The Society for Technical Communication is an individual membership organization dedicated to advancing the arts and sciences of technical communication. It is the largest organization of its type in the world. Its 25,000 members include technical writers and editors, content developers, documentation specialists, technical illustrators, instructional designers, academics, information architects, usability and human factors professionals, visual designers, Web designers and developers, and translators - anyone whose work makes technical information available to those who need it.

The STC Toronto Chapter was founded in 1959 (then the Society of Technical Writers) and is the largest chapter in Canada.

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Becoming a Technical Writer in Germany
by Maj-Brit Mammitzsch

To study Technical Writing or other courses in Germany, students can choose to attend either college or university. College courses are more practice oriented and generally take place over eight semesters. University courses contain more theory with an emphasis on research, and usually take nine semesters. Both are entrance-entitled only for graduates with a high school Diploma or a technical Diploma for attending college.

For both German and foreign students an entrance fee of about 100 to 300 Euros (163 to 488 Canadian Dollars) is required per semester and no further study fees occur. The entrance fee also covers public transport in the place of study area in most cases. At the present time, some provinces in Germany are discussiong the introducion of a set fee of approximately 500 Euros per semester.

Colleges and Universities in Germany have been offering Technical Writing courses for nearly twelve years. Colleges are a majority of the eleven educational institutions that currently offer Technical Writing. Five courses finish with a classic Diploma degree, while the others complete  with internationally comparable degrees as Master and Bachelor in Technical Writing The average time of the Diploma study consists of eight semesters which is divided in a basic study (1st-4th semester) and a main course (5th-8th semester). There are two internships - one in the basic study and one in the main course period which can be done abroad. The Diploma certificate can also be acquired within fewer semesters, if the student has completed a post-graduate study before, as for example mechanical engineering.

At the present time I am still enrolled with the College Hanover in my seventh semester. The study is very varied and is strongly oriented towards computer science. We are taught in the basics of Technical Writing, visualizations, journalism, natural sciences, technology, legal bases and computer science during the study. The goal of this course is not to be specialized in one particular range but to have a good knowledge of the basics.

Often the Technical Writing courses are concentrated on micro technology, mechatronics, computer science or mechanical engineering. This allows Technical Writing students to get experience in a specific technical field already during the study. Sometimes a specialized course in Technical Writing can be chosen or is offered as an addition to another program.

Students or people that are currently employed, acquire a certificate after completion of a successful course, which lasts maximum a year. I think that this way of education is the most comparable way to the Canadian teaching method.

The studies of the institutions mostly resemble each other. The basics of writing, technology and visualizations are obtained. Special attention is focussed on projects and practical working in preparation for the working world.

Some professional schools are more specialized. One school specializes in technical translating (German to English), another in linguistics and another in journalism.  All programmes are completed with a thesis. Between 40 and 100 students are allowed to enroll in a Technical Writing course, depending on the institution.

Summary: The training in the field of technical writing in Germany takes place essentially in two ways:

1.    A course of study at professional schools either as classical diploma study or as Bachelor or Master study.

2.    Studies or training courses beside the work or as additional education either at a college or with a private education institution (comparable to Canadian education).