Project Education with BrightBirds

BrightBirds at Han University of Arnhem and Nijmegen

(This article still refers to College Coins, since mid-May 2022 we have rebranded College Coins and renamed it BrightBirds)

"HAN uses the College Coins app within the U.R. Business concept. At the start, students are immediately put into the role of a start-up professional. The starting point is that during a block, semester or full year, classes run a business unit themselves, falling under a holding company (the institute/school/faculty). The students are employees of this business unit. The business units compete with each other through individual and group performance. Within this large concept, the College Coins app enables sending assignments, assigning coins and tracking results.

The assignments sent to students are mostly those from the business world, but assignments are also sent from internal functions, such as marketing and communications. In most assignments, students fulfil the role of consultant. This creates a win-win situation. The clients get relevant input from students with a fresh perspective and the students get current assignments from the real world.

Students are positive and are more likely to take up challenges. In addition, the elaborations of challenges are much more creative and original. The competition element creates more solidarity and bonding in the classroom! The atmosphere in the classes seems better as a result and that, besides paying attention to the student, is a very important factor for study success."

Stephan Plat, propaedeutic coordinator of the Institute of Business Administration at Arnhem and Nijmegen University of Applied Sciences