Taste course for the electrical engineering and electromobility degree programs

According to the Institute of the German Economy, there is currently a shortage of more than 300,000 workers in the STEM sector (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), almost 90,000 of them in the energy and electrical professions. The Department of Electrical Engineering demonstrated that technology does not have to be dry and boring during the one-day taster course "Summer School Electrical Engineering and Electromobility".

STEM subjects at RWU

Seven high school students from the region took part in the Summer School. They learned how to apply for university studies which STEM subjects can be studied at RWU and how university studies differ from learning at school. The participants were surprised at how many options they have at RWU: In addition to the Electrical Engineering and Electromobility programs offered by the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, two other faculties, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Technology and Management, also offer technical degree programs with different specializations: Mechanical Engineering, Automotive Engineering as well as Energy and Environmental Engineering or alternatively Physical Engineering as well as Technology Management - the participants were very interested. Some technical degree programs are also offered in English as an option.

In addition to the insights into the various degree programs provided by Associate Dean Professor Benedikt Reick, they were advised by Lucia Mengis. She works in the Admissions Office and Student Services and gave valuable tips on applications and enrollment.

Theoretical and practical insights

In a trial lecture, the students built a small electric motor together with Professor Markus Pfeil, the head of the electrical engineering and electromobility programs. Together with Joachim Feßler, academic assistant in electrical engineering, they soldered components onto practice circuit boards. The circuit boards were provided by the RAFI company. In the afternoon, an engineer from AVL SET spoke about career opportunities as an engineer. She explained that with a degree in a purely technical program, one is not limited to the field of engineering; the opportunities on the job market are very good and the earning potential is above average.

During the subsequent campus tour, the participants programmed an industrial robot and visited the student makerspace, the H.O.M.E. After an intensive day, the evening was rounded off with a barbecue. The trial study was made possible by donations from the companies RAFI GmbH & Co. KG and AVL SET GmbH.