With the voestalpine student program to become a graduate engineer

13 December 2021 |

Lukas Kölbl successfully completed his degree in materials science with the voestalpine student program in October 2021. We congratulate him and asked him some questions.

Without any problems, I was able to make use of the facilities at voestalpine that were essential for writing my master's thesis. My colleagues in the respective specialist areas always had an open ear for my questions.

Lukas Kölbl

Congratulations to DI Lukas Köbl!

As part of his master’s degree in materials science at the Montan University Leoben, Lukas Kölbl also completed the voestalpine student program. In connection with his scientific training with the additional practice-oriented student program, he was able to gain initial insights into the areas of surface and testing technology at the voestalpine Wire Technology business unit and also dealt with construction work in the wire technology center.

"Without any problems, I was able to make use of the facilities at voestalpine that were essential for writing my master's thesis. My colleagues in the respective specialist areas always had an open ear for my questions," says Lukas Kölbl about his practice-oriented master's thesis in the field of hot forming processes.

And the highlights of the student program?

"Definitely the development week and also the insights into the research activities of voestalpine", says the newly qualified engineer.

The development week takes place at an (international) voestalpine location and includes the following key topics: basic business knowledge, basic leadership, strategy skills, change management & organizational development, communication, and conflict management. The development week is accompanied by a supporting program that conveys company-specific knowledge, supports network building, and brings intercultural peculiarities closer.

We wish Mr. Kölbl many more highlights and are pleased that he will continue to strengthen our company in the area of research and development with a focus on material development for wire solutions. "In addition to my further university education," says Kölbl, "because I am also planning to tackle a doctoral degree".

Student program? What is it exactly?

voestalpine Metal Engineering Division offers students who are 2-3 years away from completing their studies and who can start working in the company directly after completing the program, a three-stage student program with a monthly scholarship.

With a targeted development program and participation in a project, students gain valuable insights into voestalpine – in many ways. In addition to their university education, they not only learn about process flows and their interrelationships in a practice-oriented manner, but also acquire a holistic organizational understanding in an international corporate context. The program also includes specific further development measures and an internship abroad at an international location of the Metal Engineering Division. The program is aimed at students in all fields of study, but the focus is mainly on students from the MUL and other technical universities.