Between farm and university
During the International Year of Women in Agriculture (IYWF 2026), HSWT will be spotlighting women who are shaping Agriculture and food systems every month.
For Maria Schneider, agriculture has been part of everyday life since she was a child. Having grown up on a dairy farm, the farm remains a constant in her life to this day. She is studying for a Master’s degree in Green Digital Engineering at HSWT. At the same time, Maria works at the Bavarian Institute of Agriculture (LfL) as a project coordinator and research assistant on the DigiMilchPro research project. There, she focuses on digitalisation within the milk production process chain. Together with her team, she tests digital technologies and develops AI solutions for practical application, designed to improve animal welfare and farm management.
Why did you decide to study at HSWT?
Maria Schneider: I come from a background in Agriculture myself. My parents run a dairy farm where I help out every weekend. At the same time, I’ve always been fascinated by scientific and technical work. When I heard about the Agricultural Engineering degree programme, I knew straight away: this combines exactly the two areas that interest me.
HSWT was my first choice because it has an excellent reputation in Agriculture and is very practice-oriented. Many friends of mine studied in Triesdorf or Freising, and I really wanted to go to a University of applied sciences that was friendly, manageable and had a rural feel. That just suits me.
Being close to home was also important. Studying further afield would have been difficult to reconcile with the farm back home. When the new Master’s programme was introduced, it was clear that this was exactly the right path for me. Much of what I learn there I can apply directly to my work at the LfL.
What kind of support do you think is helpful for women who want to work in your field?
I believe women need encouragement above all else. Many lack confidence, even though they are actually much stronger and possess many skills. I’ve often seen this in my personal life and sometimes as a course ambassador. I’ve had conversations about how to balance work, family and studies. They needed someone to give them an honest assessment and to encourage them. Women need encouragement, dialogue and sometimes also validation from the male environment. It’s important to have points of contact to turn to when you’re feeling unsure.
What impact has the UN’s IYWF campaign had on you personally?
Campaigns like this are really important – they show that there are lots of others in the same boat. That creates space for communication and discussion. You realise you’re not alone. For me personally, campaigns like this have less of an impact because I’ve always gone my own way very independently and tend to seek reassurance from those around me. Nevertheless, I think they’re important, especially for those who don’t get that reassurance from their own circle. They give women visibility and can be exactly the motivation they need.
