Cooperative study is an innovative form of study that creates a close link between higher education and professional practice. A cooperation agreement between the Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF) and companies such as Köppern Aufbereitungstechnik GmbH and Haver Engineering GmbH sets out the framework conditions for this collaboration.
More companies will be added on an ongoing basis.
The contract regulates the company's obligations, such as the recruitment of applicants, the provision of practical placements and support in supervising students. On the other hand, TUBAF undertakes to ensure the practice-integrated study achievements and to integrate suitable topics from the company into the degree programme.
The teaching is carried out as planned at TUBAF, whereby the company has the opportunity to propose suitable people for teaching assignments. Students' working hours at the company are agreed flexibly to ensure that they can successfully participate in the courses and examinations.
The contract also regulates the possibility of study contracts between the company and prospective students as well as the termination of the cooperative study programme. Fees for the cooperative study programme are currently not charged, but the company can participate in certain additional measures.
Overall, the cooperation agreement creates clear structures and framework conditions for a successful cooperative study programme that offers benefits to both students and companies.
Mit welchen Studiengängen ist überhaupt das kooperative Studium möglich?
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Students who opt for the new cooperative education programme are carefully selected by the company. They continue to take part in the regular courses of their degree programme in accordance with the applicable study and examination regulations. However, the focus is also on the practical part of the course, which is supplemented by an individual programme such as a trainee programme. This programme offers students more extensive practical experience than standard work placements.
The practical training is provided by a company partner, where students are integrated into various areas of work and fields of activity at the company on a project-related basis. This gives them a deep insight into the world of work and allows them to apply their theoretical knowledge directly in practice.
During their Bachelor's degree programme, students spend a pre-defined number of hours at the company, which is divided into different workloads between the lecture period and the lecture-free period, in addition to the Bachelor's thesis, which can also be written at the company. In the Master's programme, the practical hours increase in addition to the Master's thesis. The final theses (Bachelor's and Master's theses) are agreed between the specialisation and the company at the end of the respective study period and supervised jointly. Regular work placements at companies are guaranteed for students - a more practice-orientated course is hardly possible. In addition to the general higher education entrance qualification, applicants should have a good grade point average and ideally complete a combination of training and study-related courses such as physics, maths and computer science.
The students have both a mentor from the company and a professor from the Systems Engineering department as contact persons. During the study phase, they are regularly given the opportunity to report on their progress at the company. The company coordinates the assignment of the students in the company and the scientific topics with the courses of the respective degree programme.
- TUBAF appoints a professor, if necessary separately for each degree programme or faculty, who serves as a contact person for the company in all matters relating to the cooperative study programme.
- TUBAF undertakes to ensure the supervision of the practice-integrated coursework.
- TUBAF undertakes to integrate suitable topics from the company into the practice-integrated coursework. This applies in particular to the topics of the diploma or final theses.
- TUBAF guarantees the provision of the course offerings required for the degree programme outside the practical phases in accordance with the provisions of the study and examination regulations.
- TUBAF participates in the active marketing of the cooperation.
- The company recruits applicants for the cooperative study programme on its own responsibility.
- The company undertakes to offer the student practical assignments within the group of companies that enable the successful achievement of the study objective.
- The company undertakes to provide the student with a suitable supervisor.
- The company undertakes to provide TUBAF with information on the development of the student upon request.
- The company shall support TUBAF as far as possible in obtaining information necessary for the implementation and supervision of the study programme and academic support.
- The company shall participate in the active marketing of the cooperation.