8 April 2024

Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and Stadtwerke Mühlhausen GmbH signed a cooperation agreement on 5 April as part of the university's dual study programme. Henning Weiß, Technical Managing Director of Stadtwerke Mühlhausen GmbH, and Prof Dr Jörg Wagner, President of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, signed the cooperation agreement in Mühlhausen. The partnership aims to link young academics with practical experience at an early stage and thus counteract the shortage of skilled labour in the STEM sector. The term "MINT" stands for mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology.

Prof Dr Jörg Wagner (left), President of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, and Henning Weiß (right), Technical Managing Director of Stadtwerke Mühlhausen, seal the cooperation with a handshake (Photo: Tina Bergknapp)

Henning Weiß emphasised the importance of investing in in-house training as a response to the labour market. "The dual study programme is an attractive option for young people and offers us the opportunity to recruit potential specialists and managers at an early stage," explained Weiß. Prof. Dr Jörg Wagner emphasised how important it is for students to have a connection to the company in order to see the relevance of their training in the real world of work.

Daniel Strecker, Head of Planning & Project Management at Stadtwerke, and Marcus Kiel, Head of Operations & Maintenance, also took part in the signing ceremony. Both will act as contact persons for the dual students.

Thomas Füldner from the university's Transferwerk emphasised that the dual study programme is being continuously developed in order to keep graduates in the region and continuously adapt to the needs of students and companies. "Electricity & heat are exactly our topics," said Füldner.

The cooperation was initiated by Dr Pascal Leibbrandt, Dean of Studies for Regenerative Energy Technology at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, and the Transferwerk. Dr Leibbrandt has already worked with the municipal utilities in the past on projects in the field of heat and solar thermal energy.

The joint partnership marks an important step in the promotion of practically oriented education and in strengthening the regional labour market with qualified specialists.