Hochschule Furtwangen University

Last updated • 9 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Hochschule Furtwangen University
University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen Germany.jpg
Main building
TypePublic University
Established5 March 1850;174 years ago (1850-03-05)
President Rolf Schofer
Students5902
Location
Furtwangen
,
Germany

48°03′05″N8°12′28″E / 48.0515°N 8.2077°E / 48.0515; 8.2077
Colours Green and White
Website www.hs-furtwangen.de/en/
Hochschule Furtwangen Logo.jpg

Furtwangen University (HFU) is a German University of applied science with its main location in Furtwangen im Schwarzwald, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and two more branch locations in Villingen-Schwenningen and Tuttlingen. The HFU is part of the "International Lake Constance University Network" (IBH) as well as part of Franco-German University (FGU).

Contents

Its courses include health sciences, computer science, engineering, international economics, digital media, business informatics and industrial engineering.

History

The State Engineering School, 1954 Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-P007337, Furtwangen, Ingenieurschule fur Feinwerktechnik.jpg
The State Engineering School, 1954

Furtwangen University emerged from the first German School of Clockmaking in Furtwangen in the Black Forest. The school was founded in 1850 by the engineer Robert Gerwig. [1] The German Clock Museum, the largest German watch collection (founded by Robert Gerwig as a display collection), is still a department of the University.

After the Second World War, the Furtwangen School of Clockmaking was divided into two branches: a vocational school (today the Robert Gerwig School, which still houses the Watchmaking School today) and the State Engineering School for Precision Engineering, which became the Furtwangen University of Applied Sciences (FHF) with the introduction of the universities of applied sciences in 1971. [1]

The founding director of the engineering school was Friedrich Aßmus. After teaching and research in Furtwangen had concentrated on engineering sciences for a long time, the range of courses of study was expanded to include computer science, business informatics, economics and digital media from the 1970s onwards. In 1997, [1] with the amendment of the State University Law of the State of Baden-Württemberg, it was first renamed "Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft" and later "Hochschule Furtwangen".

Currently, the university is headed by Alexandra Bormann who took office in March 2024, replacing Rolf Schofer, who has been the rector of the HFU since 2006. His predecessor was Rainer Scheithauer. Scheithauer in turn took over the office in 1998 from Walter Zahradnik (term of office from 1985 to 1998).

Structure

The president is assisted by three vice-presidents. The University Council is responsible for the development of the university and proposes measures to raise the profile of the university and to strengthen its performance and competitiveness.

The three vice-presidents are Michael Lederer,Ulrich Mescheder and Robert Schäflein-Armbruster. [2]

Campus Furtwangen

The Furtwangen campus is the university’s original location and includes the following faculties: [3]

Campus Villingen-Schwenningen

The Villingen-Schwenningen campus was established in 1988 and is located on the site of the former Kienzle watch factory. The following faculties are located here: [3]

Campus Tuttlingen

The Tuttlingen campus began operations in 2009 with about 121 students. [4] It consists of only one faculty: Industrial Technologies. [3]

The Faculty of Industrial Technologies trains students in medical engineering, mechatronics and digital production, engineering psychology and materials technology and manufacturing. In addition to four Bachelor's programs, the Faculty offers two Master's programs in Applied Materials Science and Mechatronic Systems as well as a technical orientation try-out semester and the Industrial Studies / Study Plus (Dual Form) at the HFU study location.

The campus is located on the former site of Henke-Sass, Wolf, which was built in 1906 and 1954. The brick building was renovated for over 10.5 million euros and officially inaugurated on 8 October 2009. In addition to the modernisation and an extension of the building, direct access to the central bus station (ZOB) was created. Possible extensions are the former building of the Ludwig-Uhland-Realschule or directly opposite another brick building from the Art Nouveau period.

A special element is the so-called "Tuttlingen Model" the cooperation between university, city, district and industry. The practice-oriented, cooperative study courses are supported by more than 100 local medical technology companies. [5] A specially built Hochschulcampus Tuttlingen Förderverein e. V. has accelerated the creation of the campus.

The so-called Tuttlingen concept includes close cooperation with commercial enterprises, which guarantee permanent practical relevance through lecturers, demonstrations in companies, internships and the supervision of scientific work. The companies have a say in the design and operation of teaching. In total there is an annual financial support of 2.5 million euros from the business community, the district contributes 200,000 euros. The Campus' slogan is "Powered by Industry".

Study Center Freiburg

In December 2016, the physiotherapy course moved into the new study centre in Freiburg, where part of the physiotherapy training will take place. The study centre is located in Konrad-Goldmann-Straße 7 in the Freiburg district Wiehre and is easily accessible by public transport.

On the first and second floors there are both classrooms and offices for the staff. An expansion in the same building is already being planned. [6]

Study Center Rottweil

The Study Centre in Rottweil was reopened in March 2016. It is located in rooms of the former Rottweil powder factory, a place which already housed several powder mills during the Thirty Years' War. It offers space for the innovative plasma coating technologies of the Faculty Mechanical and Medical Engineering and a hall for the section mechanical engineering and industry 4.0 with state-of-the-art robots, automation technology and simulation.

In addition to university research with partly international research projects in the field of coatings for medical technology, there are also internships for students of the master's courses of studies in micromedical technology, advanced precision engineering and technical physician.

Furthermore, the facilities and equipment of the Study Center are available to students of the bachelor's degree programs for student research projects, project internships and bachelor's orthoses. [7]

Fields of study and study programmes

Since the winter semester 2001/2002, the entire range of courses has been converted to Bachelor and Master degrees, in accordance with the Bologna process. The university offers courses of study in nine faculties. Within seven semesters, a first professionally qualifying Bachelor's degree can be obtained, which enables graduates to successfully start their careers. This includes an internship semester in a company and the scientific thesis. The following table lists all study programmes by faculty (See also here):

Digital MediaHealth, Safety, SocietyComputer ScienceBusiness Information SystemsBusiness Administration and EngineeringMechanical and Medical EngineeringHFU Business SchoolMedical and Life SciencesIndustrial Technologies
Computerscience in Media (B.Sc.)Applied Health Science (B.Sc.)Computer Science (B.Sc.)Business Information Systems (B.Sc.)Business Administration and Engineering - Industrial Solutions Management (B.Sc.)Electric Engineering (B.Sc.)Business Management and Psychology (B.A.)Applied Biology (B.Sc.)Engineering Psychology (B.Sc.)
Online Media (B.Sc.)Physiotherapy (B.Sc.)IT Product Management (B.Sc.)Business Networking eBusiness (B.Sc.)Business Administration and Engineering - Marketing and Sales (B.Sc.)Information Communications Systems (B.Sc.)International Business (B.A.)Molecular and Technical Medicine (B.Sc.)Materials Technology and Manufacturing (B.Sc.)
Media Design (B.A.)Security & Safety Engineering (B.Sc.)Computer Science (M.Sc.)International Business Information Systems (B.Sc.)Business Administration and Engineering - Product Engineering (B.Eng.)International Engineering (B.Sc.)International Business Management (B.A.)Sustainable Bioprocess Technology (M.Sc.)Mechatronics and Digital Production (B.Sc.)
Music Design (B.Mus.)

(Cooperation with Trossingen University of Music)

Applied Health Promotion (M.Sc.)Mobile Systems (M.Sc.)Business Application Architectures (M.Sc.)Business Administration and Engineering - Service Management (B.Sc.)Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics (B.Sc.)MBA in International Business Management (MBA)Precision Medicine Diagnostics (M.Sc.)Medical Engineering - Technologies and Development Processes (B.Sc.)
Computerscience in Media (M.Sc.)Interdisciplinary Health Promotion (M.Sc.)Business Consulting (M.Sc.)Business Administration and Engineering – Engineering Management (B.Eng.)

(Cooperation with the chamber of commerce and industry (IHK))

Medical Engineering - Clinical Technologies (B.Sc.)International Management (M.Sc.)Technical Physician (M.Sc.)Applied Materials Science (M.Sc.)
Interactive Media Design (M.A.)Risk, Reliability and Safety Engineering (M.Sc.)Business Administration and Engineering - Sales & Service Engineering (MBA)Smart Systems (M.Sc.)Executive Master of International Business Management (MBA)Mechatronic Systems (M.Sc.)
Business Administration and Engineering - Product Innovation (M.Sc.)Precision Manufacturing and Management (M.Sc.)
Micromedical Engineering (M.Sc.)
Biomedical Engineering (M.Sc.)
Advanced Precision Engineering (M.Sc.)

Further Education

The university has been active in scientific further education since 1996. Initially it offered online courses in the fields of media, computer science and economics under the so called service tele-akademie. Since 2010, it has expanded its range of courses to include attendance training and has bundled its further education activities in the now called HFU Academy.

HFU Academy offers continuing education courses that enable further education after initial professional experience. The topics offered are based on the profile of the university and are assigned to the fields of computer science, engineering, economics, digital media, health and other key qualifications. The variety of offered courses ranges from seminars and workshops lasting one or more days, online and blended learning to open courses or in-house training.

A special focus is also on services related to learning. Master's programmes open up new career perspectives and are designed as research or application-oriented postgraduate courses. They usually consist of three semesters and can be taken either directly after a first degree course or, after a certain amount of professional experience, as part-time studies while working.

International Orientation

Students have the opportunity to study at one of 140 partner universities [8] worldwide. Stays abroad and internships are an integral part of studying at the HFU. Through numerous activities in international teams with exciting tasks and projects, students experience team spirit and improve their intercultural competence. In addition, many courses of study are held in small, multinational groups.

In winter of 2018, Furtwangen University and Lakehead University decided to enter into a far-reaching collaboration. For HFU, this is already the third partnership in Canada, which has already been established with the University of New Brunswick and the University of Prince Edward Island. Michael Lederer, the Vice President for International Affairs and Continuing Education at HFU and Rüdiger Kukral of the Furtwangen Internship Placement Service (FIPS) signed the cooperation agreement; Lakehead President Moira McPherson has visited Furtwangen in the summer of 2019. [9]

Student Life and Organisation

Education in Germany is decentralised. The federal states independently take care of schools and universities and draw up their own laws and regulations. This also affects the student bodies of the universities. In Baden-Württemberg, the legal basis is the State University Act (German: Landeshochschulgesetz (LHG)). [10] There the student organization is regulated, too. In 2013 the so-called constitutional student bodies were reintroduced in Baden-Württemberg. [11] The constitutional student bodies are made up of all registered students of a university and are legally bound to the respective university as a public corporation and are therefore under the legal supervision of the university. They are largely independent and can decide on finances and student university policy themselves. They also represent the professional, social, economic and cultural interests of their members.

The executive body of the constitutional student body is the General Student Committee (German: Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss (AStA)). This committee is mainly responsible for the organization, financing and control of the student leisure and sports activities at the HFU. In addition, there are festivities and other events in cooperation with the faculties' student bodies. Since the LHG does not take into account the particularities of several, distant locations of the HFU when re-introducing the student bodies, this presents the student self-administration with special challenges. In everyday life, communication and organisation across three locations and two learning centres is particularly affected.

The student life is, similar to the HFU, divided between the three locationsand and is concentrated at the respective locations. De facto, the AStA is also divided between the three locations and takes care of student affairs largely independent from the other parts of the HFU. In order to comply with the law, these "Campus-AStas" are only branches of the actual AStA, which operates across all three locations.

In close cooperation with the university, the Technology Department (German: AStA-Technik) at Campus Furtwangen is mostly responsible for the lighting and sound systems for many HFU events and for the university's own student events. In addition to accompanying graduation ceremonies of various faculties, the HFU half-marathon, the International Festival of the International Center and other events of the faculties are also supervised - including the Media Day (a kind of student work show) with the MediaNight in the evening, organized by the faculty of digital media at the end of semester. The event equipment is fully owned by the constituted student body and is only operated by selected members of the student body, organized in the Technology Department.

Alumni

Related Research Articles

Reutlingen University is a university of applied sciences, involved in education and research. It is located in Reutlingen in the southern German state of Baden-Württemberg. Enrollment stands at about 5,500 students, a quarter of whom are international and exchange students. Reutlingen University has a long tradition as a second home for international students; over a quarter of the students currently registered come from countries outside Germany. The university offers undergraduate and graduate programs in the main fields of International Business, Engineering, Information, Medical and Natural Science and Design. In contrast to common university structures, the orientation of the faculties is less the result of the sciences located there. It rather results from their industry driven specialization. The five schools of Reutlingen University are the School of Applied Chemistry, ESB Business School, the School of Information Technology, the School of Engineering and the School of Textiles & Design. Top Five placements in various rankings and its reputation amongst industry and commerce has made it one of Germany's most prestigious universities of applied sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Furtwangen im Schwarzwald</span> Town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Furtwangen im Schwarzwald is a small city located in the Black Forest region of southwestern Germany. Together with Villingen-Schwenningen, Furtwangen is part of the district of Schwarzwald-Baar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Konstanz</span> University in Konstanz, Germany

The University of Konstanz is a university in the city of Konstanz in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Its main campus was opened on the Gießberg in 1972 after being founded in 1966. The university is Germany's southernmost university and is situated on the shore of Lake Constance just four kilometres from the Swiss border. It has been successful in the Excellence Initiative.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Potsdam</span> University in the German city of Potsdam

The University of Potsdam is a public university in Potsdam, capital of the state of Brandenburg, northeastern Germany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Ulm</span> University in Germany

Ulm University is a public university in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The University was founded in 1967 and focuses on natural sciences, medicine, engineering sciences, mathematics, economics and computer science. With 9,891 students, it is one of the youngest public universities in Germany. The campus of the university is located north of the city on a hill called Oberer Eselsberg, while the university hospital has additional sites across the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karlsruhe Institute of Technology</span> Public university in Karlsruhe, Germany

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is both a German public research university in Karlsruhe, Baden-Württemberg, and a research center of the Helmholtz Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences</span> Public university in Karlsruhe, Germany

With around 7,000 students, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is the second largest university of applied sciences in the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg. It is a founding member of the Doctoral Association of Universities of Applied Sciences Baden-Württemberg established in 2022 and a member of the INGENIUM European University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esslingen University of Applied Sciences</span>

Esslingen University of Applied Sciences or Hochschule Esslingen is a public University of Applied Sciences in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. It has 11 faculties, 25 bachelor's programmes and 12 master's programmes. The focus of Esslingen University of Applied Sciences is on engineering, management, social sciences, as well as health care and nursing sciences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandenburg University of Technology</span> Public university in Brandenburg, Germany

The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus–Senftenberg was founded in 1991 and is a technical university in Brandenburg, Germany with campuses in Cottbus and Senftenberg. The university has 185 professors, 640 additional academic staff and more than 7,000 students, of which 2,350 are of foreign origin from more than 100 nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inholland University of Applied Sciences</span> Dutch university with eight campuses

Inholland University of Applied Sciences is a large university of applied sciences located in eight main cities of the Randstad, the central-western region of the Netherlands and the country's economic, political and cultural hub. With over 37,000 students from more than 100 countries, the university follows the applied sciences mode of education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Applied Sciences Ravensburg-Weingarten</span>

Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences is a public university in the city of Weingarten, in the southern part of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. The university was founded in 1962 and tracks advanced fields in Applied Physics and Process Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Automotive and Mechatronics Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Business & Technology Management as well as Social Work and Healthcare Management. The university has a very good reputation regarding engineering and technology studies; according to CHE ranking, published weekly by major German newspaper Die Zeit, RWU frequently ranks among the top universities in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as computer science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University</span> Institution of higher education in Germany

The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University is an institution of higher education with several campuses throughout the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It offers dual-education bachelor's-degree programs in cooperation with industry and non-profit institutions in the areas of business administration, engineering, and social services. In 2011, it started a limited master's program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Graduate School of Offenburg University of Applied Sciences</span>

The Graduate School of the University of Applied Sciences Offenburg is a public university located in the town of Offenburg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The Graduate School offers four international Master's degree programs with focus ranging from Communication and Media to Energy Conversion and Business Consulting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City University of Applied Sciences</span> German University of Applied Sciences

The Hochschule Bremen – City University of Applied Sciences is a public Fachhochschule, a University of Applied Sciences, located in Bremen, Germany. In 1982, this University evolved from the fusion of four Universities of Applied Sciences: the Universities for technology, business, social pedagogy and social economy, and nautics.

The Mainz University of Applied Sciences, is a 1971-founded university located in Mainz, in the western German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The University of Applied Sciences Mainz consists of three faculties: School of Technology, School of Design and School of Business. The common feature of all fields of study is the practical orientation of the university, the short periods of study and the internationally orientated courses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences</span> German university

Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences,, is a German University of Applied Sciences with campuses in Heilbronn-Sontheim, in the centre of Heilbronn (Bildungscampus), in Künzelsau and Schwäbisch Hall. Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences ranks amongst the major institutions of Higher Education in the state of Baden-Württemberg where it caters for over 8,000 degree-seeking students on three campuses, namely Heilbronn, Künzelsau and Schwäbisch Hall.

HFU may refer to

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Applied Sciences Offenburg</span> University in Germany

The University of Applied Sciences Offenburg, with its head office in Offenburg and a branch in Gengenbach, is a German university owned by the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is one of the most important educational institutions in the southern Upper Rhine area. Currently, about 4,090 students are enrolled.

The Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences is a German University of Applied Sciences with more than 9,500 students and 150 professors. Its campus comprises three distinct locations, situated in Sankt Augustin, Rheinbach and Hennef / Sieg.

Pädagogische Hochschule Schwäbisch Gmünd is a public research university located in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1825 as Pädagogisches Institut Schwäbisch Gmünd, it was transformed into a university in 1962 and now is a part of the Pädagogische Hochschulsystem Baden-Württemberg. It is one out of six such universities in the state of Baden-Württemberg.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "History". Hochschule Furtwangen University. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  2. ↑ Furtwangen, Hochschule. "Organigram | Official bodies". Furtwangen University. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  3. 1 2 3 "Faculties". Hochschule Furtwangen University. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ Lothar Häring. "Oettinger macht neue Hoffnungen". Schwäbische Zeitung . Archived from the original on 2016-09-07.
  5. ↑ "Members". Hochschule Furtwangen University. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ Hochschule Furtwangen. "Neues Physiotherapie-Studienzentrum in Freiburg" (in German).
  7. ↑ Hochschule Furtwangen. "Studienzentrum Rottweil" (in German).
  8. ↑ "Partnerhochschulen". HFU. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
  9. ↑ Visit from Lakehead University, Canada, HFU, Retrieved 2020-06-15
  10. ↑ LHG Gesetz über die Hochschulen in Baden-Württemberg (Landeshochschulgesetz - LHG) vom 1. Januar 2005 (in German), 2005-01-06, retrieved 2020-06-15
  11. ↑ "Pressemitteilung". Baden-Württemberg.de (in German). Retrieved 2020-06-15.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.