Events and vocational orientation formats
Welcome to the Events and Vocational Training section! We are happy to give you some insights into our exciting projects and initiatives dedicated to promoting education and training in the fascinating world of offshore wind energy.
The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation can look back on many years of experience in the field of vocational education for children and young people in the career orientation phase. Our commitment began with two pioneering projects: Schleswind and INSCHOOL.
Schleswind and INSCHOOL: pioneering work in vocational training
At a time when offshore wind energy was still uncharted territory and depended on the work force of mostly lateral entrants (often coming from the onshore wind sector, the oil and gas sector or the maritime industry), the topic of professional perspectives was not or hardly dealt with. This was aggravated by a lack of information availability for the general population, which basically resulted in a lack of acceptance of (offshore) wind energy. In this manner, the Geman Offshore Wind Energy Foundation initiated the Schleswind and INSCHOOL projects, which were aimed specifically at schoolchildren in order to give them an understanding of the many facets and career opportunities of offshore wind energy. Together with the Regional Environmental Centre Holllen, workshops were organised and suitable teaching materials were created, some of which are still in use today. Through its multifaced work with young people, the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation became aware of the importance of early vocational orientation, which is why it is still one of the most central components of the Foundation's activities today.
The birth of the German Chapter of OffshoreWind4Kids
Since 2021, the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation has been a proud founding member of the German Chapter of OffshoreWind4Kids. This partnership, consisting of other committed partners such as Northland Power, DNV and HAW Hamburg, enables us to further expand our vocational education work, including regular workshops at schools and at career information days. We are also happy to support teacher formats such as the Teachers Science Club in Hamburg aiming to expand this form of engagement throughout northern Germany.
Shaping the future: Education and enthusiasm with a (job) profile - our WIN(D)SCHOOL.
This workshop format at schools will be systematically expanded in the greater Hamburg area from 2024 thanks to financial support from our vocational training sponsors and co-financing from the DBU. The aim is to provide information about offshore wind energy and to catch young people’s interst in the wide range of career opportunities in technical training and academic education. By doing so, we do also state a big importance to adressing young girls, who, according to the Foundation's experience, can be inspired in a different way for more technically oriented occupational fields. Based on our experience, our teaching and information content is adapted to the social structure of the classes or schools; especially in the area of addressing children and young people with a lack of or insufficient knowledge of German language.
Career fairs
The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation takes part in career fairs and similar events (e. g. the career days at WindEnergy in Hamburg or at the IdeenExpo in Hanover). We are also happy to support our trustees with materials, for example our Was Ist Was booklet – „Offshore Windenergie – Hightech auf hoher See".
Is your company a curator of the Foundation? As such, we are happy to provide you with free copies of the book for your public relations and educational programs! We are looking forward to hear from you!
Taking people with us
The Foundation sees an increasing desire among the general public to learn about renewable energy and about offshore wind energy in particular. There is also a need to ask specific questions and to voice concerns and worries (e. g. in connection with species protection or the necessary grid expansion on land). The Foundation meets this growing demand with a specially designed touring exhibition and their participation in community festivals such as the "Fascination Offshore Wind" on the island of Rügen.
Our team will also be happy to support your city festivalor touristic activities event by renting our touring exhibibtion for a fee. Your company is a trustee of the Foundation, you do represent a public institution, association, municipality etc. and wish to hear more about our offer? Feel free to contact us!
Internships in the offshore wind industry
An important part of our work is the successful arrangement of school and student internships in the offshore wind industry.
- Pupils internships: Requests from pupils for school internships as part of career orientation at secondary schools often arise in the aftermath of our "outreach" to schools. The Foundation is pleased about this and endeavors to place the future junior employees in suitable companies.
- Student internships: The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation itself does not offer student internships, but will be happy to provide contact details of suitable companies on request. Click here for information on opportunities for students to work at the Foundation.
