everyone in my class—that's what we call the cohorts here—but with some of them. And definitely with my MPD team; the collaboration back then was really intense. Are there any major changes to the course since I took it five years ago?"
"Yes and no, I would say – the basic objective of the course remains the same, but we naturally try to keep up with the times and adapt individual content and formats. Current topics like AI are also incorporated – students should be challenged in the MPD and feel like they have truly learned something. At the end of the day, students should feel empowered."
As we talk, Felix slowly sets up his equipment in the room. Today's session focuses on the first phase of the MPD: User Research. The first students are gradually arriving. I welcome everyone.
Vera, a student from the current class, asks the group:
"Tell me, who's actually joining José on the Founder's Journey tonight? His startup is right around the corner and is doing something with Robotics – I think the investors are even on board – it's going to be really cool."
A few hands shoot up.
"Unfortunately, I can't handle it," says Niko, also from the current class. "I was already at Fuck-up Night last week – today I really have to go to the gym."
"Fair enough," says Vera. "Tomorrow is the CDTM Running Club again – I've only done it once before, but it was well-received. Let me know if you're interested."
“I saw it on Slack too – feel free to get in touch,” says Niko.
I approach Vera – I need to discuss something with her. She recently had an idea for a new elective on the topic Mindfulness, which I found quite exciting.
“Tell me, what content did you actually have in mind for the elective?” I ask.
“Various reflection methods, meditation, breathwork—something like that.”
"Super exciting," I say. "Let's talk about it again after the session."
I just saw a call from my colleague Sebastian on my cell phone. But since all the students have arrived, I briefly introduce Felix as the lecturer and give him the floor.
I quietly sneak to my seat in the back row and open my laptop.
What's up?, I write to Sebastian. I just need your quick opinion on something related to the London Startup Tour in two weeks. And also: Which youth hostel will host the next kick-off for the new class so they can get to know each other better before the start?
Phew, there's a lot to do today, I think. While I listen to Felix, I simultaneously type on the computer and get back to work—the CDTM is truly a unique place.
This article is the fourth and final part of a series of articles on the CDTM. Read the first part here, here the second part and here the third part.
