The Kassel model of STEM orientation:
The innovative Bachelor's degree program plusMINT with a unique organizational structure nationwide offers students the opportunity to get to know ten different STEM disciplines under real study conditions during an orientation year, with a special focus on practical projects.
Student Life Cycle: Study orientation, starting studies, specialization phase and final examination
Target group: Prospective students, first-year students, students (after the first year of study), lecturers and staff at universities, teachers at schools
University: University of Kassel
With civil engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, mathematics, mechatronics, nanostructure science, physics, technical mathematics and environmental engineering, students have an attractive catalog to choose from for their further studies.
The plusMINT orientation program at the University of Kassel has a unique organizational structure in Germany, combining the orientation year and the chosen specialization into a single degree program equivalent to a traditional Bachelor's degree. The standard period of study is eight or nine semesters, depending on the chosen specialization, and a total of 210 or 240 credits are earned. Of these, 30 credits in the orientation year are dedicated to a STEM orientation area, offering a wide range of individually selectable courses from the various specializations. Students can explore several STEM disciplines simultaneously, and completed modules can be credited towards their chosen specialization.
The orientation process is supported by non-credited events totaling 20 semester hours, which consolidate basic subject knowledge, impart study and methodological skills, and provide insights into interdisciplinary working methods and career fields. No exams are taken in this STEM support program. This significantly reduces the exam burden during the initial phase of studies and allows more time to explore various further study options and for personal development. Furthermore, an advanced mathematics course is offered during the orientation year, as well as an interdisciplinary lecture series introducing STEM subjects and career fields.
STEM projects introduce students to project work through practical tasks. Peer-to-peer mentoring, regular events with project staff, and professorial mentoring sessions provide intensive guidance and support for students regarding study organization and subject selection. Students in this program are eligible for BAföG funding starting in their first semester. Orientation study programs are young, innovative, and forge their own paths outside of traditional degree program structures. The University of Kassel is a founding member and active contributor to the Network of Orientation (Study) Programs, established in 2021 under the umbrella of the German Society for Higher Education Didactics (dghd). Testing new formats, studying effectiveness, ensuring quality, developing curricula, and sharing best practices – exchange with other universities is a crucial tool for establishing, developing, and ensuring the quality of these innovative programs.
Dr. Susanne Völker | s.voelker@uni-kassel.de
Tel.: +49 561 804-1902
