At a glance
For: students, prospective students, those interested in MINT
Topics: Interlinking academic and professional orientation, cooperation with IHK and HWK, development of cliché-sensitive career choice skills, probationary studies, workshop weeks and company visits, key skills and technical basics
Location: Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
The orientation semester for studying and training in MINT
Due to the unmanageable number of professions and educational paths, students with a (technical) high school diploma now have a greater need for guidance when choosing a career than before. At the same time, the increase in the proportion of high school graduates and the expansion of tertiary education means that high school graduates with much more diverse educational and life backgrounds are now taking up studies at colleges and universities.
The heterogeneity of students creates a heterogeneity of individual needs for the learning and study environment to which colleges and universities have to adapt their offerings. The significantly higher dropout rates among students with a migrant background and first-time academic students, as well as increased contract terminations of trainees with and without a migrant background, show a clear need for action here.
Higher dropout rate in MINT
MINT subjects are particularly affected by this challenge: On the one hand, MINT courses are often taken up by first-time academics and international students. On the other hand, the curriculum is structured cumulatively, so that difficulties at the beginning of the course make it difficult to understand the course further along. Both are reflected in significantly higher dropout rates in the MINT subjects.
Against the background of this need, the hejMINT subproject is piloting the development of an orientation program for MINT careers. hejMINT takes advantage of DasDoris' innovative concept! which is characterized by the interlinking of academic and professional orientation as well as experience-based decision-making. By experiencing and trying out future educational paths with educational support, young people are encouraged and enabled to make a career or study choice that suits their own skills, learning requirements and interests. Imparting the necessary key skills and technical basics should also enable a secure entry into studies or training.
With a heightened awareness of their own strengths, interests and requirements and the necessary technical basics, the participants begin their individual orientation process.
The curriculum of the hejMINT orientation semester was developed in a participatory manner with the university's six MINT departments and with the involvement of the expertise of the Frankfurt-Rhein-Main Chamber of Crafts and the Darmstadt Chamber of Industry and Commerce. hejMINT is offered as a one-semester orientation program and starts with an intensive arrival and (self-)knowledge phase. In this phase, your own skills and interests, as well as clichés relevant to career orientation and individual framework conditions, are developed and reflected upon.
In addition, you will get to know the university's institutions, most important contact points and technical platforms and complete preliminary courses in mathematics and physics. With a heightened awareness of their own strengths, interests and requirements and the necessary technical basics, the participants begin their individual orientation process. They put together an individual timetable from a selection of courses from the MINT courses in order to get to know the courses that interest them. In addition to attending specialist events, participants are supported in their orientation process and prepared for a safe start to their studies through modules “Orientation & Decision-Making”, “Working Scientifically & Studying Successfully”, “Interdisciplinary Practical Project” and a “Basic Course in Mathematics for MINT” that have been specially developed for them .
For orientation in the professional area, the project cooperates with the HWK Frankfurt-Rhein-Main and the IHK Darmstadt. During a two-week stay in the HWK's vocational training and technology center, the participants get to know different professions. In addition, training ambassadors, practitioners from different professional sectors and company visits to companies in the region offer participants an insight into a wide variety of MINT working environments.
The orientation semester “hejMINT” starts for the first time in April 2024 and is offered in the winter and summer semesters.
Contact person
Bahareh Gondani , Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences
