On 8 May, the Faculty of Supply Engineering at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences held its ninth "Utilities Day" - a special day for students, alumni, faculty members and guests. The morning was dedicated to the "Heat from Water" symposium, while the graduates of the 2025/26 academic year were given a ceremonial send-off in the afternoon. The event concluded with the traditional get-together in the evening.
"Heat from water" symposium: practical ideas for the heating transition
Around 120 participants were registered for this year's "Heat from Water" symposium at the Faculty of Supply Engineering. The conference was led by Prof Dr Lars Kühl and his team. "This conference not only provides an overview of current developments, but participants should also be able to take away important ideas for their own work," says Kühl. The focus was on the question of how water from different resources can contribute to the heat transition - whether as wastewater, drinking water, groundwater or as water from rivers, streams, fjords and lakes. The seven invited experts used specific projects and research results to demonstrate the technical and economic potential that lies here and how it is already being utilised today. The contributions ranged from the utilisation of wastewater as a contribution to the municipal heat transition to hygienic issues in heat extraction from drinking water networks and concepts for green local and district heating from flowing waters in major German cities. Other focal points included experiences from the practical implementation of fjord water utilisation, the use of direct evaporators for year-round lake water utilisation and the potential and ecological effects of thermal lake water utilisation. The programme was rounded off with practical examples of large-scale systems with groundwater-coupled heat pumps, which showed how such systems are planned, operated and optimised on a large scale. The mixture of scientific insights and application-orientated practical reports ensured intensive technical discussions during the breaks and offered the participants numerous suggestions for their own projects.
Ceremonial farewell to the graduates
In the afternoon, there was a farewell ceremony for around 50 graduates of the 2025/26 academic year. The Dean of the Faculty of Supply Engineering, Prof. Dr Oliver Büchel, and the Dean of Studies, Prof. Dr Corinna Klapproth, praised the students' achievements in their speeches and emphasised the importance of qualified specialists for the energy, climate and heating transition. A special highlight was the presentation of the "Versorger Award". With this interdisciplinary award, the Faculty of Supply Engineering honours its best graduates of an academic year.
Pia Sophie Rissiek and Max Habig were honoured for the best Bachelor's degree. Kimberly Charlotte Bock, Svenja Große and Daniel Froitzheim received an award for the best Master's degree.
In addition, the prize money donated by the Energy and Building Technology Advisory Board and the Biotechnology and Environmental Technology Advisory Board totalling 3,200 euros and a book prize were presented.
Focus on career entry: Graduate reports from the field
Lisa Ostermann's presentation then offered a personal insight into professional careers. The graduate of the Bachelor's degree programme in Biological and Environmental Engineering and the Master's degree programme in Energy Systems Engineering reported on her entry into professional life under the title "How it went on after my studies". She described her path from university to her current job at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt in Braunschweig and showed how she uses the specialised knowledge she acquired during her studies in practice today. The lecture provided current students in particular with concrete pointers for possible career paths and highlighted the areas in which engineers specialising in supply technology and the environment are currently in demand. The ceremony in the auditorium ended with a champagne reception, which provided an opportunity for discussions and mutual exchange.
Regulars' table 2026: Traditional finale
The traditional regulars' table in the evening, which had been organised by the students of the student council after weeks of preparation, brought the "Suppliers' Day" to a close. Over barbecue specialities and drinks, students, lecturers, alumni and other guests came together in a relaxed atmosphere, made new contacts and brought the day to a close together.
