Practice and teaching in harmony - 5 questions for Daniel Eiseler

Daniel Eiseler has headed the Internship Office since 2013 and has successfully bridged the gap between academic and practical education. In these five questions, he offers insights into his responsibilities, motivations and learning experiences

<Text wird generiert, bitte warten...> — Daniel Eiseler, Head of the Internship Office, lecturer and seconded teacher

As part of our ongoing #5Questions series, we speak to Daniel Eiseler.He explains how he bridges the gap between university teaching and school practice and what experiences have shaped him in the process.

Question 1: What tasks and areas of responsibility do you take on in our professorship?

I have been working at the institute since 2013 and head the internship office.I also teach three courses: the preparatory and follow-up seminars for the (vocational) educational internship and the practical vocational training studies.The combination with my work at a vocational school is particularly exciting, where I teach young adults at a technical secondary school, a vocational college and a technical college.

Question 2: What originally prompted you to take the step from professional practice to university teaching?

After studying mechanical engineering in Karlsruhe, I initially worked as a design engineer for a few years.I quickly realized that I missed the direct contact with people.That's why I studied engineering education at KIT (physics as a second subject) and completed the preparatory service - a path I would take again at any time.

Question 3: What personal learning moments have particularly shaped you in your leadership role and how do these influence your leadership in the traineeship?

The daily interaction with young adults keeps me young and motivated.In my management role, I have learned how important it is to listen to students.My aim is to provide quick feedback on questions about internship requirements and scope and to tailor my advice accordingly.

Question 4: What key technical and pedagogical qualifications do you expect from interns working in a technical and educational environment?

For me, it's less about rigid qualifications and more about the mindset.Above all, I expect initiative, curiosity, openness to new experiences and enjoyment in dealing with technical issues and people.If you have these qualities, you will benefit enormously from the practical phase.

Question 5: What advice would you give to prospective engineering teachers who want to actively shape their career with internships, and what next steps would you recommend?

An internship is a risk-free playground to try things out - use it to get a taste of different areas and proactively ask for tasks.You will quickly find out what really suits you and what doesn't.Enjoy the different roles: Adult education is just as exciting as everyday teaching at school.