Making plans for the future together

What do I want to be? As soon as pupils finish school they start thinking about their career choice. Gaining insight into working life definitely makes the choice easier. The new cooperation agreement between 4. Aachener Gesamtschule and Studierendenwerk Aachen makes it possible for pupils to get to know a company from the staff’s point of view.

 “Studierendenwerk offers a wide range of career fields. Our pupils can test their individual skills here”, says Margret Lensges, coordinator of grades eight to ten. Studierendenwerk has 340 employees working in dining services, facility management, childcare, finances and commercial administration. As an apprenticing company it has invited pupils to do work placements or tours the past few years. „We want to help build a bridge between school and company”, explains Dirk Reitz, manager of Studierendenwerk. The goal of the cooperation agreement is to bring economy and the working world to school and to improve the pupils’ education.

The agreement includes regular job days, company tours, vacation jobs, job interview training as well as individual work placements and a “story café”, where pupils experience what it is like to be an apprentice. The school project “responsibility – helping is adventure” involves voluntary work. Marcel Reuleaux, career choice coordinator of the school, would like the students to do the voluntary work in the five childcare centers of Studierendenwerk. “The promotion of social skills gets connected with career orientation“.

Margret Lensges explains why the agreement perfectly matches the new school concept: The focus is on the development of independence. Pupils of different ages learn together and they manage their school routine themselves. “We want our students to build self-confidence”. Studierendenwerk offering practical education is a perfect addition.