Two inspiring encounters characterized the past week at Pepperl+Fuchs in Mannheim: ten pupils from Wilhelm Wundt Realschule visited to us with great enthusiasm for technology as part of the Trio cooperation to experience a project day on STEM topics. At the same time, five students from various European universities could demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills in the Engage.EU program – with great success: our case team took first place!
How lively education can be was demonstrated twice last week: we welcomed both pupils from Wilhelm Wundt Realschule and committed students from the Engage.EU program (ENGAGE.EU | University of Mannheim) at Pepperl+Fuchs in Mannheim – two events, one common goal: to promote young talent and arouse curiosity about the world of technology and business.
Practical insights into STEM professions
As part of the trio cooperation with the Wilhelm Wundt Realschule – which we had already sealed with a cooperation agreement at the beginning of the year – we had a project day in our company, during which the students gained practical insights into STEM professions. Practical experiments allowed them to take their first steps into the world of automation technology and also to ask questions and talk to our trainees. The great interest and enthusiasm shown by the young people was particularly impressive.
The pupils from Wilhelm Wundt Realschule had a lot of fun making things, soldering and experimenting.
Great success
Almost at the same time, we also welcomed five students as part of the Engage.EU program. Pepperl+Fuchs was a case donor for the second time and we had the opportunity not only to show the students our automated European Distribution Center (EDC) during a company tour, but also to present them a real-life practical case. This case was then worked on over the course of the week as one of a total of seven interdisciplinary business cases and presented at a ceremony at the University of Mannheim on Friday. Our supervised team convinced the jury with an innovative solution and took first place – a great success and proof of how valuable practice-oriented teaching can be. We are very proud of our project group and will certainly use the findings in our projects.
The team supervised by Pepperl+Fuchs won first place with their innovative solution!
Both events impressively demonstrate the importance of direct exchange between educational institutions and companies. Through collaborations such as the one with the Wilhelm Wundt Realschule and the Stadtmedienzentrum as part of the Trio cooperation and participation in programs such as Engage.EU, we can get young people interested in STEM professions and economic issues at an early stage – and at the same time give them a realistic insight into everyday working life.
We would like to thank everyone involved for their commitment and look forward to many more inspiring encounters with the young talents of tomorrow.
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