Tooling expert Walter AG is co-operating with the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW) to offer students a digital business information systems degree - the Bachelor of Science in Business Information Studies in recognition of the potency of Industry 4.0 and to effectively open the door to career opportunities in smart factories.
The three-year course, which commences autumn 2018, will combine scientific study with practical experience, with students moving between the university and Walter every three months to gain knowledge, professional experience and soft skills in equal measure. The degree will be recognised internationally.
"Industry 4.0 means that mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology are growing closer together to form an intelligently networked production method, says Walter AG. So, the interlocking of the analogue and the digital worlds requires a lasting change of attitude hence the development of the new course.
Walter AG is a pioneer in Industry 4.0 and digital transformation is one of its key objectives. As a solution provider, the company specialises in optimising component machining by, for example, complementing its extensive range of tooling with digital components and apps to continuously monitor machining processes. It is a strategy that calls for digital experts.
The new degree course has a number of key aspects:
- Students receive a fixed salary throughout the duration of the course and enjoy all the privileges of a Walter AG employee;
- While the study programme will more engaging than a regular course, the practical experience is also very diverse in content;
- An internship abroad with a Walter subsidiary, lasting several weeks, is a planned section of the course.
The new course expands Walter AGs co-operative degrees in mechanical engineering at three other universities, and the company also trains school graduates as industrial mechanics, machine and system operators, as well as electronics technicians.