The study practical week of #dop4u, Dual Orientation Internship Technology, is in full swing this week. "While many are enjoying the vacations, 17 students are showing particular dedication to their career orientation right now," says a delighted Jennifer Middelkamp from the entrepreneurs' association. The eight girls and nine boys, almost all of whom are currently in Q1 at secondary schools in the Borken district, are getting a taste of campus life and are being offered a varied program at the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences (WH).
The young people complete a total of nine stations in two groups, i.e. with fairly individual support, "they also interlock or build on each other," reports Prof. Dr. Marcel Seiler, who organizes the #dop4u at the WH. As an example, he cites components that the young people first design in CAD, which is three-dimensional, technical modeling on the computer, then manufacture on the 3D printer and finally test in the wind tunnel. In addition, microscopy and a flame eater make it possible to experience the study of bionics, mechanical engineering and mechatronics. But the study of electrical engineering, data science and computer science will also be impressively illustrated in other stations this week through the programming of a previously developed, electronic component as well as laboratories for data science and virtual reality. "We teach all of this in a good mix of laboratory experiments, self-experimentation, lectures and project work. All in all, that already gives a pretty good insight into our campus world," says Seiler.
The #dop4u program will continue in mid-January, when the students will be sent out to a total of twelve companies (see box) for another week of practical training, for which they will be released from school. "There they will see what tasks engineers have, which company departments are involved in the product or service, and in what order, or what everyday work is like in the training workshop," says Kirsten Vennemann from the Borken district business development agency.
The #dop4u is organized jointly by the Entrepreneurs' Association, the Association of Münsterland Metal Industrialists (VMM), the Business Development Corporation for the District of Borken mbH (WFG) and the Westphalian University in Bocholt. The goal: to get young people excited about STEM subjects and show them the variety of technical professions as well as the exciting companies here in the region. All info on #dop4u at: www.dop4u.d
Twelve companies are taking part in #dop4u:
- BENNING Elektrotechnik und Elektronik GmbH & Co. KG, Bocholt
- D.velop AG, Gescher
- EMERSON, epro GmbH, Gronau
- Flender GmbH, Bocholt
- HAANE welding systems GmbH & Co. KG, Borken
- OLBRICH GmbH, Bocholt
- PFREUNDT GmbH, Südlohn
- REYGERS SYSTEMHAUS GmbH, Bocholt
- Spaleck GmbH & Co. KG, Bocholt
- Spaleck Oberflächentechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Bocholt
- TIS Technische Informationssysteme GmbH, Bocholt
- Wilhelm Severt Maschinenbau GmbH, Vreden
