In the old canteen at TU Dresden, the event begins quite informally: organisers and speakers gather for lunch together before moving on to the main discussion. Shortly afterwards, five industrial engineers from the energy sector take their places on the podium. Before them: 26 enthusiastic students from VWI university groups across Germany, keen to find out what career paths are open to them after graduation.
From 27 to 31 May 2026, the VWI e. V. university group assembly took place at Dresden University of Technology. As part of the event, the project team Durchstarten, on behalf of Network Energy Talents e. V., organised its own panel discussion for committed industrial engineering students.
The aim of the programme was to boost the participants’ motivation to study and to give them an insight into the wide range of career opportunities in the energy sector. This is because industrial engineers, in particular, can play a part in many aspects of the energy transition: in grid planning, project management, consultancy, engineering, regulation, strategy, digitalisation or business development.
Five perspectives from four NET partner companies
Five industrial engineers from four NET partner companies took part in the panel discussion: 50Hertz, TenneT, DNV and SachsenEnergie. They shared personal insights into their academic backgrounds, their career start and their current roles in the energy sector.
It became clear just how varied career paths can be after studying industrial engineering. The speakers spoke not only about their current roles, but also about the decisions, uncertainties and experiences they faced during their studies. It was precisely these personal insights that made the event particularly accessible to the students.
Exchange with students from across Germany
A total of 26 industrial engineering students took part in the discussion. They came from various university groups of the VWI e. V. across Germany and are already actively involved in the association.
The focus was on questions such as: What career opportunities does the energy sector offer industrial engineers? Which skills are particularly important in day-to-day work? How can you find out which area suits your interests? And how can you make a successful transition from university to the workplace?
Why the energy sector needs industrial engineers
The energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation. Renewable energy, electricity grids, security of supply, digitalisation, hydrogen, storage technologies and new business models are changing the demands placed on companies and skilled workers.
This opens up a wide range of opportunities for industrial engineering students. They combine technical expertise with business acumen, enabling them to take on responsibilities at the intersection of technology, management and society.
The panel discussion showed that the energy transition is not merely a technical project. It requires people who can coordinate processes, drive projects forward, prepare decisions and explain complex issues in an accessible way.
Getting started with NET: Mentoring for young talent
The event also saw the first announcement of the new Durchstarten Energy Mentoring by NET. The mentoring programme is designed to provide students with guidance, promote personal development and offer concrete insights into the energy sector.
Through this programme, NET aims to bring young STEM talents together with experienced specialists and managers from the industry at an early stage. The focus is on discussion, addressing individual queries, career guidance and building a strong network.
Positive feedback and lively discussion
The response from the students was very positive. During the panel discussion, a lively exchange took place, with many questions about the energy sector, starting a career and personal career paths. The feedback received afterwards also confirmed that the format had made an important contribution to helping students find their way.
For NET, the event represented another step towards reaching young talent where they are thinking about their career futures: directly at universities, within student networks, and through personal exchanges with professionals in the field.
