News
In this section you will find information on current topics of the Chair of Vocational Education and on events related to the study of Engineering Education.
Podcast episode on PBL
The podcast episode available here was created as part of the BayZiel project QUADIS (Qualität digitaler Lehre steigern) in the subject area „Mit Problem-based Learning praxisorientierte Lehre gestalten (Designing practice-orientated teaching with problem-based learning)“. Martina Göhring, member of the QUADIS project at BayZiel, in conversation with Prof. Dr. Mandy Hommel.
Students and lecturers from the University of Budweis visit Amberg
As part of the cooperation between the Faculty of Education at the University of Budweis and the Vocational Education at OTH Amberg-Weiden, students and lecturers from Budweis visited Amberg from 17 April to 19 April 2024.
The varied programme provided the group led by Pavel Černý (Ph.D.) insights into courses and research and also offered many opportunities to try things out and gain personal experience.The Vocational Education team would like to thank all contributors.
We look forward to further cross-border cooperation!
Excursion to the Faculty of Education at the University of Budweis
Supported by funds from the Bayerisch-Tschechischen Hochschulagentur (BTHA, Bavarian-Czech Higher Education Agency), students on the Engineering Education degree programmes had the opportunity to get to know the Faculty of Education at the University of Pilsen in the Czech Republic as part of an excursion from 8 November to 10 November 2023. RNDr. Pavel Kříž, Ph.D., (Head of the Department of Applied Physics and Technology) and his team (in particular Mgr. Pavel Černý, Ph.D., and Mgr. Vladimír Vochozka, Ph.D.) gave us a warm welcome and had prepared a varied programme. In addition to insights into study programmes and laboratories, the focus was on the possibilities of further cooperation between the University of Budweis and OTH Amberg-Weiden.
Action group "Healthy ageing in the Upper Palatinate"
The meeting of the "Healthy ageing in the Upper Palatinate (Gesundes Altern in der Oberpfalz)” action group organised by the Health Equal Opportunities Coordination Office (Koordinierungsstelle Gesundheitliche Chancengleichheit) under the leadership of Christoph Geigl took place in Nabburg on 7 November 2023. As part of the exchange on milestones achieved by the members of the action group, Prof. Dr. Hommel presented the senior citizens' survey project carried out with the municipality of Hohenthann under the title "Digitalisation and healthy ageing". Mrs Nerl, representing the municipality of Hohenthann, then gave a presentation on the resulting services offered by the municipality of Hohenthann and the valuable work of the "digital companions".
(Fotos: Koordinierungsstelle Gesundheitliche Chancengleichheit)
Speed-IP engineering education
A joyful evening on 24 October 2023 for first-semester students of engineering education (IP) to get to know each other. Embedded in creative tasks, the students had the opportunity to talk to experienced students and network.
Supported by the TÜV Süd Foundation, first-semester students learn more about procedures, examinations and IT systems at the university as part of a study organisation tutorial. Of course, recommendations for leisure activities are also included.
Welcome to the OTH Amberg-Weiden!
Long Night of the Sciences (LNDW)
The Long Night of Science (Nuremberg-Fürth-Erlangen) on 21 October 2023 offered a variety of opportunities to experience, touch and try out science. The vocational education department at OTH Amberg-Weiden was there!
Engineering education - first-hand information
As part of "Meet IP" on 7 June 2023, students and prospective students had the opportunity to talk to those involved in the Engineering Education degree programme and the possible path to becoming a teacher at vocational schools. After welcoming speeches by Prof. Dr Mandy Hommel (Head of the degree programme) and Horst Schneider (Chairman of the Board of the TÜV Süd Foundation), Prof. Dr Ulrich Schäfer (Dean of the EMI faculty) gave a keynote speech to provide an insight into the challenges and opportunities in the context of ChatGPT. The subsequent informal but informative exchange with representatives of the universities (OTH Amberg-Weiden, University of Bayreuth, TU Munich) on topics relating to the Bachelor's degree programme, the Master's degree programme and the traineeship was actively used in three different IP cafés. The discussions continued in the outdoor area afterwards in the best weather. Prof. Dr. Pirkl and Prof. Dr. Hommel themselves took to the barbecue tongs to provide refreshments for the participants. An all-round successful afternoon!
OpenLab engineering education
Vocational specialisation electrical engineering and information technology
On the afternoon of 10.05.2023, the laboratories of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Heiko Zatocil, Prof. Matthias Söllner and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gerald Pirkl were open to the vocational school teachers of our cooperation schools, the vocational school centres in Amberg, Neumarkt, Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Schwandorf and Weiden.
Following information about the course from the course director, Prof. Dr Mandy Hommel, and an exchange of initial experiences with students from the university in the school internships, the teachers were given an insight into the laboratories and the associated practical experience opportunities for students.
Retreat of the Faculty MB/UT 2023
On 21 and 22 April 2023, the professors of the MB/UT faculty met for the 11th retreat (11. Klausurtagung) at the Landhotel Aschenbrenner in Paulsdorf.
Prof. Dr. Mandy Hommel took over the moderation and guided the participants through the closed meeting. In a constructive and co-operative atmosphere, it was possible to discuss common values and develop goals in order to further develop the faculty in a future-oriented and sustainable manner.
Cooperation between University of Bayreuth and the OTH Amberg-Weiden
The cooperation agreement between the two universities facilitates the cross-location path from the Bachelor's degree programme in Engineering Education to the Master's degree programme in Vocational Education. "We are delighted with the constructive cooperation that has created the conditions for successful collaboration and look forward to further collaboration and wish our students every success on their path to the teaching profession - which is now also possible via Amberg and Bayreuth," says programme director Prof. Dr. rer. pol. habil. (Dipl.-Hdl.) Mandy Hommel from the OTH Amberg-Weiden. "The agreement is also an important step towards promoting the next generation of teachers and strengthening vocational education in the region," adds Prof Dr Uwe Glatzel from UBT.
Study Information Day
With a wide range of opportunities for information and trying things out in the laboratories, the study information day took place on 10.03.2023. While discovering what was on offer, young prospective students had the opportunity to clarify their comprehension of the contents of the various study programmes and to sharpen the arguments for their choice of study.
OpenLab Engineering Education
Vocational specialisation metal technology
On 11.01.2023, we invited the teachers of our cooperation schools in the study programme Engineering Education, in the field of metal technology, to an afternoon of open laboratories. After a presentation of the study programme by the programme director, Prof. Dr. Mandy Hommel, and information from the department by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Werner Prell, various laboratories (materials and laser technology, machining laboratory) were open. In addition to Simon Wiesner (Master's student), Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Koch and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Wolfgang Blöchl gave insights into the diverse experience and research opportunities in the laboratories of the MB/UT faculty.
Meeting of the DFG Network AFin at TU Dresden
The third DFG network meeting "AFin - Action-based Financial Literacy - Conceptualisation, Assessment and Validation" (AFin) took place in Dresden on 8 and 9 December 2022. The focus was on the thematic work in the groups. Further inspiration was provided by the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Lehmann-Waffenschmidt and Anna Schütze on "Spotlights on Financial Literacy - from Martin Luther, Immanuel Kant and Max Weber to John Maynard Keynes and the Present".
Excursion to BayernLab Nabburg
In the module "Introduction to Empirical Pedagogical Research", the students in the Master's programme Educational Technology work on small research projects with cooperation partners of the OTH Amberg-Weiden. Today (7.11.2022) we went on an excursion to one of these cooperation partners: BayernLab in Nabburg. The students made intensive use of the time and space offered to get to know digital technologies and to try them out.
An innovative Bachelor's degree programme: Engineering Education
OTV-Talk 13.07.2022
The Engineering Education study programme was presented as part of the OTV television talk.
Publication in the volume "Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development"
The contributions to the volume show the diversity of the topic of sustainability in the context of vocational education and training. The download is available free of charge.
VLB akzente - Contribution to the Engineering Education degree programmes
The full article is available on the homepage of the Associatin of Teachers at Vocational Schools in Bavaria.
Ingenieurpädagogik in Bayern - Meet-the-Community
Network meeting at Landshut University of Applied Sciences
On 10.06.2022, the heads of the Bavarian Engineering Education degree programmes (Prof. Dr. Mona Riemenschneider, Landshut University of Applied Sciences; Prof. Dr. Sandra Bley, Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences; Prof. Dr. Mandy Hommel, OTH Amberg-Weiden) invited students to the Landshut University of Applied Sciences for a first community meeting.
The students had the opportunity to exchange ideas and network. After an input by Dr. Nikolaus Drebinger on the topic of speaking ("Life rafts for the voice", transl.), three IP cafés offered interesting information about the Master's programme, the traineeship and professional practice. Ms Laura Bartodziej, recruiting manager at TÜV SÜD AG, and Ms Ada Wohlrab, Verband der Lehrkräfte an beruflichen Schulen in Bayern e. V. (VLB), were also present.
The Vice President for Studies and Teaching at Landshut University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Silvia Dollinger, and the Board Member of the TÜV SÜD Foundation, Mr Horst Schneider, opened the event. Our thanks go to Landshut University of Applied Sciences, as host, and the TÜV SÜD Foundation, which both supports the study programmes at the three locations and contributed to the financing of the first "Meet-the-Community" network meeting of engineering education.
(Image rights: Landshut University of Applied Sciences)
Engineering Education in Bavaria - Meet the Community
All students of Engineering Education are cordially invited to network with other students of Engineering Education in Bavaria! Our Meet-the-Community offers you the perfect setting to exchange ideas with students in the Master's programme in Vocational Education, representatives of TUM, trainee teachers and graduates in engineering education.
Year of Science 2022
In the "Year of Science 2022 - Inquired!", citizens are invited to ask questions to science within the framework of an "idea run", to which research efforts should be dedicated from their point of view. The „idea run” is intended to promote the exchange between society and science / research.
The Cluster Conference of the Year of Science 2022 took place in Berlin from 20.05. to 22.05.2022. Prof. Hommel is a member of the jury for vocational training in the area of "Culture, Education and Knowledge". Her short paper on lifelong learning and further information are available on the Year of Science website.
Engineering Education at the 1st Oberpfalz Day
The first Oberpfalztag (Upper Palatinate Day) took place in Amberg on the weekend of 14 May and 15 May 2022 in perfect weather. The campus of the OTH Amberg-Weiden was pulsating. The members of the Chair of Vocational Education also took the opportunity to introduce visitors to the Bachelor's degree programme in Engineering Education.
Didactics-Practice
Representatives of the working group "Digital Competences 65+" were guests at the Chair of Vocational Education at the OTH Amberg-Weiden on 06.05.2022. During a training session, the multipliers of the working group were prepared for the design of teaching-learning units. The participants also had the opportunity to reflect on and further develop their own actions as teachers.
School internship at BSZ Neumarkt i.d.OPf.
10.03.2022 Chair of Vocational Education
In the school internships, our students experience the everyday professional life of teachers at vocational schools, get to know the schools' projects, observe and gain their own first teaching experience. In the process, they are supported by dedicated teachers from our cooperation schools. The students in the Engineering Education degree programmes benefit from the cooperation between the vocational schools and the Chair of Vocational Education and the close interlinking of theory and practice.
DFG Network Meeting
The DFG network AFin (Action-based Financial Literacy) met for the second time on 23 and 24 March 2022. This meeting was organised by the University of Mannheim and the Mannheim Institute for Financial Education (MIFE).
The aim of the network is to develop a competence model for financial literacy that depicts situationally appropriate action and decision-making in financial matters. The keynote address of the network meeting was given by Prof. Martin Weber with the title "Why so Negative? Belief Formation and Risk Taking in Boom and Bust Markets". After this inspiring lecture, the network members continued to work on systematising the terms and models used in the context of financial literacy. The next network meeting will take place at the TU Dresden towards the end of the year.
Presentation of the study programme in the VLB magazine
You can find the article on the Portrait of the Engineering Education programme in Bavaria on the website of the Association of Teachers at Vocational Schools in Bavaria e. V. (VLB).
Accreditation of the Bachelor's degree programmes Engineering Education
27.10.2021 Vocational Education
The two Bachelor’s degree programmes „Engineering Education – vocational spezialisation Electrical Engineering and Information Technology“ and „Engineering Education – vocational spezialisation Metal Technology“ have successfully passed the internal accrediatation procedure of the OTH Amberg-Weiden. The study programmes thus fulfil central quality criteria.
The accreditations were each decided on 06.10.2021 and are valid until 30.09.2026. Further information on the accreditation of study programmes can be found on the homepage of the Quality Managements of OTH Amberg-Weiden.
Kick-off event for the DFG network "AFin"
On 14 October 2021, the kick-off event for the scientific network „AFin – Action-oriented Financial Literacy – Conceptualisation, Assessment and Validation” will take place at the TU Munich. The network is funded by the German Research Foundation.
Within the framework of two keynotes, the concepts of financial literacy and financial competence will be addressed with a view to practical challenges and previous research on the construct and measurement.
Participation in the kick-off event and the keynotes is possible both on site and via the conference system ZOOM.
Meeting at the BSZ (Vocational School Centre) Sulzbach-Rosenberg
28.07.2021 Professur Berufspädagogik
With the Vocational School Centre (BSZ) Sulzbach-Rosenberg, we have gained another cooperation partner. During a visit, the head of the school, OStD Sabine Fersch, was presented with the glass plaque that identifies the BSZ Sulzbach-Rosenberg as a cooperation partner of our university. The meeting was attended by the lecturers Bernd Scheller (representative of the subject Automotive Mechatronics) and Johannes Rittner (representative of the subject Electrical Engineering).
After a constructive discussion about the upcoming projects, we are looking forward to working together!
Meeting at the BSZ Neumarkt i.d.OPf.: Cooperation between the Vocational School Centre and the OTH Amberg-Weiden
26.07.2021 Vocational Education
The Neumarkt Vocational School Centre (BSZ Neumarkt) and the OTH Amberg-Weiden have concluded a cooperation agreement. During a visit, we presented the headmaster, OStD Albert Hierl, with the glass plaque designating the BSZ Neumarkt as a cooperation school. Mr Hierl was attended by Stefan Pröll (representative for the subjects Electrical Engineering and Mathematics) and Christian Meier (representative for the subjects Electrical Engineering and Physics). We look forward to a good cooperation!
Meeting at the BSZ Weiden: Cooperation between the Vocational School Centre and the OTH Amberg-Weiden
23.07.2021 Vocational Education
The Weiden Vocational School Centre (BSZ Weiden) cooperates with the OTH Amberg-Weiden. The cooperation includes, among other things, internships of engineering education students at the BSZ Weiden as well as information offers of the OTH Amberg-Weiden for the students.
With the headmaster, OStD Josef Weilhammer, his deputy, StD Thomas Neumann, and StD Karl Alt (teacher for metal technology), there was an animated exchange on the relevance of regional cooperation in education. The glass plaque with the inscription "Cooperation School of the OTH Amberg-Weiden" was presented.
We are looking forward to the coming joint projects!
Meeting at the BSZ Schwandorf: Cooperation between the Vocational School Centre and the OTH Amberg-Weiden
19.07.2021 Professur Berufspädagogik
The Schwandorf Vocational School Centre (BSZ Schwandorf) is a cooperation school of the OTH Amberg-Weiden. Our employee Michael Abler handed over a glass plaque with the corresponding inscription to the headmaster, OStD Dr. Josef Most. OStR Pavlos Pampouchidis (head of the Electrical Department) and StR Wolfgang Forster (teacher in the Electrical Department) then gave Mr Abler a tour of the BSZ facilities.
Within the framework of the cooperation, the students of Engineering Education are given the opportunity to get to know the everyday professional life of vocational school teachers through internships. Students of the BSZ are informed about the study opportunities at the OTH Amberg-Weiden.
Meeting at the BSZ Amberg: Cooperation between the Vocational School Centre and the OTH Amberg-Weiden
25.06.2021 Vocational Education
Prof. Dr. Hommel, head of our Bachelor’s programme Engineering Education, was welcomed by headmaster Martin Wurdack at the BSZ Amberg. During the friendly meeting, Prof. Dr. Hommel presented Mr Wurdack with the glass plaque shown in the picture. The plaque identifies the BSZ Amberg as a cooperation school of the OTH Amberg-Weiden.
There are also cooperation agreements between the OTH Amberg-Weiden and the Vocational School Centres in Neumarkt, Schwandorf, Sulzbach-Rosenberg and Weiden. One aim of the cooperations is to prepare Engineering Education students for their possible, later work as teachers at vocational schools. Within the framework of school internships, the students gain their own initial teaching experience. Furthermore, the students of the Vocational School Centres are informed about the study programmes offered by the OTH Amberg-Weiden and introduced to university studies. We are looking forward to the cooperation!
TÜV Süd Foundation information event
24.06.2021 Vocational Education
Horst Schneider from the TÜV Süd Foundation presented the objectives of the foundation and the projects it supports. He was accompanied by his colleague Mr Bichler. As Chairman of the Board of the TÜV Süd Foundation, Mr Schneider was able to give exciting insights into the different areas of activity. After a short discussion, a visit to the beer garden was on the agenda. We ended the evening in a cosy atmosphere. Many thanks to all participants!
