The “InVent – Innovations in Mine Ventilation” program, developed and implemented by Dr.-Ing. Elisabeth Clausen, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Mining, was launched as a pilot course as early as the 2014–15 winter semester. 

An authentic learning laboratory in the form of a ventilation test tunnel was created at the Rammelsberg Mine in Goslar. The project focuses on promoting a practice-oriented, active, and collaborative teaching and learning culture in the field of ventilation in underground mines. In addition to acquiring knowledge, students can expand their competencies and career-related skills. According to the lecturer in the project proposal, the project specifically promotes “self-organized and active learning, the alignment of learning with intended learning objectives, the acquisition of competencies, and the development of learning strategies.” The new project is integrated into the courses “Ventilation and Air Conditioning” for bachelor’s students and “Mine Ventilation and Climatization – Advanced Level” for master’s students.

In 2014, Dr. Elisabeth Clausen (Institute of Mining) won the Clausthal University of Technology Teaching Award for the concept of a novel underground course, the “InVent – Innovations in Mine Ventilation Education” project. The course has since been successfully conducted and evaluated at the Rammelsberg World Heritage Mine.