How Make helps Hof University students stand out in the job market

A German university teaches students how to use workflow automation with zero coding skills, helping them jumpstart their careers after graduation.

• Industry: Education

• Use case: Business process automation

• Country: Germany

Hof University, a German institution in the town of Hof, offers interdisciplinary programs in engineering, computer science, business, and design.  Its bachelor's and master's business programs use Make to teach no-code automation, giving students practical skills for the digital age. This modern approach ensures they stay ahead in a fast-evolving tech landscape.

The university initially used Signavio, a Business Process Management platform, to design its internal workflows, but after its acquisition by SAP, it lost third-party connectivity. That made it ineffective for Hof’s automation needs. Seeking an alternative, they turned to Celonis, their process intelligence platform, which recommended Make.

Besides serving as an internal automation tool, Hof integrated Make into its curriculum through the Academic Alliance Program. Professor Jens Kirchner, the Dean of the Business Department at Hof University, and Professor Stefan Huch shared how our platform helps non-IT students nail automation, bridge theory with practice, and prepare them for the job market.

“Automation is no longer a luxury but a necessity in modern business education. With Make, we can turn theoretical concepts into practical skills, ensuring students are ready to face digital transformation head-on.”

Prof. Stefan Huch

The challenges 

Before learning to automate with Make, students were facing two main drawbacks:

Struggling to bridge theory and practice

Many business students have difficulties connecting theoretical process management concepts with real-world applications. While traditional coursework covers automation principles, it lacks practical implementation opportunities, leaving students with a gap in technical skills.

Navigating automation without an IT background

Most Hof University students come from a business background with little exposure to coding or IT infrastructure. Understanding how automation tools work and applying them to real business cases is essential, but many existing enterprise automation platforms are too complex for beginners.

The solution

Hof University incorporated Make into both bachelor’s and master’s programs as a key tool for teaching process automation. 

In undergraduate courses, students start with a theoretical knowledge of automation. They dive into how digital workflows improve processes, cutting manual work and supporting business efficiency. In master’s programs, students go further by designing and implementing real workflows in Make, applying their knowledge in practical scenarios.

“Giving students the ability to create automation workflows in a real-world tool like Make enhances their learning experience and prepares them for the evolving digital economy.”

Prof. Stefan Huch

Automating leave of absence 

One of the key exercises involves automating a leave-of-absence request process. Instead of submitting requests manually, students build an automated system using Google Forms to collect data, Make to process and route approvals, and Google Sheets to track status updates. Once the status is changed to approved or denied, the information is sent to HR management.

Automating travel expense approval 

Another key process students automate with Make is travel expense and approval management. Instead of manually submitting travel requests and waiting for approval, they design workflows where travel expenses are logged via Google Forms. Make processes the requests and route them to designated managers. Approved expenses are automatically recorded in Google Sheets or another database, while employees receive email notifications confirming their status.

“Seeing a process come to life with automation makes a huge impact on students. They realize how simple tools can eliminate inefficiencies and optimize everyday operations.” 

Prof. Jens Kirchner

The results

With Make, Hof University made big improvements in the way they teach automation:

• Hands-on knowledge: Students gain practical experience with process automation, making theoretical concepts more tangible

• Bridging the gap: Make helps non-IT students understand and implement automation without needing coding skills 

• Improved job readiness: Students graduate with hands-on automation skills, giving them a competitive edge in the job market

• Curriculum enhancement: Make’s integration into lectures modernizes the way universities teach process management and automation

Why are Hof University and Make the perfect match?

According to Professor Huch, Make isn’t only easier to use than other automation solutions. It also helps students find their place in the job market. Many of Professor Huch’s graduates claim that workflow automation knowledge helped them stand out in interviews and jumpstart their careers in digital business roles right from the start. Companies using platforms like Make highly value people who join already armed with knowledge. Due to its user-friendliness and engaging interface, Professor Huch considers Make an ideal tool for any Academic institution looking to introduce no-code automation to their curriculum.

“Make provides an easy-to-handle solution for non-IT students to grasp automation concepts quickly. It allows us to bring process automation to business education without the complexity of traditional enterprise software. I can only recommend it.” 

Prof. Stefan Huch

Ready to bring automation into your education or business? Get started with Make today.