How do I figure out what’s right for me? College or vocational training? What are my strengths—and what opportunities are available in the region? CONTACTA HochFranken 2026 provides answers to these questions, and not just at the booths of around 60 companies and institutions. Rather, its unique concept combines information with personal interactions and concrete insights into various educational and career paths.
Students from regional high schools and vocational schools (FOS/BOS) will spend an entire school day at CONTACTA together with their teachers and can make targeted use of the offerings to guide their career and academic choices. But CONTACTA actually begins the evening before—and isn’t aimed exclusively at students.
The kickoff: Teacher training on September 22
The event kicks off on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with the traditional regional teacher training session in the Audimax at Hof University of Applied Sciences. This year’s topic is “Self-Regulated Learning as a New Form of Knowledge Transfer: Opportunities, Risks, and Practical Experiences.” The speakers will be Dr. Nicola Groh from the University of Bamberg and Senior High School Teacher Danièlle Müller from the Hochfranken-Gymnasium in Naila. The event is open not only to teachers but to anyone interested.
Immediately following the seminar will be the official kickoff event. During this event, the most successful P-seminars and projects from the participating schools will be honored with the P-Seminar Award from the Hochfranken Entrepreneurship Initiative. The award ceremony recognizes the commitment of young people and, at the same time, showcases the innovative projects taking shape at schools throughout the region.
“CONTACTA brings together different perspectives: schools, colleges, businesses, and people who can share their career paths from personal experience. For young people, this provides guidance not only through information but, above all, through personal encounters. The fact that the event traditionally begins with teacher training underscores how important effective career and academic guidance is as a shared social mission.”
Dr. Dorothee Strunz, SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Hof
Two days of the fair, around 60 exhibitors, and many opportunities
On September 23 and 24, Hof University of Applied Sciences will become a gathering place for young people looking to take their next step. Around 60 exhibitors from the business world, higher education, and other institutions will provide information on career profiles, degree programs, training paths, and entry-level opportunities.
CONTACTA is deliberately designed to be more than a traditional career fair. Young people can ask questions, make personal connections, and get a sense of the opportunities available to them after high school. CONTACTA is also accessible outside of the school program: As a public event, it is open to other interested parties—such as parents, grandparents, or other accompanying adults who wish to support young people in their career and academic choices.
“The world of work is becoming more diverse, and that doesn’t make deciding on one’s own path any easier. Young people therefore need opportunities to learn about different paths and to talk to people who have walked those paths themselves. CONTACTA brings exactly that together: concrete opportunities from the regional economy combined with personal experiences and perspectives.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann, President of Hof University of Applied Sciences
A concept tailored to grade levels
CONTACTA is specifically aimed at high school seniors as well as students at vocational schools (FOS/BOS). The program takes into account the different questions and needs of each grade level. For 11th graders, the focus is on initial insights into the working world, internships, summer jobs, and contacts for P-seminars. Twelfth-grade students benefit in particular from the personal career stories and experiences of the speakers. Finally, for thirteenth-grade students, CONTACTA offers a dedicated program for college orientation. This covers topics such as choosing a major, the application process, financing one’s education, and study abroad opportunities.
“Depending on their grade level, these young people are at very different stages in their career exploration. That’s why it makes a difference whether someone is just beginning to think about internships and career fields or is already facing the concrete decision of which college program to pursue. CONTACTA addresses exactly these needs and offers appropriate opportunities for every grade level.”
Dr. Dorothee Strunz, SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Network.
First-Hand Career Information
A special feature of CONTACTA is the career information provided by the Rotary, Lions, and Soroptimist clubs of Upper Franconia. In approximately 55 presentations per day of the fair, experienced professionals and executives discuss their daily work and personal life journeys. These are not traditional corporate presentations. The focus is on the people behind the professions: their decisions, experiences, challenges, and even detours. This gives young people direct and personal access to a variety of career fields. The topics range from architecture, engineering, computer science, and medicine to journalism, teaching, and social work, all the way to management, marketing, and the arts. “Many career decisions begin with a question you can ask someone who has walked that path themselves. That’s exactly what the service clubs are creating a space for. Young people can ask questions directly, learn about different life paths, and gain a more realistic picture of various professions,” emphasizes Dr. Strunz.
A Shared Platform for the Region
CONTACTA HochFranken is a joint initiative of the SCHULEWIRTSCHAFT Hof network and Hof University of Applied Sciences. It is supported by the Rotary and Lions clubs of Upper Franconia as well as the Soroptimist Club International Hof/Saale. In this way, the event brings together schools, the university, the business community, and volunteer professionals and executives in one place—with a common goal: to provide young people with guidance for their future paths.
For more information, visit:
www.contacta-hochfranken.de
