What careers can graduates of the program pursue?
Leiber: The career profile of a plastics engineer is extraordinarily versatile: On the one hand, this applies to the available industries, which range from focal points such as automotive engineering, aerospace technology, and sports as well as medical and environmental technology to every conceivable field. On the other hand, the activities are just as varied and range from research and development to design and production to purchasing, marketing or quality assurance. Because of this versatility, both the career and salary prospects for our graduates are consistently good.
Have you been able to gain experience with such offers in the past? What was the feedback like?
Leiber: In the past, the trial study was conducted in presence, which means that students were able to participate in the events in the lecture halls. Other offerings included workshops in laboratories or special lectures. The feedback was consistently positive, but the challenge is basically to make it known in advance that these offers exist and that it is very important for the career choice to gain such insights. Since similar events have been held online because of Corona (perhaps also supported by online activities such as the homepage or Instagram), the popularity has increased significantly. In my opinion, this is due to the much less complicated access compared to in-person participation.
What other advice would you give to students who are generally interested in training in the plastics sector?
Leiber: In general, I would like to recommend that before making a decision, you take a differentiated look at the many possibilities in the field of plastics and not just follow the one-sided public discussion about the environment. And specifically for our course of study: anyone who is interested in technical topics, wants to help shape a sustainable future, is looking for a practical course of study with manageable student numbers, in which you have very personal contact with each other and with the lecturers, and who is also looking for varied and good career prospects, should definitely take a look at plastics and elastomer technology.