What is connectUS?
connectUS is a prestigious project, now in its 10th anniversary, organized by students for students at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). The Primary goal is to broaden future graduates’ business and intercultural understanding by linking theory with practice. After an interesting preparatory seminar with a wide variety of guest speakers, who give in-depth insights about life and business in the United States, connectUS will finally expand its horizons by travelling to the United States – the country of limitless opportunities. The main focus of the project is to provide a profound overview of the key components of success when doing business outside Switzerland.
Growing together
driving innovation across boundaries
Arthur C. Clarke, a famous physicist and writer, once said: “The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible”. This simply means: Push your boundaries, leave your comfort zone, and be innovative to experience the impossible.
All of us need a different perspective to expand our minds and achieve results no one has ever accomplished. To do this, we need to get rid of patterns and think beyond our horizons. But what is the secret ingredient of the recipe to push boundaries successfully? connectUS 2018 is eager to answer this question by learning techniques to detect mental and organizational limitations and how to overcome them.
Growing together is all about using synergies and building alliances to reach a common goal that is bigger than anything before. It is about working together, despite social, cultural and financial boundaries. We need to establish communication and cooperation networks around the globe, because together we will be able to successfully shape our future. Consequently, connectUS is going to visit companies which formed partnerships to achieve mutual objectives. Furthermore, connectUS 2018 enables students to find out how innovation today will change their world tomorrow, and how they can play an active role. We will explore innovation in 3 fields:
Technological field
Immerse yourself into the world of opportunities of the new virtual and augmented reality. Understand what it means when Artificial Intelligence takes over, and how profoundly our lives will change in the future.
Medical field
Ask yourself the question if you would choose the height, eye color or even intelligence of your future child, or if your amputated limb should be replaced with a robotic arm, while discovering other amazing innovations in the medical and health care cosmos.
Social field
Discover the life changing effects of social innovation, where companies and individuals work together to create solutions for future generations, such as saving the rain forest, giving minorities the possibility to raise their voice, and how the fair-trade movement improves farmers’ lives and promotes environmental sustainability.



The key events
The project consists of the following main events:
Expert guest lecturers from various fields such as Management, Politics, Culture and Law, will offer a thorough introduction to life and work in the US.
Participating students get a unique chance to experience the meaning of the US culture and business world in real life.
Closing Event
2 May 2018

At the closing event, all of the flagship projects will reflect on their insights and experiences gained during the preparatory seminar and on-site seminar.
ConnectUS
Riggenbachstrasse 16
4600 Olten
info@connectus.ch