At the annual University Information Day (Hochschulinformationstag) in June, the Hasso Plattner Institute opens its doors to everyone interested in finding out more about research and instruction at the HPI. The day begins with a lecture given by an HPI professor at the University of Potsdam. In the afternoon, an information event held on the HPI Campus gives visitors the chance to learn more about systems engineering and studying at the Institute.

Experience the HPI up close: In December/January as well as in June, the HPI invites interested young pupils to visit selected course lectures. Information regarding these Open Door Days is published on our website. Note that these lectures are not planned specially for the public, rather they are regular lectures for HPI students. The goal of the Open Door Days is to give interested pupils the opportunity to experience everyday student life at the HPI.

At the annual Bachelor Podium, HPI Bachelor students present the innovative solutions they've developed under the guidance of their professors. Interested pupils are thus able to form an impression of the high level of knowledge gathered by students at the end of their Bachelor-level studies.

Every year, the HPI offers a seminar event for the aspiring young scientists from Berlin-Brandenburg who are participating in the first round of the German National Computer Science Contest. Lectures on current IT topics give students the opportunity to gain knowledge and training beyond their regular classes at school.

The HPI has also been a financial supporter of the State Computer Science Contest (Landeswettbewerb Informatik) for several years.

www.bwinf.de

The HPI works together very closely with MINT-EC e. V., an association of schools encouraging excellence in and the study of mathematics, computer science, the natural sciences and engineering. The HPI is eager to support computer science classes offered by MINT-EC schools via custom-made programs designed especially to fit their needs.

www.mint-ec.de

At least once a year the HPI offeres a Summer Camp for pupils from all over Germany. About 30 students from MINT-EC schools can participate in the camp. During the camp students are given the opportunity to perform computer programming and also to get to know all the phases of software development. Over the course of a couple of days, students work on the entire software development progress from the initial definition all the way to the complete product. The goal of the get-together is to generate enthusiasm among the students for IT Systems Engineering by means of an entertaining group project.

Although computer science is often considered to be a man´s profession, it offers excellent opportunities for women as well. New fields of activity in e-commerce, e-learning and online consulting require interdisciplinary abilities and expert knowledge. Many professions in the online and IT sectors have much to offer with respect to the compatibility of career and family.

Yet, only very few women - 20% or lower -  chose to pursue studies in computer science. The innovation potential of the IT sector - and to a great extent that of the Internet itself - is especially dependent upon the industry's ability to create an efficient workforce and a professional pool of experts. And yet, we are already experiencing a significant lack of specialists today. It is essential that the industry take advantage of all forms of talent and potential from both sexes.

In order to familiarize interested young women with the opportunities available to them in an IT career, the HPI supports the Girls Day.

During summer and fall holidays so-called MINT-Colleges take place at universities in Brandenburg. During that period pupils from class levels 10-13 can try life at highscools.

Within the SummerMINTCollege (SMC) and the FallMINTCollge (HMC) participants get the chance to get to know the HPI-course IT-Systems Engineering, the HPI Research School and the HPI School of Design Thinking. Furthermore they learn in a workshop, how to solve a technical problem with the means of computer science.

For more information see the BrISaNT-Website.

We are happy to organize a tailor-made Project Day designed to introduce groups of young scientists to the study of IT Systems Engineering as an attractive alternative to traditional computer science programs at major universities. The core of our Project Days is a workshop in which participants are given insights into interesting and computer science-related questions.