Stormathon
Stormathon is a learning activity that gives students the opportunity to develop, test, and reflect on skills related to collaboration, problem-solving, and co-creative processes. The activity challenges students to work together to tackle a shared challenge and to push the boundaries of what they believe is possible.
Method
The methods and tools used in Stormathon draw inspiration from disciplines such as systems thinking, futures studies, experience design, and Design Thinking.
The activity emphasises the importance of recognizing both individual and collective strengths, and provides students with tools to adapt to and navigate a rapidly changing world. The focus is on skills related to complex problem-solving, understanding systemic relationships, collaboration, creative processes, communication, and self-awareness—all transferable skills essential for sustainable development.
By integrating Stormathon into a course module, all students—regardless of their self-image or preconceived notions about innovation and entrepreneurship—are given the opportunity to develop their transferable skills. The activity also encourages diversity within working groups and offers students hands-on experience in seeking out, understanding, and actively applying insights from multiple perspectives.
Structure
Stormathon is developed, planned, and facilitated by staff at Mau Innovation. It is a full-day activity offered free of charge and tailored to the specific needs and learning objectives of your course.
Its flexible format enables a more sustainable and accessible structure that takes into account both individual and contextual conditions.
Röster om Stormathon
“The staff at Storm can offer students something that my colleagues and I cannot, in an environment that stimulates creativity”.
“I’ve worked with Stormathon twice in our master’s program Urban Business and Development. The aim has been to challenge students to engage in a Design Thinking process applied to a real-world challenge identified by an external stakeholder. This has given students the opportunity to work on an actual case, and with professional guidance, they’ve gained experience in what a creative and innovative development process can look like.”
“In autumn 2023, we collaborated with the City of Malmö and the Malmö Start-up District. As part of their final assignment, students were asked to connect the day’s experience to the course’s academic texts on decision-making, business networks, and cross-sector collaboration, among other topics. The staff at Storm can offer students something that my colleagues and I cannot, in an environment that truly fosters creativity.”
— Caroline Wigren-Kristoferson, Faculty of Culture and Society
“Stormathon contributes to the development of higher education pedagogy and research for future teacher education.”
“Through Stormathon, we can clarify the need and relevance of further developing a largely unexplored area within higher education pedagogy—namely, the challenges of connecting didactic modelling with Design Thinking for innovative advancement in teacher education.”
“Over the past three years, I have integrated Stormathon into the courses Teaching for Sustainability, Naturkunskap för alla, and Supplementary Teacher Training. In each case, the challenge was provided by Caretakers of the Environment International (CEI)—an international learning network for teachers and students. The societal challenge focused on non-formal learning and teaching methods for sustainable development in primary and secondary education.”
— Birgitta Nordén, Faculty of Learning and Society
Contact
Pablo Vilches
Project Manager, MaU Innovation
Phone: +46 (0)40-6658258
E-mail: pablo.vilches@mau.se
