TU Dortmund University Trainees are Among the Best in the Region and Nationwide
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When she heats glass in the workshop and molds it precisely by hand into delicate appliances, Lea Hering’s craftsmanship is clear to see. The Glass Apparatus Maker is among the best trainees in her year nationwide. “Learning a profession where you can see the tangible result of your work was very important to me,” she says. What she particularly appreciates at TU Dortmund University is the wide variety of tasks: “No two days are the same.” For her, having the opportunity as a trainee to work on her own pieces at times when things were quieter was also very valuable.
In the final exams of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lea Hering was one of the 211 best trainees from around 250,000 examinees throughout Germany and additionally numbered among the best in North Rhine-Westphalia. She was commended for her outstanding performance both at the awards ceremony in Soest for the best trainees at regional level and at the national awards ceremony in Berlin.
Craftsmanship that is both precise and creative
During her training in the workshops at the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Lea Hering made special appliances for research laboratories and repaired fragile glass components –work that calls for a high degree of precision. “You are supervised by several experienced colleagues, who each show you their own individual technique so that you gradually develop your own style,” she explains. Having completed her traineeship, she is now employed at TU Dortmund University on a permanent basis.
Electronic devices for research facilities
Also among the best in his chosen occupation is Geronimo Hüttermann, Electronics Technician for Equipment and Systems. He is the regional winner in his training profession in North Rhine-Westphalia and achieved 99 out of 100 points in the final exam of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This makes him, like Lea Hering, one of the 124 best trainees in North Rhine-Westphalia – and one of the top ten in the catchment area of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dortmund.
In his daily work, Geronimo Hüttermann devotes himself to repairing and building new electronic devices, ranging from measuring instruments to complex system components. “We still have some devices here from the 1960s,” he reports. A lot of the old equipment is very robust and easy to repair. In this context, sustainability plays an important role, meaning that the devices are reused or modified rather than replaced. Now that he has completed his training, Geronimo Hüttermann, too, will remain at TU Dortmund University for the time being. In the long term, he would like to qualify further and become an engineer.
Traineeships at TU Dortmund University
TU Dortmund University currently employs around 130 trainees in many different professions, which makes it one of the largest traineeship providers in Dortmund. In addition to Glass Apparatus Makers and Electronics Technicians for Equipment and Systems, the training professions at TU Dortmund include the following: Audiovisual Media Designer, Media and Information Services Specialist, Metal Cutting Mechanic, Chemical Laboratory Technician, Computer Science Expert – Subject Area: System Integration, Industrial Mechanic, Technical Product Designer, Materials Tester, Office Manager, Sport and Fitness Management Assistant. In addition, students pursuing a dual studies program are trained in software and systems engineering.
Interested school leavers can apply for traineeships from August 2026 onwards.