A new type of further education programme was launched at Hof University of Applied Sciences at the beginning of April: a total of 19 participants came together for the first time to take part in course modules to gain further qualifications for tasks in the Bavarian water industry. The 15-week course is aimed specifically at people from refugee and migrant backgrounds who are currently receiving citizens' benefits. The course, organised in collaboration with the Kompetenznetzwerk Wasser und Energie e.V., is to be repeated soon after completion.
Picture: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
Participants must also be technically trained or at least have prior training and provide evidence of this:
A qualification as a technician or engineer with a Bachelor's or Master's degree or comparable training outside the EU with a recognised qualification was checked in advance. An integration course and the ability to communicate in German in a short conversation also had to be demonstrated."
Prof Günter Müller-Czygan, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa)
And further: "Knowledge of MS Office and computer skills are also welcome, as the lessons take place online." Finally, the approval of the relevant job centre also had to be obtained for participation.
Direct contacts in the industry
The 15-week course "Engineering-Technical Transfer Qualification for Bavarian Water Management (ITTQ)" provides practical preparation for a lateral entry into planning activities in water management. Supported by companies, planning organisations, local authorities and other water management organisations, those interested gain basic knowledge of urban water management, which is to be deepened through subsequent on-the-job training in companies. The partner organisations actively take on individual learning modules as well as the supervision of specialist internships. "This allows the participants to get to know their first companies personally and also gives them the opportunity to apply for jobs," says Michael Schmidt, research assistant in the project. "The latest digital technologies and knowledge of the latest simulation software are taught and applied," adds project team member Viktoriya Tarasyuk.
International orientation
The technical equipment required for the course is provided by Hof University of Applied Sciences on request. Virtual laboratories are used to acquire the necessary technical practical knowledge online, such as LABSTERa virtual sewage treatment plant that was developed with the participation of students on the online gaming platform Roblox. In order to adapt the learning content to the international nature of the course, participants have access to translations of the presentation slides in Ukrainian, Arabic, Turkish and English. However, German language modules, which deal with the technical terminology of water management, are also part of the training programme. The 15 weeks of training will be 15 per cent face-to-face and 85 per cent online, with eight lessons a day. "We are thus offering a specialised and highly qualified further training course, which should also help to counter the shortage of skilled workers in the water industry," concludes Prof. Müller-Czygan.
Promotion
The course is free of charge for participants in the target group. The certificate course is subsidised by the European Social Fund (ESF) in Bavaria. Further information is available at ITTQ@hof-university.de available.
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