Applied universities shine through hands-on training and global scientific work

The universities of applied sciences in Germany are forging ahead with international collaborations and scientific research initiatives.

One notable project is the "Global Women in Engineering and IT" initiative, a joint effort by the University of Applied Sciences for Technology and Economics in Berlin and its Australian partner institutions. This project aims to promote academic exchange for women in the fields of engineering and IT.

Minister Dorothee, in her role as the Minister of Research, has also emphasised the importance of developing programs like "Scientific Research in Universities of Applied Sciences."

International partnerships are a key aspect of this drive. For instance, the University of Applied Sciences in Neu-Ulm is establishing an international startup network, while the University of Applied Sciences in Niederrhein is developing a smart textiles bachelor program in collaboration with partner universities in Belgium, Finland, Sweden, and Indonesia.

The HAW.International program of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has been instrumental in fostering multi-faceted networking between universities of applied sciences for over five years. Notable collaborations include the establishment of an international startup network at the University of Applied Sciences in Neu-Ulm, and a Bavarian-Czech student incubator project involving Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg.

Scientific research plays a significant role in these universities, with a diverse focus including nursing sciences, neurotechnologies, and adapting to climate change in rural areas. The latest funding requests from universities of applied sciences in Germany cover these topics and more.

Dual study programs, which combine university study with professional training within companies, are also a key feature of these institutions. They have strong ties to practical application and companies.

The development of scientific research programs in universities of applied sciences in Germany is a recent plan, initiated in or after May 2025. Minister Dorothee affirmed the importance of these institutions upon assuming office in May 2025.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is also promoting the internationalization of universities of applied sciences. Topics covered by the exchange initiative between German universities of applied sciences and Central Asia include digitization, sustainable urban development, renewable energy, and resource management. Scotland and Jordan have recently emerged as key players in this international exchange program, supported by the German Research Foundation.

Minister Dorothee stated that universities of applied sciences can showcase their strengths much better than before, and this is certainly evident in the diverse and far-reaching collaborations and research initiatives taking place across these institutions. A conference held in Dortmund in May 2025 showcased the diversity of international partnerships in universities of applied sciences, further underscoring the importance of these collaborations in the modern world.