Vocational training at Universität Hamburg“We get the time we need here to study.”

24 August 2023, by Linda Lämke

Photo: Lihuén Eder in the Loki Schmidt Garden greenhouse

Becoming a perennials gardener is just one of many vocational opportunities at Universität Hamburg.

Photo: Lihuén Eder in the Loki Schmidt Garden greenhouse

Lihuén Eder is one of 11 current trainees there.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

Among his many duties are deciding what plants need and what might need to be removed from the plant beds.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

The outdoor areas of the botanical gardens in Klein Flottbek cover more than 24 acres and trainees change areas every 3 months.

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

They get to know more than 30,000 different plant species in their 3 years of training.

Diverse and practical—at Universität Hamburg, you can also pursue vocational training in many fields. Take, for example, the Loki Schmidt Garden, where every year gardeners are trained to handle native and exotic plants. Lihuén Eder is one of those gardeners and provides insight into his work.

For more than 10 years, the trainees at the Loki Schmidt Garden have regularly counted among the top graduates. Since August 2022, the 28-year-old has been training to become a gardener at the University’s botanical gardens—specifically, an expert for perennials. Eder is currently one of 11 trainees also receiving instruction at the Loki Schmidt Garden. There are a total of 15 places.

The premises of the botanical gardens cover more than 24 acres and house over 30,000 different plant species. Every 3 months, the trainees work in another area of the gardens to gain as much knowledge as possible. Training lasts 3 years in a dual program, meaning trainees alternate between practical work in the gardens (2 weeks) and the classroom (one week). In addition to training on site, trainees at the Loki Schmidt Garden also pursue continuing education opportunities outside the garden and go on field trips. Two experienced teachers train the trainees.

“Everyone helps everyone; we take care of each other here.”

Lihuén Eder is currently working in the “geography” section and tending the European raised bogs. This is where you can find, for example, endangered plants such as the bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) or gall bush (Myrica gale). His responsibilities include, among other things, gaining an overview of the area every morning. This allows him to determine what the plants need, what might need to be removed, or whether new plants should be added. In his daily work, Eder especially enjoys the work atmosphere, the support from his fellow trainees, and the full-time gardners at the Loki Schmidt Garden. “Everyone helps everyone, we take care of each other here,” says Eder, who especially likes the diversity of plants in the botanical gardens.

Eder also mentions the special working conditions at Universität Hamburg: “In the botanical gardens, we have completely different work routines and priorities than on the private labor market. Of course, we also work a lot here, but we have completely different duties, no focus on profit or production, and thus less pressure. This is psychologically a lot nicer and it also gives trainees the time they need to study.” Eder is also happy about the opportunity to set his own working times: “I think that is just more in tune with reality. I can plan my private life well and can, depending on my mood, be flexible and start a bit earlier or later.”

Current job ads online

Thanks to their good, years-long training experience, the training at the Loki Schmidt Garden is renowned throughout Germany. They are still looking, however, for more secondary school graduates. In addition to teaching gardeners to tend to perennials, Universität Hamburg also offers training in other vocations, such as precision mechanics or the sporting goods and fitness business. See the University’s job-ad portal for application calls for trainees.