PlusMINT is aimed at first-year students who are interested in studying mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology (STEM) but are still unsure about their choice. The course at the University of Kassel, which is unique in Hesse, is now receiving further support from the state's QuiS funding program after two years and is establishing itself in the range of courses offered at the university in North Hesse.
As announced by the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts at the end of July, the University of Kassel will be provided with personnel funds of 1.1 million euros for plusMINT until the end of 2025. The orientation course was launched in the 2019/20 winter semester with the aim of making it easier to start studying STEM subjects. More than 100 people in two cohorts have now successfully completed the two-semester orientation phase. Students can now enrol for the third cohort for the winter semester 2021/22 until September 1, 2021 at www.unikassel.de/go/plusmint.
Despite the restrictions and uncertainties caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the preliminary results are positive. For young women in particular, plusMINT is a great way to gain more confidence in their own STEM-related skills. With a proportion of women of around 35%, it is above the average for most STEM subjects. In addition, around 25 percent of students come to plusMINT with a technical college entrance qualification. However, students with professional experience or training are also interested in this course. This diversity of first-year students is intentional, as one of the aims of the additional courses is to compensate for different educational requirements and prior knowledge.
Over 90 percent of students recommend the orientation program to others, as internal surveys show. The opportunity to try out many subjects at the same time and discover their own strengths is particularly appreciated. The early points of contact with practice, e.g. in STEM projects or the lecture series, are also praised. Ultimately, the offerings - from advanced math courses to accompanying mentoring - are intended to provide students with guidance. After all, students who would like to study in the STEM field without having a specific subject in mind are often spoiled for choice. As plusMINT student Clara Fahrenbach reports: "After graduating from high school, I only knew that I wanted to study something related to technology and science. During my research, I was overwhelmed by the number of subjects and universities. Luckily, I discovered the plusMINT course shortly afterwards. I learned a lot in this first year at the University of Kassel and can say that I have settled in well to everyday life as a student. It's rare to have the opportunity to learn so much from so many different areas in one year.
You can now choose between ten specializations: In addition to civil engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering, mathematics, mechatronics, nanostructure science, physics and environmental engineering, technomathematics has been added. The course is about to be officially accredited by the National Accreditation Council. Students who have now switched from the plusMINT academic year to their major are still able to take advantage of the advisory services offered by the plusMINT team. "At plusMINT, we are very close to the interests and wishes of our students and support them in their decisions. You don't get that in any other degree program," says Robin Kreutz, plusMINT employee.
The trend towards orientation courses is growing nationwide. For example, plusMINT is part of the newly founded network for orientation study programs. Among other things, the network has set up an online finder that interested parties can use to find the right orientation program throughout Germany(www.o-studium.de).
Interested parties can find out more via the website www.uni-kassel.de/go/plusmint and register for the coming winter semester until 01.09.2021.
