VTEAMS is a 1-week, 3 ECTS VIRTUAL summer-school elective where mixed international teams apply their skills to a real, community-oriented challenge and present a tangible artefact at the end of the week. The artefact may be technical or non-technical, such as a prototype, concept video, communication campaign, or other solution to the project brief. Students gain experience in coordinating distributed work, bridging cultural perspectives, and communicating results clearly across digital platforms.
The week concludes with a public online showcase where teams present their artefact to peers, partners, and a jury. Outstanding projects may continue beyond the week in collaboration with external partners.
Why Join VTEAMS?
Work globally, without leaving home.
Experience what it means to collaborate across cultures, time zones, and communication styles. You will work in a fully virtual environment with an international team.
Build practical skills for modern digital work
You will learn cultural frameworks (e.g., Hofstede, Hall, Trompenaars), practice asynchronous/synchronous coordination, and use digital collaboration tools effectively.
Create a real outcome
Your team will deliver a concrete artefact and present it at a final online showcase with jury feedback. Top teams may be invited to continue their project.
Strengthen your professional profile
Virtual teamwork, intercultural communication, agile planning, storytelling, and pitching are all essential abilities in today’s global tech and design industries. Strengthen these skills in this module.
Target Group
This module is open to students from all partner universities who want to develop practical skills for working across cultures and time zones, regardless of their specific discipline.
It is open as Option Module (Z) to HSLU-I students in assessment level onward, from the following programs: Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Business IT & Digital Transformation, Digital Ideation, Immersive Technologies, Informatik, Wirtschaftsinformatik
Admission requirements
- The language of instruction is English. Students whose native language is not English should have at least a B2+ level (e.g. IELTS 6.5).
- No prior knowledge or prerequisites required.
- Study places: A maximum of 60 students can be accepted for the Summer School.
Technical Requirements
- Stable internet connection
- Headset/microphone
- Access to collaboration platforms (e.g., Miro, Figma, shared docs)
Assessment and Workload
- Team artefact/prototype & showcase: 40%
- Team process evidence: 30%
- Individual portfolio/reflection: 30%
Workload: 90 hours (40h conducted online during the intensive week + 10h assisted study + 40h individual study and preparation).
Students complete a short onboarding phase before the block week and submit their final reflection afterwards. Pre-work materials and team assignments will be shared before Day 1.
Weekly Structure
Day 1 – Foundations
Day 2 – Ideation & Planning
Day 3 – Development
Day 4 – Storytelling
Day 5 – Showcase
Responsible Degree Program Coordinator Nathaly Tschanz
