Our specialist areas
Project opportunities for your work-study program
With the Project Competence Study Program® at SMT, you not only acquire theoretical knowledge, but also get to know the practical side of your subject. As we want to provide you with the best possible support in your individual development as a specialist, it is important to us that the topic of your practical project during your studies both inspires you and helps you advance professionally. In the following, we would therefore like to give you an overview of the specialist areas in which SMT students can get involved with their projects.
If you already have an idea of which industries and topics you might be interested in, you can find inspiration here for fleshing out your project – including links to articles on the SMT blog in which alumni present their practical projects. And if you approach the question of your project with an open mind, you can take your time to find out which business areas sound exciting. This will allow you to gather initial ideas that you can develop further in a personal consultation with our talent management team.
From the digitalization of existing processes and structures to the development of new systems for Industry 4.0, tailor-made IT and software solutions are more important than ever in day-to-day business. In addition to innovative ideas and technical skills for software development, strategies for digitalization, automation and training are also in demand.
SMT students in this department have already carried out successful practical projects on topics such as database development, business intelligence and the use of robots for process automation. Many of our students are also involved in the (further) development of in-house software solutions as part of their project.
Whether big data, cloud or business automation: digital technologies open up enormous potential for innovation. However, in order to shape the working world of the future, science and business must work closely together. As a result, specialists with experience in practice-oriented research are in high demand at universities and companies alike.
Due to the transfer work firmly anchored in the concept of the Project Competence Study Program®, the course-related project work offers SMT students the opportunity to prepare current research – for example on the topic of AI – for application in the company and thus lay the foundation for a career in research and development.
From financial reporting to production controlling, this department ensures that everything runs smoothly on the commercial side of the business. As everything revolves around the question of how a company can use its resources as efficiently as possible, specialists with an economics background will find suitable project topics here.
In the field of controlling, numerous SMT students have initiated optimization processes through analysis work on resource allocation in the company. In addition, students can also plan and support the introduction of effective controlling instruments in the company or (digital) restructuring in accounting.
Purchasing and logistics are among the central tasks of every industrial company and yet are often the hidden champions in the company. Always on the lookout for the most reliable suppliers, high-quality products and the best price, the specialists working in these areas ensure both the quality and efficiency of all incoming and outgoing deliveries.
As business calculations are increasingly being combined with digital processes in purchasing and logistics, both computer science and business degree programs are finding exciting ideas for practical projects here. In addition to cost and resource analysis, SMT students are also increasingly focusing on digitalization topics such as the development of IT-supported logistics concepts.
In order to survive in a global, digital and, as a result, extremely dynamic business world, every company should regularly put its strategies to the test. On the one hand, it is important to set the course for sustainable corporate development through strategic business development as well as knowledge and innovation management. On the other hand, there is also a greater focus on individual areas of the company whose untapped potential needs to be uncovered and exploited.
SMT students dedicate themselves to this subject area by conducting in-depth analyses of business areas, processes, projects and potential cooperation partners, from which they derive recommendations for action for organizational development.
Digitalization in companies is not only presenting IT with new challenges: The increasing use of digital technologies is leaving its mark on all areas of the working world. From personnel development to process optimization, new strategies are therefore also required in day-to-day business. Many companies are turning to professional advisors and consultants to meet this change with confident change management.
Students who get to know new companies through the fellowship model or the Professional Education Program can use the practical project to familiarize themselves with the working conditions in consulting. For example, SMT students have developed approaches for holistic corporate development or supported companies in analyzing their agile maturity level.
Contemporary project management encompasses far more than just the execution of projects: From the initial idea through to implementation and any necessary (agile) control of the course of the project, technical expertise, planning vision and, above all, strong management skills are required.
As part of their career-integrated studies at SMT, our students in this subject area have already implemented study projects on the introduction of agile project management methods, resource planning and communication with stakeholders, among other things. Thanks to the innovative structure of the Project Competence Study Program®, all SMT students also gain practical experience in planning, implementing and evaluating their own projects within the company.
Analyzing target groups, presenting products attractively and generating sales – marketing and sales form the interface between companies and their customers. The spectrum of tasks ranges from market analysis and professional product management to after sales management and key account management.
This department also offers SMT students a great deal of creative freedom for their practical projects. In addition to business-oriented work, more and more projects are being created at the interface between computer science and economics, which deal with digitalization in sales and the development of digital marketing strategies.
The area of production and supply chain management covers the entire value chain. From material planning and actual production through to the delivery of customer orders, all processes must mesh smoothly in order to guarantee the highest product and service quality.
In addition to numerous projects dealing with process optimization in specific production contexts, practical projects dealing with the development and expansion of resilient supply chains have already been developed as part of the integrated degree course at SMT. Against the backdrop of digitalization and the development towards Industry 4.0, topics such as software development and business automation are becoming increasingly important.
Modern quality management is characterized by a very high degree of process orientation: The aim is to continuously measure and improve process performance – be it through the automation of inspection systems or the restructuring of workflows. This enables companies to sustainably increase their productivity and competitiveness.
In addition to projects on topics relating to product quality and process optimization, practical projects dealing with quality assurance in the area of human resources have already been carried out as part of the Project Competence Study® at SMT, for example by developing a guideline for machine learning projects, which is intended to help improve the quality of training.
Your careerintegrated degree program is waiting for you
From digitalization and business engineering to professional quality management: with your Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at SMT, you will develop into a specialist in organizational development and Business 4.0. Discover our career-integrated degree courses here – including the specialization options that lay the foundation for your individual career path.
Do you still have questions?
In our FAQ, we have compiled the most important information for you about the career-integrated degree program at SMT, the application process and, of course, the fellowship model and the Professional Education Program. And if you have a question that our FAQ cannot answer, the SMT talent management team will be happy to advise you by phone or email.
Would you like to find out more about the integrated degree program at SMT?Our Talentmanagement team is there for you!
Are you interested in a career-integrated degree program at SMT and would like to find out more about our Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs? Or have you already decided on a degree program and are still looking for a brilliant idea for your practical project? The talent management team at SMT will be happy to advise you – from choosing a course of study and designing your practical project to exclusive coaching for your application to one of our project companies.
Contact us by phone or send us an e-mail with your questions: We look forward to hearing from you!
