Conclusion after the first semester at Weserbergland University of Applied Sciences
This blog post is intended to give a brief insight into the first phase of studying at the Weserbergland University of Applied Sciences (HSW). Due to COVID, the start of our studies was different than expected — but hopefully things will return to normal in the coming semesters so we can enjoy some of that “student life” experience. 😉
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We, the dual students Nico Lammers, Jamil Raai, Fabian Hömmen, and Hendrik Tepe from the 2020 class, had imagined our first semester quite differently. We were supposed to begin our dual studies in Business Informatics at the Hochschule Weserbergland in Hameln, live in the AMCON student flat, and enjoy student parties. But studying during the pandemic mainly meant homeschooling. What was still cool and what we did during the few in-person days — you can find out in this blog post.
A typical study day
Unfortunately, we had to start the semester mostly from home in front of our computers. “We” are Nico Lammers, Jamil Raai, Fabian Hömmen, and Hendrik Tepe, the dual students of the 2020 cohort.
After spending two days in Hameln during orientation week, the “real” studies began from home. We got to know our professors and fellow students and then quickly moved into the lectures. A typical study day looked something like this:
09:45 – 11:15 Fundamentals of Programming
11:30 – 13:00 Fundamentals of Programming
14:00 – 15:30 Fundamentals of Technical Informatics
15:45 – 17:15 Fundamentals of Technical Informatics
So, usually, there was one block in the morning and one in the afternoon. One of the biggest challenges was staying focused since it’s much easier to get distracted at home. It helped that most of the modules weren’t just straight lectures. We students were actively involved, and thanks to lots of group work, we still got to know our classmates quite well.
Game-based learning through “beCeo!” provides insight into market economics
One of the most interesting tasks was the simulation game “beCeo!”. In this game, we formed groups of five and took on the role of managing a company competing in a market environment. Working in teams and competing against other groups was especially exciting. There were multiple game rounds where we had to adjust our strategies to current market conditions. The idea was to learn how markets fundamentally work and how our decisions affect the simulation. The professors could also tweak parameters in the simulation to reflect real-world changes in market situations.
Fundamentals of Programming and writing theory papers
Besides that, we mainly focused on the basics of various subject areas. In the Fundamentals of Programming course, for instance, we learned the first steps in Java programming. Alongside theoretical lessons, we created small console programs, such as Tic-Tac-Toe or a contact management tool. Thanks to our experience at AMCON, we already had a good foundation in programming.
Another important part of the first semester was writing our first academic theory paper. This is meant to help us learn how to write academically so that we’re prepared for future assignments and, ultimately, the bachelor’s thesis. It’s advisable to look for a supervisor early on, since some professors are very popular and get booked quickly.
Exam period and first shared flat experience in Hameln
During the study phase, two short in-person sessions were originally planned, which would have brought us back to Hameln for two more days. The first session took place as planned and was immediately used for a short math test. However, the second session had to be canceled again due to stricter COVID-19 regulations.
At the end of the semester, it was time for the exams. While the oral exams still took place online, we had to travel to Hameln for the written ones to take them in person. That gave us the chance to finally settle into the AMCON shared flat for at least a full week. Alongside studying, we were able to explore a bit more of Hameln — although, of course, options were still quite limited due to the pandemic.
After that, it was finally time for the Christmas break, and we headed back to AMCON for the next practical phase!
We’re definitely looking forward to the upcoming study phases and hope to experience more of student life in Hameln and on the HSW campus.