Engineering sciences, digital systems, renewable energies – but no “electrical engineering.” Many universities are renaming or reforming their electrical engineering degrees or supplementing them with additional subjects. At the Technical University of Braunschweig, for example, electrical engineering has been “electrical engineering and information technology” since the start of the winter semester. Augsburg University of Applied Sciences took the same step last winter, while the neighboring University of Augsburg is currently launching a new Bachelor’s degree course in engineering. The HAWK University in Hildesheim, Holzminden and Göttingen is scrapping the previous electrical engineering course altogether and replacing it with engineering sciences. What at first glance sounds like a mere re-labeling is actually part of a revamp of the courses on offer. “The aim is to make the courses more attractive, to better adapt them to current developments and to make them more general,” says Salvatore Sternkopf, a professor at HAWK. And this should also be reflected in the name.
The universities are also trying to achieve an urgently needed change in the image of electrical engineering. “Young people can’t relate to the term at all or have completely the wrong ideas about what jobs it leads to,” says Michael Schanz, spokesperson for study, work, and society at VDE.
“I would strongly advise against completely abolishing the term electrical engineering, which has been established for over 130 years,” says Schanz. He finds the addition of “information technology” unproblematic, since the faculties have been referred to as “electrical engineering and information technology” for around 30 years anyway. In his view, however, this does not necessarily mean that the degree courses need to have exactly the same name: “I am convinced that degree courses such as digital systems, systems engineering or renewable energies appeal more to students with a talent for STEM subjects.” He also sees positive connotations with the term “engineering.” In the case of engineering science degrees, he adds that it is helpful to start with a two-semester orientation phase.
This is apparently also being taken on board by universities: “The feedback on the reform of the range of courses is positive – in particular, the interdisciplinary modules at the beginning of the course are rated very positively,” says Claudia Meitinger, a professor of electrical engineering at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences.
