The students of the Elite Graduate Program “Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis” (SynCat) went to Schloss Hirschberg in Beilngries for a workshop exploring team building, leadership, and coaching skills. Both days were packed with engaging activities and talks that provided us with valuable skills and insights, all while socializing, enjoying delicious food, and having a great time together!
The SynCat students from the University of Regensburg gathered at the historic Hirschberg Castle in Beilngries for their Social Skills Workshop on 28th and 29th October 2025. Led by Mr. Fabian Drasdo, the workshop focused on equipping participants with essential skills in teamwork, leadership and coaching. Through a combination of lectures and interactive discussions, Mr. Drasdo introduced core concepts, emphasizing the importance of effective communication and active listening in creating a cohesive team environment.
In the morning session, Mr. Drasdo guided students through team-building exercises designed to foster collaboration and trust. These activities highlighted the role of each team member, helping students identify their unique strengths and understand diverse perspectives. Participants practiced leadership by taking turns facilitating discussions, sharing constructive feedback, and making joint decisions. This hands-on approach allowed students to directly experience the impact of positive leadership styles, such as leading by example and motivating peers.
In the afternoon, students engaged in practical activities that required them to apply the day's lessons. Working in small teams, they were tasked with solving real-world challenges, encouraging them to put newly acquired skills into practice. This setup enabled them to explore collaborative problem-solving methods, practice empathy in group settings and build effective communication strategies. The first day concluded with reflections on individual learning experiences, with students sharing insights on how teamwork and leadership skills could support their future academic and professional journeys.
Day two was just as eventful as day one. We had two more coaching sessions, giving everyone the chance to experience being a coach, coachee and observer firsthand. These roleplays provided us with different perspectives on coaching sessions, deepening our understanding of the importance of coaching skills not only in the professional world but also in our personal lives. Some experiences were shared openly, while others were valued privately.
We also participated in two team activities. The first challenge was to form a perfect circle by holding hands and including everyone, all while being blindfolded and shuffled around. The sudden unfamiliar darkness made us feel anxious, but this was soon forgotten as we reassured ourselves with the effective communication and leadership skills we had learned from previous activities and talks. We successfully completed the task, and it was a true testament to our teamwork. In the second activity, we initially thought we had to compete with each other and rely solely on individual capabilities. However, as it progressed, we realized the bigger picture: even in competition, we needed helping hands and mutual agreements. After all, it turned out to be a lesson in teamwork.
This workshop provided a great opportunity for new members of the Elite Graduate Program “Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis” to integrate into the team. We all acquired valuable skills that will benefit us in our lives. Most importantly, we all had good laughs!
Text: Arslan Raza, Zen Shimizu, Anja Stromeck-Faderl
