A Journey Through 50 Years of Communications Technology

15 Alumni Enjoy an Unforgettable Class Reunion at Hochschule Offenburg

On a sunny morning in July 2026, 15 former students of the Telecommunications Engineering program—who began their studies in 1976—gathered with their spouses at Hochschule Offenburg to celebrate a very special anniversary: 50 years have passed since they began their studies. What began as a traditional semester reunion evolved into a weekend full of exciting insights, shared reflections, and curious glimpses into the future.

A Reunion with the Campus

After a warm welcome from Carola Lasch, the University’s alumni affairs coordinator, the focus from 11 a.m. onward was on discussing the latest developments and projects on campus. This was followed by a brief but informative overview of the numerous opportunities offered by the alumni network.

A highlight of the day was the guided tour of the labs in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Medical Engineering and Computer Science, led personally by the department’s dean, Prof. Dr. Elke Mackensen. Participants were able to see for themselves the state-of-the-art equipment and innovative research projects currently underway at the University.

The tour began at the MakerSpace lab—an open workshop where students, staff, and faculty can tinker, conduct research, and develop new ideas. Here, students put theoretical knowledge into practice and quickly turn ideas into prototypes—for example, for projects like the Black Forest Formula Team’s race car or Medizintechnik applications.

The tour continued to the Laboratory for High-Frequency Technology and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), which operates two specialized labs focusing on different areas of high-frequency technology.

A special highlight was the visit to the student project “Sweaty”: Hochschule Offenburg’s soccer-playing humanoid robot has been competing in the RoboCup World Championship since 2014. The interdisciplinary team of professors, research assistants, doctoral candidates, and students from the divisions of Maschinenbau, Electrical Engineering, Medizintechnik, Informatik and Media showed the alumni how technical expertise and teamwork come together in this fascinating project.

The tour concluded in the Lab for Telecommunications Technology/Wireless Communications, which offers practical project exercises to students in the Elektrotechnik/Informationstechnik program. Here, theoretical concepts from lectures are specialized through application-oriented experiments—ranging from the transmission of speech, images, and data to modern wireless technologies. The lab also facilitates work on applied research projects as part of course projects or final theses.

After a group lunch in the university cafeteria—a welcome opportunity to continue exchanging ideas in a relaxed atmosphere—the afternoon’s program included a tour of the RIZ Energie - Research and Innovation Center of Energy Technology at the University. Sascha Rißmann guided the group through the various technical and work spaces and explained the modern infrastructure available to students and researchers today—from flexible laboratory layouts to innovative office design. This fosters close integration between academia and industry.

From Technology to Tradition: An Evening in Diersburg

In the late afternoon, the group continued on to Diersburg, where they checked into the Gasthaus Linde. After settling into their rooms and enjoying some light refreshments, a walk began at 4:45 p.m. through the picturesque Hintertal valley to the Freiherr Roeder von Diersburg Winery. There, a very special experience awaited the alumni: Stefani Freifrau Roeder von Diersburg and her son Felix guided the group through the vineyards and shared the history of the winery. During this wine walk, the participants also learned about the different grape varieties and were able to taste the estate’s wines right on site. The highlight of the day was a hearty snack at the Rebhüsli, where, in a convivial atmosphere, memories of their college days began to resurface.

The evening drew to a close in a cozy atmosphere: At 8:30 p.m., the group returned to Gasthaus Linde, where a projector and screen were later set up in the park. A slideshow of the past ten years sparked plenty of laughter and nostalgic moments. The evening concluded with a traditional round of homemade eggnog and cold drinks—a fitting end to a day full of memorable moments.

History and Nature

The second day began with a group breakfast, where everyone fueled up for the upcoming excursion. At 10:45 a.m., the group then set off for the Technik Museum Temopolis in Offenburg. In addition to touring the exhibits, Erwin Firner, one of the fellow students, gave a presentation on the topic “100 Years of Radio”—a fitting tribute to their field of study. Anyone interested in learning more about the museum can find additional information at www.temopolis.de.

In the afternoon, the group continued on to Hohengeroldseck Castle, where a short hike to the castle ruins was on the agenda. On the way back, the group stopped at the Vesperstube Beck, where they recharged with regional specialties before the official program came to an end.

Looking Back and Looking Ahead

This semester reunion was more than just a get-together: it was a tribute to 50 years of communications engineering—a time of learning, camaraderie, and technological progress. The alumni look back not only on a successful academic career but also on a life in which the knowledge they acquired back then laid the foundation for many career paths.