Hanna Marie Gocke is the first practice-integrated dual student at PNE AG

A-levels in the bag - what now? Many students are faced with this question every year. Hanna Marie Gocke didn't know at first where her path would take her after leaving school. Then she became interested in the Business Administration degree programme (practice-integrated dual) at Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. As the positions on offer had already been filled, she started looking for a company she would like to work for - and found a new co-operation partner for the university in PNE AG.

The Cuxhaven-based company had not actually planned to offer a practice-integrated dual study programme. Although PNE AG trains IT specialists for system integration and office management clerks, it had no experience in training students. Then Hanna Marie Gocke's unsolicited application landed on the desk of Aileen Schwanemann, who is responsible for recruitment at PNE. ‘We wanted to offer her the opportunity to do a dual study programme in order to expand our training opportunities and also to provide students in the region with practical knowledge. However, as we still lacked local experience, we contacted a subsidiary that had already been employing dual students for some time,’ says Aileen Schwanemann. After an interview with applicant Hanna Marie Gocke, it was clear that she would be the company's first dual work-study student. ‘We contacted the university, spoke to the head of the degree programme, Prof. Dr Birte Kemmerling, and attended an information event. There we learnt what we need to look out for as a partner company,’ continues Schwanemann.

For Ms Gocke, everyday working life began before the actual start of the semester with a practical phase. ‘I started in project development, where I learnt how to plan a wind farm. After that, I was in the department that deals with project financing. That was of course a good link to my studies,’ says the student. In the first three semesters, the practice-integrated dual study programme hardly differs from a traditional business studies course.  ‘I attend the same courses, but work in the company during the lecture-free period. In the fourth semester, I'm at PNE the whole time,’ says Hanna Marie Gocke. The last two semesters take place in a dual format with alternating three-month study and practical phases. The long phases in the company allow students to get to know the company even better and, ideally, they are also shown their further career development opportunities there. 

During the practical phases, the student passes through various departments. This allows her not only to directly apply the knowledge she has acquired in the courses, but also to determine which area she would like to work in after graduation. The process was developed for the trainees, but had to be revised slightly for Ms Gocke. ‘Our trainees change departments every six months. Of course, this doesn't work for Hanna Marie, as she isn't always at the company due to lecture times. That's why we customise the process for her. We make sure that she receives intensive support, especially where she has many interfaces with business studies,’ says Katharina Dede, who supervises the trainees and dual students at PNE AG. 

Hanna Marie Gocke started her second semester in April. She has not regretted her decision to apply to PNE AG: ‘I wanted to work for a company whose values, such as climate protection and the energy transition, I can represent. PNE simply suits me. And I receive very good support for my studies.’ Interested parties can find out which companies are offering places in the coming winter semester at www.hs-bremerhaven.de/duale-studiengaenge.

Prospective students have until 15 August to apply for the Business Administration degree course (practice-integrated dual) and other admission-free degree courses via the university's own application portal ecampus.hs-bremerhaven.de. Applications for the admission-restricted Bachelor's degree programmes in Digital Media Production, Physician Assistant and Social Work can only be submitted via the portal www.hochschulstart.de by 15 July. 

Companies interested in the dual study programme and cooperation with the university can take part in one of the digital information events for the degree programme. These will take place on 31 May, 5 July and 8 August from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. via BigBlueButton. You can register at bwldual@hs-bremerhaven.de.

(Translated with the support of deepl.com)