15 October 2025

An important step towards securing skilled workers in the region and transferring knowledge: Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and Stadtwerke Sondershausen GmbH signed a cooperation agreement on 29 September 2025. Together, the two partners want to promote practice-orientated studies and thus further strengthen the link between academic education and professional practice.

The aim of the agreement is to enable young people to study in a way that optimally combines theory and practice. Students will gain practical experience at Stadtwerke Sondershausen during their studies at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. As a result, they not only acquire sound specialised knowledge, but also valuable insights into real work processes and operational procedures.

The first students on the Bachelor's degree programme in Electrical Engineering and Electronics will start the new cooperation model in the winter semester 2025/2026. The programme is to be expanded in the future and supplemented with further technical degree programmes.

The partnership also strengthens the attractiveness of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences as a practical educational institution and supports Stadtwerke Sondershausen in its commitment to training and retaining qualified junior staff in the region in the long term.

Prof Dr Jörg Wagner, President of Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, was convinced: "With this cooperation, we are creating a bridge between academic training and practical work experience. Students benefit from real insights into everyday working life - and companies benefit from committed young talent who can apply their knowledge directly."

Anja Lemke, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Sondershausen GmbH, also emphasised the importance of the collaboration: "We want to offer young people from the region attractive prospects and at the same time invest in the future of our company. The close dovetailing of studies and practical experience is a key element in securing the long-term supply of skilled labour."

The co-operation is exemplary for modern, practice-oriented university education and underlines the joint commitment of both partners to the region of northern Thuringia.