Siemens AG Cired 2003 – Academic Village - Round Table More power engineers into distribution ? Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Schröppel

Cired 2003 Wolfgang Schröppel, Siemens AG 2 How to fill the gap between industrial and academic worlds ? 1.Decrease of the number of engineering, especially power engineering students in the recent decade

Cired 2003 Wolfgang Schröppel, Siemens AG 3 How to fill the gap between industrial and academic worlds ? 2. Reasons for the decrease The engineering study is seen by the freshmen students as hard and difficult The reputation of an engineer is relatively low. For example much less than that of a doctor Leading management positions are taken up the administratively, financially or legally educated people Young people use the technology intensively but do not want to produce it. (“ It should be created and produced by others”) Special reasons for power engineers Power engineering is seen as an “old” technology It is not trendy It is assumed to be not modern and not future oriented

Cired 2003 Wolfgang Schröppel, Siemens AG 4 How to fill the gap between industrial and academic worlds ? 3. The Industry role Longer term thinking – economy cycles must not be the recruiting cycles Reward performance, attract and promote the best Cooperate with the universities Offer the engineering students career perspectives up to the highest ranks by showing examples Offer internship to the students Offer international, possibly overseas practical training for the student

Cired 2003 Wolfgang Schröppel, Siemens AG 5 How to fill the gap between industrial and academic worlds ? 4. The university role Make the EE studies at the university more attractive, means more modern Clean up the curriculum, through out the “old” stuff Give the curriculum course a modern outfit, use the latest technology in the course as teaching aids Make advertising for EE already at the school Organize excursions to factories and industry laboratories Cooperate actively with industry in research, involve already students in that work Carry out practical research work at the university - only a minority of the students are attracted by theoretical work

Cired 2003 Wolfgang Schröppel, Siemens AG 6 How to fill the gap between industrial and academic worlds ? 5. Needed activities by both: industry and university Teach the basics of economics and financials as basic course at university and as continuous education in the companies Offer practical language training Set up committees of industry experts and university teachers with the continuous task to define and revise when needed the curriculum Set up advertising campaigns for power engineering students involving high ranking people from industry and universities. (“People attract people”)

Cired 2003 Wolfgang Schröppel, Siemens AG 7 How to fill the gap between industrial and academic worlds ? 6. Summary Although the electrical and electronic industry generates a big part of the national gross products the industry has huge problems to attract students We have to set up a joint initiative between industry an universities to overcome this problem set up joint advertising in the public, esp. in the media set up joint activities in schools offer attractive career chances and prove by examples give the studies at the universities a modern “look and feel” We need a longer-term program to give the electrical engineering, especially the power engineering technology the attraction back it had in the 50ies and 60ies.