As part of the pilot project, eighth-grade students at Bühl-Realschule Dornstadt are paired with regional companies and businesses for three-week internships. In addition to Bühl-Realschule Dornstadt and HNU as scientific partners, the Ulm Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Ulm Chamber of Crafts, the City of Ulm, the Ulm Employment Agency, and the Ulm Innovation Region are also involved in the project.
A special feature of the pilot project is the systematic matching of young people and companies
Unlike traditional internships, the assignment is not based on chance or the initiative of the young people, but on a systematic matching of their skills with the needs of the companies. This is based on the BOaktiv software program, which the school uses to record the young people's interdisciplinary and job-related skills, such as teamwork and independence. In return, companies specify which skills are particularly relevant to their training and work areas. The project team then takes care of the matching, organization, and supervision of the internships. For the companies, this means low administrative effort and a high degree of accuracy.
HNU support: Effectiveness analysis and support for AI development
HNU employee Rebecca Stadelmaier, who works in innovation and transfer management and is currently preparing her doctorate on AI in the talent acquisition process, is supporting the project with an effectiveness analysis: She is researching how effective the model is compared to conventional internship formats. To this end, both the participating students and the companies involved are being surveyed; in addition, a control group completing a traditional internship is also being included. The aim of the scientific support is not only to analyze short-term effects, but also to accompany the young people for as long as possible. Among other things, the study examines the influence of the project on the internship in grade 9 and on later career choices. The scientific support is also linked to teaching at HNU: a thesis has already been announced as part of the project, with more to follow. In addition, HNU is supporting the project team in developing AI-supported automation of the matching process.
Digital information event for all interested parties
A digital information event for all interested parties will take place on January 20, 2026, between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. More information on this: Übergänge meistern | 04.05.2026 - 22.05.2026 | IHK Ulm.
Contact
Rebecca Stadelmaier
