Professorship Experience HNU –
experience instead of just informing
The virtual professorship experience, accessible with your own avatars in an innovative 3D environment from TriCAT, was developed to give interested parties an in-depth insight into career paths at Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences as well as the culture, values and self-image of the university. The aim is to make it possible to experience HNU as an attractive place to work and a development partner.
The digital offering was developed as part of the third-party funded project InnoPROF, which is funded by the federal-state program “FH-Personal”. The appealing interface is based on a well thought-out didactic concept: it is based on the principle of explorative learning, which promotes intrinsic motivation. Visitors are actively invited to discover the content through their own actions, reflections and experiences. The official launch was on July 7, 2025.
“For many, the journey begins with the question: How do I become a professor? For us, it begins when someone comes to us and helps shape our university – over many years. That’s why we want to show what we stand for as a university right from the start – not just in words, but in a form that can be experienced.”
Prof. Dr. Julia Kormann, Vice President of the HNU and initiator of the project
TARGET GROUP
Anyone who is interested in a professorship – whether with a traditional university background or a practical background.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND CHALLENGES
- Development of an interactive 3D environment that goes far beyond a conventional information portal.
- Enabling chance encounters and real-time interaction and communication between users.
- Presenting the university as a potential employer and development partner.
- Providing comprehensive information on academic careers and the university’s culture and values.
- Creation of thematic zones that make knowledge accessible at different levels of perception.
- Flexibility: The experience can be adapted at any time and offers low-threshold access and 24/7 availability.
- Simple navigation to make the user flow intuitive.
DIDACTIC APPROACHES AND METHODS
a) Didactic basis: Experience instead of just informing
The concept of the experience world follows the principle of explorative learning. Visitors are invited to actively move through the content. An approach that focuses on intrinsic motivation in line with the Constructive Alignment Theory: Absorbing knowledge is supported by own action, reflection and experience.
In didactic terms, the world of experience is structured in such a way that it:
- …offers low-threshold entry points to minimize barriers for first-time visitors.
- …enables non-linear navigation so that individual interests can be pursued in a self-directed manner.
- …multimodal content combined: Texts, images, videos and animated elements work on different levels of perception.
- …creates authenticity through real stories, real quotes and visual references to HNU. A key element in promoting identification with the potential place of work.
b) Design and spatial structure: orientation through form
The spatial design follows the principle of embodied cognition, learning through movement and spatial thinking. The content is positioned in such a way that it creates an inner connection between space, topic and action options. The world of experience is divided into thematic zones, which are structured analogously to stations on the academic journey through the HNU.
For instance:
- The entry point offers a clear, visually calm overview of the university.
- The career path from the public announcement of a professorship to onboarding visualizes key milestones on a walkable line – based on the idea of “Learning Path Design”.
- Experience HNU: Faculties, research fields and university structure are presented in spacious room zones with individually designed, interactive elements, such as web link walls.
- Perspectives and identification: Emotional depth – this is not just about career, but about belonging.
Technology meets attitude: Why TriCAT?
As a partner of universities and as a company in the field of immersive teaching/learning environments, we know: Technology is just a tool. The attitude behind it is crucial. In the HNU’s Professorship Experience, the focus was not only on conveying information, but also on building relationships, cultural fit and value transparency.
Our designer and our didactics expert worked together with the HNU on the question: How can we generate curiosity and at the same time convey commitment?
The answer is this virtual space – a place that inspires people to go their own way in science – with HNU as a possible destination.
“At TriCAT, we see every day how virtual worlds, digital twins and AI agents are changing our world. As a project partner, we are particularly pleased that HNU is once again showing how to think and implement university development innovatively with the Professorship Experience.”
Markus Herkersdorf, CEO TriCAT GmbH
LAUNCH EVENT AT HNU
The platform was presented for the first time at the official launch event on July 7 in HNU’s Innovation Space. Vice President Prof. Dr. Julia Kormann, Fabian Girschick from the InnoProf project team and Markus Herkersdorf, CEO of TriCAT, presented the interactive world of experience to internal and external guests. Lena Schuler and Hanna Reinhardt from TriCAT, who were present in the world of experience and digitally connected, guided the guests through the various rooms and offers of the world of experience.