Link between research and teaching: Talents in mid-level faculty

Link between research and teaching

Talents in mid-level faculty

They usually operate quietly in the background but are extremely important for the cohesion of the university: the mid-level faculty. These are the academic employees who have completed their studies but do not hold a chair. Through their versatile commitment, they form the link between research and teaching.

International and digital

Like Christine Freitag from the Department of Social Policy and Social Security Studies. The regional scientist has been in charge of setting up and expanding the Digital International General Studies (DISG) since June 2021. The courses enable students from all departments to strengthen their key competences and soft skills. The distinctive feature is a digital and international format. The DISG is developed and carried out in cooperation with H-BRS’ foreign partner universities. This way, students can gain their first international experience in the spirit of virtual mobility. “The close cooperation with our partner universities broadens the students’ horizons, strengthens their key competences and ideally also makes them want to embark on a real stay abroad,” Freitag explains.

From theory to practice

Xuan Tung Do in the Department of Natural Sciences also wants to instil an interest in the new and unfamiliar. He supervises lab practicals in organic chemistry and instrumental analysis and supports the students in putting their theoretical knowledge into practice. The chemist has remained loyal to the university. After completing his Bachelor‘s and Master‘s degrees at H-BRS, he is now earning his doctorate on renewable raw materials with Professor Margit Schulze. He appreciates the close interaction with the students. “I pass my fresh expertise on to them and, through their input, develop new ideas on how to communicate my research.”

Boredom? No way

Bernd Evers-Dietze from the Institute of Technology, Resource and Energy-Efficiency Engineering (TREE) also works closely with students. The mechanical engineer conducts research in the field of materials science and heads the Laboratory for Regenerative Energy Systems. Together with students, he planned and created large-scale photovoltaic systems for the Sankt Augustin campus. Bernd Evers-Dietze has known H-BRS since his student days and now values it as an employer. “My tasks are very diverse. I can pursue my interests here and work on innovative projects – you never get bored.”