Gertraud Wolf

2021 | Master Civil and Environmental Engineering

Career Development

During my Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering at the THD, my focus was already on technical building equipment (TGA) and Building Information Modelling (BIM). I have been involved in building services engineering from the 4th semester to the present day. As I also wanted to consolidate the theory in practice, I have been working in an engineering office for technical building services ever since. I also chose my specialisations for the Master's degree course in Civil and Environmental Engineering accordingly. While I spent my free study days working on the planning of technical systems, I still had another focus: working on planning processes as efficiently as possible, with networking and with a high degree of digitalisation. This led me to my second specialisation, BIM.

After completing my Master's degree in the summer semester of 2021, I joined the same engineering firm as an internal BIM manager. This was followed by further training in the field of BIM in order to introduce the methodology within the office together with my BIM team, define standards and implement them in projects. In addition to my work as a BIM manager, I also work as a research assistant in the field of teaching and research with the aim of obtaining a doctorate and as a freelance honorary lecturer in my two specialisations. Since the summer semester 2024, I have also been able to return to DIT. This time not as a student, but as a lecturer in the field of TGA.

Reminiscing allowed: remember your student days

DIT and the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering in particular, has a family atmosphere. You know your fellow students here, which has a corresponding effect on the team spirit during and after your studies. There were many wonderful moments, celebrations and memories that I look back on today. Friendships developed during the preparatory course and are still going strong today. Friends with whom we went through some ups and downs during certain modules. But we made it! When I'm in the city of Deggendorf, I sometimes deliberately park near the campus rather than in the city centre. Just to walk past the buildings, stroll around the campus and reminisce.

What advice would you give to today's students?

"Focus - Concentrate - Realise!"
This motto emerged from our final excursion and has stayed with me ever since.If you have your goals in mind, you can achieve anything!

There are many paths open to you in the field of civil and environmental engineering.By choosing the right subjects, you can focus and concentrate on various areas at the BIW faculty and realise them professionally later on.

Take advantage of the continuing education programmes at the university.The specialist symposia and trade fairs were particularly helpful to me.These are a good opportunity to network with experts from the field during your studies. As a student, you have nothing to lose. On the contrary: networking will be important for you later in your career. So it's all the better if you can pick up this skill during your studies. 

At the end of the semester (or day), don't forget to enjoy your time at university, because it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Florian Sörgel

2020 | Master Civil and Environmental Engineering

Career Development

Before I started studying at DIT (2015 - 2020), I completed my subject-specific and then general higher education entrance qualification at the FOS Hof. Originally, I wanted to study to become a teacher. However, as the recruitment and transfer opportunities were very unclear at the time, my focus shifted to a degree programme in environmental engineering. I quickly realised that I wanted to pursue a career in which I would "leave my mark" at the end of the day and where you could always see tangible progress. Media technology, electrical engineering or business studies were never an option for me.

So I wanted to build something, especially environmentally conscious construction in combination with energy supply had brought me to Deggendorf. So I started the bachelor's degree in "Resource and Environmental Management", but through various lectures I realised that I was more interested in pure civil engineering. That's why I completed various internships at construction companies (Josef Rädlinger Bauunternehmen, AS Bau Hof) and an engineering office (Planungsbüro Schnabel). Through these internships, I found my future and current employer, Rädlinger Straßen- und Tiefbau GmbH in Selbitz. During my bachelor's degree and subsequent master's degree in "Civil and Environmental Engineering", I further deepened my knowledge and expertise in asphalt and road construction through student trainee jobs and final theses (bachelor's and master's theses) in Selbitz. I also had the opportunity to spend my entire 3rd master's semester in the company and worked there on a 20-hour basis while writing my thesis, which I found particularly helpful due to the many contacts with the then motorway directorate, now Autobahn GmbH des Bundes, the state building authorities and the proximity to practice.

I am currently working as a site manager in asphalt construction and - even though I am currently deviating somewhat from the initial idea of "environmentally conscious construction" (after all, asphalt is partly made of bitumen/petroleum 😉) - I have really found my dream job and wouldn't want to miss it. After a few years of professional experience, I am now also able to train and instruct the first young professionals/students, where the career aspiration of being a teacher from school age can then be realised.  

Reminiscing allowed: remember your student days

I could tell you so much about my time at university that there's probably not enough space left. I remember exactly how I and my fellow students arrived at THD as completely awkward and stressed first-year students. Luckily, that soon died down and we learnt exactly how studying works. You realised that you can achieve more as part of a team than if you try to struggle through the first few semesters on your own. The VDBau and higher semesters in particular help the newcomers with old lecture notes, exams, tutorials or simply in conversations and pass on your tips over a relaxed beer. All the THD events, the Christmas party (which was legendary in its own way every year), the mulled wine sale, every VDBau regulars' table at Otto's, the Kneipenhupfa or the May festival also gave rise to countless friendships and stories. The THD was not only a university where I studied from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but also a place where people simply met up in the evenings or during free hours and enjoyed spending their free time.

I will never forget the annual spring festivals, the Danube Festival and the countless pub/club trips during my time at university. I also made some lifelong friends here, which have since helped me in the professional world.

What advice would you give to today's students?

Really enjoy your time at university, because no-one will be able to give you this time, but they won't be able to take it away either. Exchange ideas with fellow students, especially with the higher semesters, this will really make your studies easier - nobody can give you better information and questions can't be answered better than by people who asked them themselves some time ago. Also use the time to connect, e.g. the VDBau or other clubs at DIT will help you during your studies, but also afterwards!

And rest assured: you will always get help at the TH Deggendorf - Mrs Heindl (secretariat of the BIW/UIW faculty) always had an open ear. Without her, my time at university would definitely have been more difficult.