Cooperative Education at DHBW

Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University closely cooperates with more than 9,000 enterprises and social institutions all over Germany. These partner companies select their students and are responsible for the practical part of the studies. The three-month rhythm, in which the students switch between the university and their workplace training provider, i.e. between gaining theoretical knowledge and applying this knowledge to practice is the core principle of cooperative education at DHBW.

Both the students and the workplace training providers conclude a contract for a three-year term; within this contract the students receive a regular compensation, including social security benefits. Throughout the complete study period the students regularly switch between the university and the company, where the training takes place. 

Academic theory and workplace training are closely coordinated and incorporate current developments. This approach allows students to gain professional experience and social skills required in everyday working life during their studies. They receive projects and assignments according to their growing abilities and develop their skills with the supervision of more experienced co-workers.

Due to the professional expertise acquired during the training phases, the students are able to carry out challenging field-related tasks directly upon graduation and do not need further training. Given this combination ofacademic skills and applied knowledge, the graduates are able to work in any type of industrial enterprise, in any field of business activity, and at any level of corporate hierarchy.

In cooperation with more than 9,000 selected companies and social institutions across Germany, the DHBW School of Business, DHBW School of Engineering and DHBW School of Social Work offer a variety of both nationally and internationally accredited degree courses. With an increasingly international curriculum, DHBW promotes cooperation with numerous companies, social institutions and renowned universities all over the world.

Offered since 1974, cooperative education at DHBW guarantees the graduates excellent opportunities for their profession and career.

In 2006, all degree programmes offered at DHBW were accredited by the German Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (ZEvA). In July 2008 the courses were rated as intensive degree programmes with 210 ECTS credit points. In 2011, DHBW was the first higher education institution in Baden-Wuerttemberg to become system accredited by the ZEvA, meaning the university’s internal quality assurance system in teaching and learning is suitable to ensure the high quality standard of its study programmes without the assistance of external accreditation agencies.

Work-integrated education enables the students to immediately apply academic content learnt in class to practice and vice versa bring in new ideas from their work placements into the classroom. As a result, the students are provided a route to sought-after academic qualifications while being able to gain extensive practical experience. Thus, the graduates of DHBW are able to face challenging tasks early in their professional pathways and to launch their successful careers directly upon graduation.

Financial Independence

Students of the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University are financially independent from the very start. As employees of partner companies that provide their workplace training, the students receive a monthly remuneration for the duration of their studies at the university.

Cutting-Edge Skills

In-depth expertise knowledge, understanding of interdisciplinary contents, the ability to solve problems methodologically and purposefully, along with effective team skills characterize the qualification of DHBW graduates. Upon graduation they are capable of meeting professional demands straightaway, which is a major competitive advantage on the labor market. 

Excellent Employment Opportunities

The field-related education on the highest academic and technological level meets the steadily increasing demand for management skills. This ensures a smooth transition into profession with excellent career opportunities. The graduates of DHBW are highly employable, which is clearly demonstrated by the recruitment rate – more than 85 per cent of the students are taken on by their workplace training providers.

The world economy is intertwined as never before. Modern communications systems hardly allow any business to function solely on a national level. No matter in which sector one works, internationally-trained employees are in great demand. Those who wish to be better prepared for the future and to immediately assume positions of responsibility upon completion of their studies, study internationally and choose field-related and practice-oriented education. All three DHBW schools offer a broad range of both nationally and internationally accredited undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs. The university's curriculum incorporates practical training in more than 9,000 partner companies and institutions.

Cooperative education ensures that the graduates acquire the ability to efficiently obtain and assess information required for solving a problem and to use it in a decision-supporting form. They develop the ability to learn and work independently and goal-oriented, as well as to behave cooperatively and to make independent and appropriate contributions when working in a team. The graduates of DHBW are able to cooperate with experts from other fields of expertise, at the same time they know their own possibilities and limits and actively obtain adequate support, if necessary. They keep their knowledge up to date and are ready to learn from experience.

The practical nature of cooperative education is an advantage, as is the mutual screening between employers and employees during training. Opting for the 'dual' education system, one chooses a safe future.

Due to their sound knowledge and cutting-edge expertise acquired during the training phases, the students are ready to meet professional challenges. The work-integrated concept ensures that they are highly employable – within the last two years more than 85 per cent of our graduates have signed a permanent employment contract directly upon graduation.