I recently made a fairly complete list of all the projects and assignments Knowmads did and some still do. I was more then surprised to get to an amount of about 50 different projects. In this number I counted offered, denied, given back, currently running and already finished assignments, some paid, some not, from small to v. big ones. Furthermore I included personal projects that are somehow related to Knowmads and internal tasks such as doing all the administration for the “Knowmads Cooperation”.

Interesting enought, the Knowmads Council did introduce a new weekly curriculum occurrence, called “Assignment Reflection” last week. The idea is that everybody who feels like it reflects once a week in a non-project core group based setting about what they are currently working on. After raising awareness by sharing observations, feelings, needs and requests, in me a feeling of being able to help, to exchange and to trust even more was created. “Assignment Reflection” hit overall positive feedback among the students.

Here some insights in what these projects are about, extracts from the meeting protocol (via Pieter K., I took some ‘[...]‘ things out and added a ‘(project description)’ and ‘[learning fields the assignment or project touches upon]‘:

1.     MPI (Multi Purpose Industries Assignment, pre-project plan phase)
[Marketing, Sustainability, New Business Design, Social Innovation, International Project Design]
“There was a good first meeting about the MPI assignment. A lot of valid questions where asked and I am really happy with the level of openness and respect. Next steps are arranging an appointment at their office after Gil, to see and feel what they are doing and to get more information/answers. Seb will arrange this meeting. Till this meeting, everybody is diving into their own chosen subjects. [...]“

2. RHK (Royal Haskoning SMC Assignment, execution phase)
[Sustainability]
“Today there is a meeting between RHK and Manuel, Naomi, Roy & Ditte. Topics are, increasing respondents, calling, the budget [...] and round table as a follow up/new assignment. [...]“

3. MODELMINDS (Start up of Oscar, Graphical Harvesting and Visual Recording)
[Entrepreneurship, New Business Design]
“Oscar explained where he stands with Modelminds. We all see a lot of passion here and this is great, good job Oscar.  [...]“

4. ROEL MARKETING ASSIGNMENT (Roel’s Assignment, pre-project plan phase)
[Marketing, Creativity, New Business Design]
“After a new meeting yesterday, the group agreed upon a concept [...]. Follow up is researching and harvesting information about different topics for the next brainstorm which will be arranged by Marianne, the week after Gil. Marianne will come with a proposal and will also update Roel.”

5. KLM (KLM Assignment, rounding off phase)
[Process Design, Creativity, New Business Design]
“KLM Invoice is send and today we receive an answer on the payment. Maartje is on top off this and although we didn’t read all her mails, she is doing a great job according to Pieter S. Maartje will also plan an evaluation with Joris, Scout and Robert Jan and the KLM project group, plus council. Before this meeting there is preparation needed with the KLM project group, which will be arranged when the meeting is planned. Ditte & Maartje also spoke about the S.Korea assignment and are planning a presentation [...]“

6. DREAMSCHOOL (Dreamschool Assignment, evaluation phase)
[Process Design, New Business Design]
“Marianne felt alone in this assignment, nobody took real ownership. Therefore she communicated with Roel and gave back the assignment. According to Roel, this was very businesslike and he asked Marianne if she wanted to be involved in later stages. She is interested in doing this and other people are still welcome to help and join.”

7. SYNTHENS (Assignments via Synthens, evaluation phase)
[Product Design, Marketing, Creativity, Personal Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Sustainability]
“There was an update about both Prince Blocks (Nadav) and Brick-Bloks (Rob). Prince blocks was a nice project with Nadav and we think we encouraged him to continue and change some plans. [...]”

8. KNOWMADS PROJECT (? Ditte/Marianne, To be announced)
[???]
“Still very very very secret.. to be continued”

9. HIGH-SCHOOL WORKSHOPS (Project idea by Cornelius, ideation phase)
[Creativity, New Business Design, Entrepreneurship, Process Design, Personal Leadership]
“Cornelius explained his idea of ‘high school shake up workshops’. Some more where enthusiastic about his plans. His concern was the English language in the Netherlands. We agreed upon making this a ‘startup wheel-day’ if this is possible [...] So the next planned startupwheel day, is hopefully filled with this case.”

10. PICNIC (Picnic 2010 Assignment, rounding off-phase)
[Marketing, Creativity, Process Design]
“Also here the invoice is send and there are a lot of people who want to reflect this assignment. Again a topic on our next assignment learning wall.”

11. BLOG (Knowmads Tribe 1/ 1.2 Blog, execution phase)
[Personal Leadership, Marketing, Creativity]
“Actually Manuel is still very proud and happy that it is going this well with the blog. And we all should be very proud, because we and especially Manu are/is doing a great job! Follow up: COUNCIL NEED TO WRITE!!!! Carianne needs more support with translating for the Ode blog and it would be nice if some students write a next blogpost again. Natasha maybe about her new company?”

ps: Jes, I am working on a nice overview of all the 50 projects, with descriptions, dates, names and outcomes. Hold your breath, we are busy :-)