Around 200 faces with FFP2 masks are looking at Professor Christian Bonten. It's Tuesday, 5 p.m., and today’s lecture deals with the basics of plastics engineering. Before the break, Bonten addresses the fact that the lecture can be held onsite despite Corona: "I'm glad that we can meet here face-to-face. Are you too?” he asks. Nearly everyone raises their hand and, talking to the students later it quickly becomes clear that they are, above all, grateful.
"A lecture onsite at the university is much more entertaining and varied," says Amelie Katzke. The 22-year-old Master's student often finds watching lectures on a screen monotonous. Johannes Däges agrees: "When a lecture takes place onsite, I am more motivated than I would be at home. I stay more focused and get into a better rhythm." His brother studies at a different university and Johannes says he has been sitting at home since the start of the year because all of his lectures are being held online. "It's great that it's not like that here", says the mechanical engineering student.
At the beginning of the semester, the University of Stuttgart strongly advocated for more onsite teaching. Professor Wolfram Ressel, Rector at the University of Stuttgart, emphasizes: "It is in the best interest of our students to maintain a significant level of onsite teaching, even under the current circumstances. We have made every possible effort to offer as many onsite courses as possible during the winter semester 2021/22."
Bonten, who heads the Institut für Kunststofftechnik, thinks the university has chosen the right path: "I find personal interactions onsite easier. In my opinion, discussions are much better when they take place on the lecture hall rather than online." He often brings everyday plastic packaging to the lecture. "I can touch things here. That makes things much clearer, and I gain much more from the lecture," explains student Katzke.
Eduardo Ancira is an international student from Mexico. He arrived in February 2020 to study Technology Management. "I finally get to meet people and improve my German," says the 23-year-old. He adds that online lectures are more stressful for him than onsite teaching. He received his vaccination during a vaccination campaign at the University of Stuttgart: "It was a very practical way to receive my vaccination."
Lecture available as recording
And are students concerned about contracting the coronavirus? The students dismiss this immediately: "Nope," says Däges. "Everyone is vaccinated or has recovered from the virus, and we wear FFP2 masks all the time." Anyone who is unable to, or does not wish to, attend onsite courses can watch a recording of the lecture on their computer at home. Bonten emphasizes: "I am neither worried nor afraid. We abide by the rules governing masks and social distancing, and to the maximum lecture hall occupancy of 209 participants, and I trust the excellent ventilation here." Those who can't or don't want to be onsite can watch a recording of the lecture on their computer at home. Overall, everyone is very calm and there is trust on both sides. Katzke agrees with this. For her it's clear that, "we'll do anything as long as we can study here onsite."
Professor Christian Bonten during his lecture.
Students are vaccinated or recovered.
FFP2 masks must also be worn at the seat.
- From a Student's Perspective: A Look at the Winter Semester 21/22
Student Anna writes about the semester on the USUS blog [DE]