Can robot dogs dance? How do gummy bears get their colour? Who actually designed the Kamp-Lintfort town logo? – Students and lecturers answered these and many other questions in one-to-one conversations at the ‘ProbierDich-Lounge’, the university’s study guidance event for school pupils and parents, which took place last Thursday at the university’s Kamp-Lintfort campus. In a relaxed atmosphere, the school pupils were able to find out everything they needed to know about choosing a degree programme and career opportunities. They met students over snacks and drinks in the ‘Hang-out Area’, marvelled at environmental experiments, tested the smart production line of a miniature factory, witnessed the marvellous creation of food colourings and explored laboratories and lecture theatres. Meanwhile, a robot dog darted around their feet and the university’s robot, Pepper, invited them to dance, offered advice or took a selfie.
“Pupils are often still unsure whether they want to study at university, and if so, what they want to study. With the ‘Interest Fair’, we aim to support them in this decision-making process. Here, they can find out more through informal conversations with us and plan their next steps,” explains Lena Völkel, student adviser and contact person for ‘No Qualification Without a Pathway’ (KAoA). As part of this state-wide initiative, the university works closely with schools in the region to support the transition from school to work.
Under the slogan ‘Campus vibes, Study Café, workshops – check out your future in the ProbierDich Lounge!’, the university is hosting an event specifically tailored to the needs and interests of prospective students and their parents. This enables them to find out comprehensive information in a relaxed atmosphere about the 25 bachelor’s degree programmes and numerous subject areas, as well as to learn more about the entry requirements for degree programmes, student finance and campus life.
In addition, the HSRW also showcased itself as a training centre. School pupils were given an insight into vocational training at the university – for example in Campus IT, the library or the laboratory – and the Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) at the Tropenhaus.
Pupils travelled from the Ruhr area and the wider region to attend the study orientation event. During the event, they had the opportunity to get a taste of university life in a lively and cheerful atmosphere. The high number of visitors speaks volumes about the great interest in an event that brings prospective students and the university together on an equal footing. The ‘ProbierDich’ Lounge, with its interactive elements and personalised advice, offered prospective students a valuable opportunity to explore the university as a place of study in depth and to gain a solid foundation for deciding on their course of study.
For anyone who couldn’t make it to Kamp-Lintfort, there’s a second chance: on Thursday, 30 January 2025, the ‘ProbierDich Lounge’ will take place from 4 pm to 7 pm on the Kleve campus. Here, too, pupils will be able to learn about and try out the various fields of study within the faculties through hands-on experiments – whether it’s the gummy bear factory at the Faculty of Life Sciences, the e-kart garage at the Faculty of Technology and Bionics, or research into tax evasion at the Faculty of Society and Economics. The Faculty of Communication and Environment will also be taking part again and will be bringing along the university’s robot, Pepper. Pupils can register in advance via the website and secure a voucher wristband for a free snack at the Study Café. Registration is non-binding and free of charge: hsrw.info/wdso25
