“I was actually looking for a degree course in renewable energies and then came across the new Hydrogen Technology programme by chance,” says student Lars Rauen. Future topics such as the mobility revolution, de-carbonisation and renewable energies are increasingly becoming the focus of society and are of particular concern to younger people. This is where the new Bachelor's programme in Hydrogen Technology comes in. Since the winter semester 2020/21, FHWS has been offering the degree programme, which is unique in Germany so far.
“Fridays for Future is absolutely right”, says Prof. Dr. Winfried Wilke, Director of the Hydrogen Technology degree programme at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at FHWS. “But it is not enough to stand in the market place with posters on Fridays, we have to do something. And we’re doing it now.” Hydrogen technology has a high potential for the future, and he and the students have the same opinion: “They consider de-carbonisation within our society, i.e. the change to energy generated without CO2 emissions, as their task for the future", Prof. Wilke explains. “These people are environmentally-conscious, and they are aware that we will hit a wall head-first if we continue with the status quo.” The professor shares this opinion. Thus, he and his faculty do not aim any lower than training the world’s best engineers for hydrogen technology. “I do not wish to produce scientists and researchers, but industrial engineers who become successful at their jobs.”, Wilke says. Students follow a common goal as well, the student Lars Rauen tells us: “Hydrogen will most likely become one of future’s most important energy sources. I’d like to play a role in the development.”
Studying close to practice
It took one year and four people to create the new degree programme at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering “out of thin air”, says Prof. Wilke. He coordinated the endeavour and is now programme director of the bachelor’s programme in Hydrogen Technology. A total of 20 students has enrolled. “This year, the interest in the degree programme was rather moderate”, the professor, who is also chairman of the senate at FHWS, explains. “However, for next year, we will focus more on advertising.” The small number of groups also has its advantages: Each student can be supervised individually. And that is particularly important, he says, because the focus is on practical applications. That is why projects such as a fuel cell system for a new Waldorf school in Haßfurt or a fuel cell drive for a light aircraft are also planned. The main idea: “So that they can see in a practice-oriented way: What does it actually mean to build such a hydrogen plant around a fuel cell,” Wilke explains.
The Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is hoping for two things in particular from the hydrogen technology programme: On the one hand, it is a useful addition to the study portfolio – and thus also an increase in the number of students – and on the other hand, a benefit for society. The pressure from industry is also growing, says the head of the programme: “Hydrogen technology is becoming more and more necessary in the course of the energy transition”. That's why he is already being flooded with requests for graduates – but they still need three years until they graduate. He is also constantly asked about further training opportunities. “We're just building the degree programme en passant and we haven't even appointed all the professors needed for this degree programme.” It is difficult to get qualified people who know about hydrogen technology – so far there are only three people in the faculty, including him. A few proven experts are still missing for the next semesters – but Wilke is confident. An advanced training master’s programme is currently in its planning phase.
The first of its kind in Germany
The new degree programme Hydrogen Technology at FHWS is the first of its kind in Germany. The faculty and the four people in charge had to conceptualise and work out everything from scratch. “We could not simply draw a blueprint – there has been no precedent. However, we have become one now.” Prof. Dr. Winfried Wilke, who has been working with fuel cells since 1991, now receives a lot of positive feedback from other higher education institutions. “They love what we're doing and now they want to observe us closely.”
Not everything is in place for the new degree programme for the coming years, but the students are very interested and committed, Wilke says. And they also have a lot of future prospects, because potential jobs will be wherever energy is converted: “Burner construction, heat technology, heating construction, plant construction, plant operation technology, vehicle construction, truck construction, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, steel industry” – to list just a few possibilities. Wilke is already collecting the corresponding contacts, because it is the institution’s task to create a network for students.
Looking for female applicants
To Wilke's regret, only a few female students have applied – only two of the 20 enrolled are women. “It's just an engineering course,” and they are still not very popular with women. “But it is much more than just tinkering in a quiet room.” Communication is also an elementary and important part of the work of female and male engineers, he says. Laura Lotz is one of the two students on the programme. She likes the course so far, but she is especially looking forward to delving deeper into hydrogen matter.
Student Mark Hoinle also reports that the hydrogen technology programme is going well so far and that he is glad to be supervised by capable professors. “Nevertheless, you should be aware that the programme builds on basic technical knowledge so that you are not overwhelmed by maths, physics, thermodynamics, mechanics, computer science and materials engineering.”
For the future, Wilke hopes for more applicants and especially more female applicants. He and his team are doing all they can to promote it.
All information about the new degree programme Hydrogen Technology.
