That fellow students can become lifelong companions is demonstrated by two alumni groups who returned to the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) after six decades: The graduate groups of the 1966 cohorts of Mechanical Engineering ( Giessen ) and Mechanical Engineering Industrial Engineering (Friedberg) met again on the Giessen campus.

Ten mechanical engineering alumni gathered at THM to reminisce about their student days and gain insight into the university's development. After graduating, they pursued very different career paths: from working in industry and founding their own companies to holding leadership positions in international corporations, government offices, or the teaching profession. However, the focus was not on their professional achievements, but rather on their shared experiences from their studies.

“At these gatherings, it always becomes clear that it’s not about what someone has achieved professionally, but about reconnecting with fellow students and friends from their university days,” reports Anke Roos from the THMalumni management team. “They started their studies together, went through each semester together, and supported each other.”

A short campus tour took the group through the STEM space and the cafeteria, among other places. The group was impressed by the size of the university and the technical resources available to students, such as the 3D printers. A highlight was the visit to the Giessen motorsport team: one of the alumni made his historic Jaguar available. Students took the opportunity to analyze the car's technology, while master's students from the Technical Writing and Multimedia Documentation program simulated a client project and documented the vehicle photographically.

The alumni who graduated from Friedberg in 1966 also met at the Giessen campus. These industrial engineers maintain regular contact to this day, a connection fostered in particular by Wilfried Schmied, who served as Giessen regional president from 1999 to 2009. At the reunion, the former classmates reminisced about their time at university and discussed how higher education, technology, and the professional world have changed since the 1960s. There was also a special occasion to celebrate: one of the alumni celebrated his 87th birthday with his classmates.

THMPresident Prof. Dr. Matthias Willems also took the opportunity to personally greet the alumni and acknowledged their long-standing connection with the university.