Interview with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Schäffer, Professor of General Ceramics and CeramicBuilding Materials at the WesterWaldCampus in Höhr-Grenzhausen

We have to do more to attract young people to the industry!

»1 Dr.-Ing. Christian Schäffer, Professor of General Ceramics and Ceramic Building Materials at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, WesterWaldCampus in Höhr-Grenzhausen

»2 Practical knowledge has a capital “P” in Höhr-Grenzhausen: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Schäffer explains a test set-up to his students

On 1 July 2013, Dr.-Ing. Christian Schäffer took over as Professor of General Ceramics and Ceramic Building Materials at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, at the WesterWaldCampus in Höhr-Grenzhausen. We spoke to him on getting young people interested in heavy clay ceramics.

You have worked in the field for many years, last at Monier where you headed the “Technical Center Clay”, with central research and development in the group. How important is fieldwork in student education?

C.S.: Very important, of course! Firstly, because the students get an idea of what to expect once they have completed their studies. Secondly, the cost of teaching the young people the practical aspects for the industry is much lower. We have to be clear about this, graduates with practical experience are preferred by the industry. In Höhr-Grenzhausen we attach great importance to the many...