TU Ilmenau has a new creative space in the university library: The "Makerspace@UB", which is designed as an open workshop for all users of the library and is part of the university's FabLab, was opened on November 14 by Vice President for Studies and Teaching Prof. Anja Geigenmüller and Library Director Gerhard Vogt.
What future skills do students need? What will the learning scenarios of the future look like? And what temporal, digital and physical spaces do we need for this at our university? TU Ilmenau has also been addressing these questions in recent years. "Teaching and studying are changing: the so-called future skills of today's students are based on problem orientation, project work, teamwork, stress resistance and the ability to endure ambivalence," explains Vice President for Teaching and Learning Prof. Anja Geigenmüller:
The classic lecture can no longer manage all of this. We need other forms of teaching that require new teaching spaces. Makerspaces like the one we have now opened in the university library are a very important resource to this end - also to promote student projects even more.
The room, which until recently was part of the University Library's bookbinding department, contains workbenches, a vice, various tools and creative materials as well as a sewing machine with accessories, an iron and ironing board. The room can also be used by groups and as part of events such as open workshops or courses.
The Makerspace@UB is part of TU Ilmenau's FabLab, which, in addition to the new learning space in the university library, also includes the workshop of the Ilmkubator start-up service, the IlmkubatorLab, and the UNIKAT student workshop. "As part of regular network meetings, we discussed the equipment and offerings of the various makerspaces in the FabLab," reports Milena Pfafferott, who coordinates the new learning space in the university library: While the student workshop and the IlmkubatorLab focus on offerings and tools for electrical engineering, mechanics and programming, the Makspace@UB sees itself as a craft and creative space for "everything to do with paper, cardboard and fabric", says Milena Pfafferott:
However, there have already been numerous synergy effects between the various players in the FabLab.
"Space for creative minds"
The UNIKAT student workshop, for instance, will also be holding workshops in the Makerspace@UB in future. At the opening on November 14, UNIKAT students presented the new sewing equipment and interested parties were able to try out their creativity on the sewing machine as part of a workshop: "We are delighted that the offer was so well received with more than 20 participants," says Milena Pfafferott. As part of the opening, the FabLab participants already made contact with interested parties. Further workshops are being planned. "The Makerspace not only enriches the UB's learning and teaching space, but also offers a space for creative minds from different disciplines," says Library Director Gerhard Vogt:
'Above all, however, the space offers opportunities for the various players in teaching at TU Ilmenau to network further with each other.
Prof. Anja Geigenmüller is also convinced of the potential of the makerspaces for new forms of teaching at TU Ilmenau:
'It's great that several areas of the university have come together here to make joint use of the new teaching spaces and to generate new ideas together with the users so that the FabLab concept can continue to develop.
A booking request for the free use of the new creative space can be made via the University Library website. Anyone who would like to use the space as part of a course or for projects with groups, or would like to view the space and its possibilities first, can contact auskunft.ub@tu-ilmenau.de.
More information about the Makerspace@UB and the planned events.
Contact us
Milena Pfafferott
Head of Use UB | Subject Specialist Engineering Sciences