The 15th CONTACTA HochFranken has kicked off with the traditional opening event and a regional teacher training course at the Hof University of Applied Sciences. Around 1100 pupils from the region will be able to find out about vocational training and degree courses from 96 companies and expert presentations at the training fair on Wednesday and Thursday (25 and 26.9.24 from 08:30 to 13:00). Young people will be able to gain additional insights into a wide range of professions and courses of study at numerous presentations by the Upper Franconian service clubs and Hof University of Applied Sciences.
The CONTACTA regional teacher training kicked off the event. Around 100 teachers came together in the “Audimax” at Hof University of Applied Sciences – a record turnout. They all learned about the topic “Psychological problems in young people at school and in training: causes. Symptoms and help”. The speaker was Prof. Dr. med. Michael Frey, Professor of Biopsychosocial Medicine at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (he had already outlined his topic in an interview with “Campuls-digital” ).
Clear rise in mental illnesses due to the pandemic
Prof. Frey began his lecture with a look at the current data situation: general life satisfaction had fallen noticeably during the pandemic and has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. Depression and anxiety disorders have doubled as a result of the pandemic, affecting girls and women in particular. Suicide attempts and self-harm also increased significantly during the pandemic. Once again, young people proved to be particularly at risk, which is by no means surprising:
It is important to note here: A large number of mental illnesses first occur in adolescence. The period between the ages of 15 and 25 is particularly critical due to the phases of brain change. For hormonal reasons, people are more susceptible to emotional turmoil during this time – which is clearly conducive to an overemphasis on negative emotions or addictions.”
Prof. Dr. med. Michael Frey
In general, mental illnesses are always multifactorial – pre-existing conditions, family genetics, the phase of life and, in particular, lifestyle and influences all play a role. Social media and school can be both supportive and helpful as well as stress factors – as can obesity, poor sleep or poor nutrition.
Many factors can promote illness
On the other hand, exercise, healthy sleep, a stable environment and a good diet can counteract illness. The gut also plays a major role in this: “Microbiomes in the gut are still a relatively new but rapidly growing field of research – they can be strongly influenced by diet and exercise. The more diverse the microbiome is, the better.”
Prof. Frey’s advice to the teachers present for dealing with those affected:
“Encourage a sense of community, invest in social skills, promote a healthy lifestyle, use your school’s resources and, best of all, accompany your pupils very individually in terms of a positive teacher-pupil relationship.”
Prof. Dr. med. Michael Frey
A personal mindfulness practice can also be an effective preventative measure: “It restructures the brain and ultimately controls hormonal changes, which can have a positive influence on mental health.”
But how should teachers behave in the event of abnormalities, for example when it comes to suicidal tendencies? “Talk to the young people directly – sensitively but directly. And also ask specific questions about their desire to perhaps no longer want to live. And then, if the worst comes to the worst, be sure to call in specialists.”
Kick-off event
Around 150 guests from schools, business and the supporting service clubs attended the subsequent launch event in the largest lecture hall at Hof University of Applied Sciences.
“Good schools and good education are a tough location factor. We are working on this and see ourselves as a region of the future – and CONTACTA is sending out this message again this year!”
Dr. Dorothee Strunz, SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT network;
Dr. Dorothee Strunz, Chairwoman of the SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT network and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Valentin Plenk, Vice President of Hof University of Applied Sciences, welcomed the guests – not without asking Hof’s Mayor Eva Döhla (who also conveyed the greetings of District Administrator Dr. Oliver Bär) and Roland Schöffel, Deputy District Administrator of the Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge district, for a word of welcome.
“CONTACTA is more than just a trade fair. It is inspiring and not only provides teachers with a special offer, but also strengthens the topic of education and training in a very special way for our young people. It is the central point of contact for career information.”
Eva Döhla, Mayor of the City of Hof
“Young people have the right to see the world – but it’s best to come back home – it’s worth it in many ways. Make your contacts in business and science in the region right here at CONTACTA!”
Roland Schöffel, Deputy District Administrator of the district of Wunsiedel im Fichtelgebirge
Head teacher Stefan Klein, deputy to the ministerial representative for grammar schools in Upper Franconia, praised in particular the trusting and well-coordinated cooperation between the participating schools and the CONTACTA HochFranken organization team:
‘The SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT working group ensures that this is about people who are cared for intensively. The diversity of career choices can be experienced here. And the performance, which is also shown in the P-seminars of the grammar schools to be awarded, is more than impressive.”
Stefan Klein, Headmaster
In a keynote speech, Maniana Füg, sixth form coordinator at Jean-Paul-Gymnasium Hof, then went into detail about the “Possibilities and opportunities of the P-Seminar in the nine-year Gymnasium”.
We no longer provide a plan, but a topic. And the pupils design the path to the goal. Every partner that is brought on board provides new opportunities. The process of vocational orientation is the primary goal of the project work.”
Maniana Füg, Jean Paul Gymnasium Hof
Presentation of the P-Seminar prizes
As the highlight of the event, the following outstanding P-Seminars and projects from the schools were awarded the P-Seminar Prize 2024 by the Hochfranken Entrepreneur Initiative and its spokesperson Achim Hager.
The award winners for the eight-year grammar school:
Jean-Paul-Gymnasium Hof (€300)
Seminar: “StadtLandMuseum”
Leading subject: History
Teacher: Kathrin Rau
Criteria that convinced the jury:
– P-Seminar benefits the home region / hometown
– Promotion of cultural education for young people
– Many external partners
– Comprehensive project and high individual workload through research and interviews
with experts and contemporary witnesses
Frankenwald-Gymnasium Kronach (300€)
Seminar: “Design for the climate”
Leading subject: Art
Teacher: Mirjam Gwosdek
Criteria that convinced the jury:
– Independent production of vases
– Selling the products and donating the proceeds (purchase of forest trees)
– Sustainable concept and connection to the homeland
Image: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
Walter-Gropius-Gymnasium Selb (300 €)
Seminar: “Our own future forest”
Lead subject: Biology
Teacher: Andreas Gebauer
Criteria that convinced the jury:
– Many external partners
– Broad public relations work: local press and local radio, social media
– Sustainable design of a forest that can withstand the expected climate conditions
The award winners for the nine-year grammar school:
Jean-Paul-Gymnasium Hof (€300)
Seminar: “Let’s dance! The Jean-Paul-Gymnasium dances”
Leading subject: Music
Teacher: Maniana Füg
Criteria that convinced the jury:
– Independent work in small groups – Excellent project organization
– Coordination of 4 year groups; division of the year groups into decades, choice of songs, teaching of choreography, planning, etc.
Image: Hof University of Applied Sciences;
Walter-Gropius-Gymnasium Selb (300€)
Seminar: “Hello Hometown -Songs about me and my city”
Leading subject: Music
Teacher: Florian Niedrig
Criteria that convinced the jury:
– Composing and arranging seven different songs within a short period of timePerforming their own concert and presenting the songs, as well as making the songs available for download
– Donation of the concert proceeds to the non-profit organization Zuflucht Selb e.V. to help people without a home
Background:
CONTACTA HochFranken is supported by the SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Hof network, Hof University of Applied Sciences and the Rotary Club Hof-Bayern, the Rotary Club Hof-Bayerisches Vogtland, the Lions Club Hochfranken and the Lions Club Hof. The careers information covers a total of 44 occupational fields. A total of 14 schools from Hochfranken and beyond are taking part. Among them are the grammar schools from Hof, Kronach and Bad Lobenstein. Hof University of Applied Sciences itself will also be presenting its range of courses in the fields of economics, engineering, computer science and interdisciplinary and innovative sciences during 24 presentations. All information about the training fair can be found here….
