The work-study programme – an opportunity for businesses

Jana Bauhaus spoke about her experiences as one of the first students in the Department of Technology and Bionics. She has been studying since 2011 and is simultaneously undertaking an apprenticeship as an industrial mechanic at Kersten Maschinenbau GmbH in Rees. She plans to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in the summer of 2013.  Three days a week, she is one of 16 apprentices at the company; on the other two days, she is a student of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. In addition, intensive courses are organised in cooperation with the Kisters Foundation, in which the vocational training content is taught. “The most interesting thing about the training is the variety. You learn the theory at university, whilst at work you’re always right in the thick of things. The fact that everything at the university is conducted in English wasn’t easy, especially at the start. But you get a lot of support, and interacting with the many international fellow students makes using the foreign language easier,” said the 19-year-old student. Anna Kaja spoke from the perspective of a company that offers dual training. She is an HR officer at AUMUND Fördertechnik GmbH in Rheinberg. Since the summer of 2012, the company has been training two young men as product designers, who are simultaneously studying Mechanical Engineering at university. “At AUMUND, the management was convinced of the benefits of this form of training, and the workstations were set up in close consultation with the trainers. Following a very thorough selection process, in which particular emphasis was placed on good grades and a good command of English, the two trainees are now receiving very close supervision,” said the HR officer.  AUMUND is aware that such training is resource-intensive, but hopes to be able to train the high-calibre staff required in the future itself and retain them within the company. The two chairmen of the employers’ associations, Wim Abbing from the Business Association Group and Ralf Schwartz from the Lower Rhine Business Association, are also convinced of the merits of this training model in their capacity as managing directors of companies in the Lower Rhine region. Abbing praised the trainees’ exceptional commitment and motivation in taking on such a dual workload. And Ralf Schwartz, who has also had positive experiences in his family business, recognises the particular advantages that Kleve’s university campus, with all its facilities, offers to companies in the region. Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences boasts state-of-the-art facilities and an innovative range of degree programmes, and both students and businesses are equally impressed by the opportunities on offer. Prof. Dr Kisters, Head of the Mechanical Engineering programme, and the Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Bionics, Prof. Dr Brandt, presented the degree programmes to the visitors from the companies and, during a concluding tour, showed them around the premises. The questions asked at the end clearly demonstrated a great deal of interest in this unique form of training. The Lower Rhine Business Association is the regional umbrella organisation for several employers’ associations. It comprises around 900 companies from industry, commerce and the service sector in Krefeld and the districts of Kleve, Viersen, Wesel and Neuss. The association’s core responsibilities include social policy matters and providing comprehensive advice to member companies on issues relating to employment law and labour management. Many years ago, the Lower Rhine Business Association set itself the task of initiating and supporting educational initiatives in the region.

The business association group, comprising six individual associations and around 700 member companies, is one of the largest employers’ organisations in North Rhine-Westphalia. Based in Duisburg, its traditional catchment area extends from the western Ruhr region (Duisburg, Mülheim, Oberhausen) through the district of Wesel to the Dutch border (district of Kleve) and into the Münsterland region (district of Borken).

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences

The newly established Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences was founded on 1 May 2009 and, through its educational philosophy, is committed to providing young people with an innovative, interdisciplinary and international education. Since the 2012/13 winter semester, the university has been offering a total of 25 bachelor’s and three master’s degree programmes across four faculties – ‘Technology and Bionics’, ‘Life Sciences’, ‘Society and Economics’ and ‘Communication and Environment’. Around 75 per cent of the degree programmes are taught in English, and more than 2,700 students from 84 different countries now feel at home at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. This provides students with opportunities for intercultural exchange and optimal preparation for the national and international labour market.