Markus Kern could now also be out and about every day among the beech, oak and bramble bushes, looking after the well-being of the forest because he studied Engineering in Forestry at the HSWT. However, he decided to pursue his second passion besides nature: technology. And so, as head of the technical operations, health and work safety and environmental management department at the University of Applied Sciences, he is on the way between lecture halls, offices and gardens.

The job combines three relevant areas to him: Dealing with people, dealing with technology and being outdoors on the move. "I didn't want a job that was all desk-based," says the 47-year-old. In fact, you can usually see him hurrying purposefully across the campus. No wonder: together with his team, Markus Kern looks after the building services in around 35 buildings - as well as paths, car parks and parts of the University of Applied Sciences' extensive green spaces.

Making sure everything runs smoothly and safely

The tasks of Markus Kern's team range from minor repairs and installations to coordinating with external companies on larger projects and regularly checking equipment and fittings. "For example, we have to regularly check the 13,000 or electrical devices in operation at the University of Applied Sciences. The same goes for the lifts - there are only ten of them, but they have to be checked every fortnight." The legally prescribed inspections essential for occupational safety are accompanied by a great deal of responsibility: deadlines must be met, training courses must be renewed regularly, and there is also a question of liability.

Outside the buildings, Markus Kern and his team take care of winter maintenance, lawn mowing, hedge trimming and the like on the HSWT grounds. "We're the rough-and-tumble crew. They justifiably don't let us touch the Weihenstephan Gardens," says Kern with a wink.

For Markus Kern, variety is the charm of his job. He particularly remembers occasions when many people come together, everyone helps out, and there is always something to do. "For example, I like to think back to the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the University of Applied Sciences," he says. "Setting up and rebuilding were quite stressful for my team and me, but it was a lot of fun."

In everyday work, the challenges also include requests from university colleagues via the Technical Services ticket system: around 2,000 per year, ranging from replacing a fluorescent tube in the office ceiling lamp to repairing the woodchip heating system that serves the university's central heat supply. Sometimes, it gets complicated when requests are unrealistic, for example, in terms of time frame and the matter is, therefore, impossible to resolve to everyone's satisfaction. "But of course, I understand that people are disappointed when it takes longer than they had hoped. For the person requesting something, it usually has a high priority at that moment," says Markus Kern.

Bits, bytes, trees

He finds his teaching assignment at the Department of Forestry particularly enriching. He teaches IT basics, such as how to use Microsoft Excel and Access. "I already did that as a tutor when I was a student myself, and I still like it a lot today. I honestly enjoy working with the students. That is what I miss most on the work side during the coronavirus pandemic, at the moment," Markus Kern says. Among other things, his interest in EDP topics also led to the fact that the native of Tegernsee did not become a forester after his studies - as initially planned - but applied for a position as an EDP supervisor at the department after his diploma in 2001. After eight years, he, who is also a trained electronics technician, was more attracted to technology than data processing and changed to a position in the technical service, which he still holds today. The decision to work at the University of Applied Sciences after graduation was right: "I'm glad to be at HSWT," says Markus Kern.

Also, in his free time, the Freisinger, by choice, prefers to be on his feet. "I took my love of nature with me - not least from my studies. I love to go out on foot, even directly from home through the forest. I look at nature through the eyes of a trained forestry engineer. I also own a piece of forest myself. There's always something to do, for example, I cut wood there myself." The forest has remained an influential part of Markus Kern's life, even though he has not become a forester.