Smart Learning classes start the new school year with increased numbers

Sep 9, 2020 | Business & Financial Press

VILLACH, September 9, 2020 – The Smart Learning classes at the higher technical schools (HTLs) in Wolfsberg, Villach, Klagenfurt Mössingerstraße and Klagenfurt Lastenstraße that were initiated by Infineon Austria are starting their second school year. This year, the HTL Ferlach has joined them for the first time as the fifth school involved in the cooperation arrangement: the new subject “Robotics and Smart Engineering” will become a Smart Learning class.

Digital competences make students fit for the future

Especially the Coronavirus crisis has shown how critically important digital tools and skills are in all areas of life, particularly in education and schools. The Smart Learning pilot classes from Infineon were launched last year in cooperation with the Carinthian Education Department and four HTLs, with the goal of making increased use of digital technologies, further developing teaching methods and integrating these with tasks taken from industrial practice.

“With the Smart Learning classes, we have set our course towards modern education that is in tune with the changing demands of the times at an early stage. A solid technical education and access to the relevant resources are a major lever to make a country viable for the future. This way, we are strengthening the important digital competences in both learning and teaching, while also demonstrating that technology is exciting and really fun when modern methods are used”, says Sabine Herlitschka, CEO of Infineon Technologies Austria AG.

“Cool” topics for schools from technical practice

With Industry 4.0, robotics, the Internet of Things, energy technology, e-mobility and systems engineering, Infineon is offering forward-looking topics to provide the young technical talents with the best preparation for their professional future.

In the first year, the basis for the Smart Learning concept was created, which will span a total of five years. For this purpose, Infineon set up a digital platform with demo kits, e-training courses, and hardware and software applications. The schools can access these tools at any time according to the students’ learning progress. Teachers are also educating themselves the smart way: they used the Infineon Summer School to network with experts from science and the business world.

In the upcoming second school year, smart boards, drones and time-of-flight cameras will be provided. The program will also include company visits, joint hackathons or taking part in University Day.

Cooperation between Infineon and five HTLs

For the first time, all five HTLs in Carinthia are now represented with seven classes and around 210 students in total. The HTL in Ferlach is celebrating a double premiere: the newly created subject “Robotics and Smart Engineering” will be run as a Smart Learning class. This creates an additional training opportunity in Carinthia for the skilled technicians that are in great demand in the economy.

Robert Klinglmair, Director of Education for Carinthia: “Through the Smart Learning classes and the cooperation with Infineon, the Carinthian HTLs at the sites in Villach, Klagenfurt Mössingerstraße and Lastenstraße, Wolfsberg and Ferlach are once again demonstrating their innovative capacity. Cooperation with companies such as Infineon plays an important role in these efforts. The HTLs receive direct access to current tasks being undertaken by industry and a valuable insight into the world of work. With this modern concept of conveying technology in a practice-oriented way in intelligent learning environments and with digital teaching materials, the HTLs are creating an attractive training offering for the next generation of skilled workers in Carinthia.”

About Infineon Austria

Infineon Technologies Austria AG is a group subsidiary of Infineon Technologies AG, a world-leading provider of semiconductor solutions that make life easier, safer and greener. Microelectronics from Infineon reduce the energy consumption of consumer electronics, domestic appliances and industrial facilities. They make a major contribution to the convenience, security and sustainability of vehicles, and enable secure transactions in the Internet of Things.

Besides Germany, Infineon Austria is the only subsidiary within the group that pools competencies for research and development, production as well as global business responsibility. The head office is in Villach, with further branches in Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz and Vienna. With 4,609 employees from around 68 countries (including 1,977 in research and development), in the financial year 2019 (ending in September) the company achieved a turnover of € 3.1 billion. An R&D expense rate of €525 million makes Infineon Austria the strongest industrial research company in Austria.

Press Photos

  • Smart Learning classes start the new school year with new partner from left:  Monika Grasser and Silke Bergmoser ( HTL Ferlach), Sabine Herlitschka (CEO Infineon Austria), Robert Klinglmair, Axel Zafoschnig (Education Center for Carinthia), Infineon roboter „Pepper“ with two students from HTL Ferlach
    Smart Learning classes start the new school year with new partner from left: Monika Grasser and Silke Bergmoser ( HTL Ferlach), Sabine Herlitschka (CEO Infineon Austria), Robert Klinglmair, Axel Zafoschnig (Education Center for Carinthia), Infineon roboter „Pepper“ with two students from HTL Ferlach
    Smart-Learning-2020-mit-HTL-Ferlach-

    JPG | 869 kb | 1701 x 1210 px

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