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Service studies

Steinbeis program of study for T-Punkt Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH

The School of Management and Innovation (SMI) at Steinbeis University Berlin has announced a new partner for employee development: T-Punkt Vertriebsgesellschaft mbH (TPG), Deutsche Telekom’s proprietary and anchored distribution channel. Working closely together, the two have designed the Sales and Service BBA, a bachelor’s degree program exclusively for TPG employees. The program launched in October with 25 students.

“Adding skills to one’s repertoire has become a key factor for success to employees in nearly every profession and industry,” explains Carsten Rasner, Director of the SMI. “The Sales and Service bachelor’s degree offers candidates a made-to-measure course of study that addresses the employee’s professional development needs and the company’s objectives, bringing them together perfectly,” he outlines. At the moment, this degree program focusing on sales and service is the only one of its kind at a German institution of higher education.

The three-year program offers comprehensive business training and imparts service and sales expertise to employees in telecommunications and the media. It also aims to prepare them for challenges in marketing, distribution and service management – in a real industry setting and directly tied to the employees’ profession. Steinbeis degree programs feature an in-built safeguard to ensure relevance. Before the degree is granted, students complete a project in partnership with T-Punkt Vertriebsgesellschaft which demonstrates that they can apply what they’ve learned in their own companies. “Besides our comprehensive training programs which help our Telekom shop employees build on their practical knowledge and experience,” reports Bernhard Hogenschurz, Managing Director of HR and Organisation at TPG. “They can also receive an academic education – even without taking final secondary school exams if they have the right professional experience. It’s a win-win situation for our employees and our company.” Upon completion, students earn the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), a university-level academic degree recognized by the state. The partnership also founded the Hamburg-based Sales and Service Research Center. Directed by Prof. Dr. habil. Frank Keuper, Professor for Business Studies at the SMI, the Center publishes work, carries out research and is involved in promotions related to corporate as well as sales and service management.

German Ministry of Economic Affairs funds Steinbeis research plans

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs is giving financial backing to the Steinbeis Research Center Solites for a research project in Crailsheim. The aim: to develop tools to ensure quality in building and operating geothermal borehole heat exchangers and entire arrays of them. “This initiative will allow us to study the interplay of solar thermal systems and geothermal borehole heat exchangers much more closely,” explains Richard Drautz, Secretary of State for the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The use of solar thermal energy is on the brink of newfound significance. A number of synergies could be leveraged when this kind of energy is coupled with geothermal borehole heat exchangers. What’s missing are thorough studies on several issues – quality control and quality management key among them. Simply too little is known at the moment about many procedures using geothermal borehole heat exchangers and the impacts they have on each other. “This project aims to slash these deficits and give this highly promising technology just the push it needs,” explains Mr. Drautz. The project will run until August 2010 and receive € 450,000 in state grants. 

Steinbeis in the ‘Land of Ideas’ 2008

Steinbeis has captured two ‘landmarks’ in the ‘365 Landmarks in the Land of Ideas’ event series, a joint initiative of the German government and the Federation of German Industries to showcase Germany as a great place to live and work. In July, the Steinbeis Transfer Center Business Development in Pforzheim with its ‘Young Founders’ project will take center stage for a day, and in October, the Steinbeis Transfer Center i/i/d – Institute for Integrated Design in Bremen will receive its award.

Now in its third year, this initiative awards associations, organizations, private institutions, companies, research establishments and universities which reflect Germany’s position as an excellent place to live and work. According to the initiators, winners share “inventiveness, a passion for making things and visionary thinking.” The Pforzheim-based Transfer Center uses its online ‘Young Founders’ competition to reach out to young people who would like to bring their innovative ideas to the marketplace and see their ‘company’ experience the highs and lows a fiscal year brings. The Transfer Center i/i/d will also be recognized for successful transfer between research, teaching, and trade and industry. And just in 2007, Steinbeis was part of another landmark – employees of the Steinbeis Transfer Center Geographic Information and Land Management in Weikersheim balance family life with a career, embodying the drive that is needed for real, lasting change now and down the road.

“Electronics in automobiles” Steinbeis Symposium

Between 8-10 April 2008 the Haus der Wirtschaft in Stuttgart will host the “Electronics in automobiles” Steinbeis Symposium which will explore electrical systems, electronics, and mechatronics as one of the pivotal factors in adding value to innovative cars. Now in its twentieth year, the symposium has always been firmly rooted in practice and a place for experts to share ideas. Steinbeis hosted the event in 2006 and partners this year with the vieweg technology forum, MBtechnology, and the Steinbeis Transfer Center Automotive Engineering.

With the symposium spanning three days, Day 1 will address the technical state of affairs of the automotive industry and the technical perspectives it offers. Day 2 will investigate networked vehicles and energyefficient systems, while Day 3 will focus on mechatronic systems. A panel featuring representatives from businesses and associations will examine to what extent complex, energy-efficient electronic systems and low-cost electronics are at loggerheads. The symposium will also feature an on-going technical exhibit showcasing the research and production of industrial companies and centers in the Steinbeis Network. And the final touch: trips to leading automotive companies. A high-caliber program committee will ensure – along with overall quality – that topics reflect the times and are highly relevant to transfer. Members of the program’s advisory board: Dr. Elmar Frickenstein/BMW Group, Dr. Rainer Kallenbach/Robert Bosch GmbH, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Johann Löhn/ Steinbeis University Berlin, Uwe Michael/ Porsche AG, Dr. Willibert Schleuter/Audi AG, Prof. Dr. Gernot Spiegelberg/Siemens VDO Automotive AG, Dr. Dirk Walliser/MBtechnology GmbH, Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Prof. h.c. Gerhard Walliser/Steinbeis Transfer Center Automotive Engineering and Stephan Wolfsried/ Daimler AG.

Contact

Anja Reinhardt
Steinbeis Foundation Stuttgart
anja.reinhardt@stw.de

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