Over the past few months, Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSRM) has provided prospective students with a broad insight into the practical aspects of an engineering degree program. Several small groups of 11th- and 12th-grade students from various regional high schools completed their two-week mandatory internship in the Faculty of Engineering.
A Full Schedule in the High-Tech Laboratories
For 14 days, the high school students stepped into the role of aspiring engineers. Accompanied by lab staff and students, they worked their way through a broad spectrum of modern key technologies as well as traditional disciplines. The hands-on program included the following stations, among others:
- Electronics & Microcontroller Laboratory: Independently soldering electrical circuits and taking their first steps in microcontroller programming.
- Vacuum Technology & Cleanroom Lab: Hands-on experiments in the microstructuring of silicon wafers under real cleanroom conditions.
- Renewable Energy & Hydrogen Technology: Experiments on a system consisting of an electrolyzer and a fuel cell for clean energy generation.
- Medical Engineering & Sensors: Insights into how imaging techniques work and the application of modern sensors.
- Maker Space: Creative work and prototyping in the students’ open high-tech workshop.
“We place a strong emphasis on hands-on training,” says Prof. Dr. Hans-Dieter Bauer, head of the Applied Physics degree program. “An engineer must be able to bridge the gap between scientific basics and practical applications. That’s why our students don’t just watch from the sidelines. Here, they’re allowed to get hands-on with the processes themselves.” Of course, theory is essential, which is why the students were also given the opportunity to attend a regular lecture.
Enthusiasm on Equal Footing
The feedback from the students reflects the success of this approach. “The internship was super exciting!” enthuses one of the participating students about the days in the lab. “Especially the unexpected things you don’t learn about at school at all, like working with semiconductors in a cleanroom or hydrogen technology.” The atmosphere on the campus made a particularly strong impression: “The mentors were all super friendly and treated us as equals. It really makes you feel taken seriously,” adds another intern.
Praise from the Supervision Team and Outlook
The young guests also received an overwhelmingly positive response from the university. The entire supervising team—comprising professors, members of staff specializing in research and technology, and upper-level students—was impressed by the students’ keen interest and attested to their consistent attention and diligence.
“They showed the necessary interest and completed their assignments thoroughly and with dedication. I’m hopeful that we’ll see some of them again soon—as students!” says Prof. Dr. Peter Dannenmann, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, summing up the experience as thoroughly positive.