Orientation course plusMINT

At a glance

For: Pupils, prospective students, students, teachers, lecturers, university policy

Topics: MINT orientation course with a bachelor's degree, model course - innovative interdisciplinary courses, strengthening the introductory phase, increasing the probability of academic success, supporting underrepresented student groups, orientation instead of doubts about your studies

Location: University of Kassel

The Kassel model of MINT orientation

Inspiring young people to study MINT, making it easier to start studying, promoting study skills, clarifying interdisciplinary connections, creating a secure foundation for choosing a subject, increasing the probability of success in their studies - these goals are linked to the orientation course plusMINT, which is funded by the QuiS21 program.

Since the winter semester of 2019/20, the bachelor's degree program plusMINT at the University of Kassel has enabled students to get to know ten different MINT disciplines under real study conditions in an orientation year. Accompanied by orientation events developed for the target group, students also consolidate basic technical skills and acquire transferable key skills.

Orientation year with a unique organizational structure

The orientation year prepares you for a reflective and sustainable choice of subject, which then applies from the third semester. With civil engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, mathematics, mechatronics, nanostructure sciences, physics, industrial mathematics and environmental engineering, students have an attractive catalog to choose their favorite subject for further studies.

The orientation course plusMINT at the University of Kassel has an organizational structure that is unique in Germany, in which the orientation year and focus of study are combined in one course to the extent of a classic Bachelor's course. The standard period of study is eight or nine semesters, depending on the chosen focus of study, and a total of 210 or 240 credits are acquired. Of these, 30 credits in the orientation year are allocated to a STEM orientation area with a wide range of individually selectable specialist courses from the major areas of study. Several MINT disciplines can be tried out side by side and completed modules in the major area of study can be recognized. The orientation process is supported by non-credited events amounting to 20 semester hours per week, which consolidate basic technical knowledge, impart study and methodological skills and provide insights into interdisciplinary working methods and professional fields. There are no exams taken in this MINT accompanying program. This significantly reduces the exam load in the initial phase of studying and offers more space for getting to know various follow-up options and for personal development.

An advanced course in mathematics is also offered during the orientation year; There is also an interdisciplinary lecture series in which MINT subjects and professional fields are presented. MINT projects introduce project work using practical tasks. Peer-to-peer support, regular events with project staff and professorial mentor discussions enable students to receive intensive advice and support on questions of study organization and choice of subjects. BAföG funding is possible for students of the course from the first semester onwards.

Orientation study programs are young, innovative and go their own way with their offerings outside of the classic course structures. The University of Kassel is one of the founding members and active designers of the network for orientation (study) programs, which was founded in 2021 under the umbrella of the German Society for University Didactics (dghd). Testing new formats, studying effectiveness, ensuring quality, further developing curricula, sharing best practices - exchange with other universities is an important instrument in the establishment, further development and quality assurance of these innovative programs.