Regionality at the DHBW

In spring, Prof. Rainer Przywara will be confirmed as Rector of the university. He wants to continue to achieve a great deal during his second term of office, focusing on the agile adaptation of the university to the changing needs of the Cooperative Partners. Core projects include consistent digitalisation, continuation of the academisation of the healthcare sector and regional further training opportunities based on micro-credentials. The new building in Heidenheim and the health campus in the Ulm-Wiblingen monastery provide perfect study conditions.

DHBW Heidenheim has special links with the East Wuerttemberg region. With BWL – Digital Business Management, BWL – Digital Commerce Management, a new Computer Science course and the Mechatronics course introduced in 2022, new programmes have been set up for our Cooperative Partners so that they can attract the young talent they urgently need. This pays dividends for both sides: there was also no significant decline in student numbers during the Covid period, and there were more enrolments in 2022 than in 2017.

A focus on retail knowledge for industry players – provided by our network through conferences, presentations and white papers. Since 2016, the “Retail Innovation Days” have firmly established themselves as an interactive platform for the industry. The most recent event was dedicated to “Smart Stores 24/7” and brought together over 500 visitors. The “Urban Innovation Hub” (uih!) is an innovation laboratory created in May 2023 in the pedestrian zone that offers everyone the opportunity to find out about new technologies in retail.

Several disciplines work in this field. The current state of research was initially gathered from a network of medicine, nutritional sciences, biology and technology. The group is also tracing the transfer to companies and consumers. A study programme is being prepared. Other objectives include individual health promotion, research into consumer behaviour and forecasts of future developments. The first congress focused on genetics and public health, among other things.

Sustainability and digitalisation are becoming more and more important in industry and society. The new interdisciplinary programme “Sustainable Science and Technology” combines mathematical and scientific content with engineering content relating to sustainability. Sustainable materials and production processes are not only part of the programme curriculum, but are also one of the focal points of research at DHBW Karlsruhe, for example in the project “3D-ThermoCell: Thermoformable paper material as a plastic substitute.”

At the end of January, entrepreneurs were able to experience the latest developments from Karlsruhe in the field of robotics at DHBW Karlsruhe. The Research Centre for Computer Science, Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and DHBW Karlsruhe demonstrated how the use of robots is becoming increasingly attractive for small and medium-sized companies thanks to the latest advances in technology. Questions were answered and valuable contacts were made during a relaxed exchange of ideas.

As part of a short-term programme, 35 students from California, Canada, the UK and Ukraine were able to complete a two-week compact programme in Karlsruhe and the surrounding area. The participants were accompanied by around 20 DHBW “buddy” students, who offered an intercultural experience and accompanied the group to lectures, company visits and excursions. The lectures were held by lecturers from the participating universities, while the International Office of DHBW Karlsruhe was responsible for the overall planning of the visit.

The Rectorate of DHBW Lörrach is complete again. Prof. Johannes Kern is the new Vice-Rector and Dean of Business, while Prof. Stefan Hess has been appointed Dean of Engineering. Both will provide important impetus in the areas of digitalisation and internationalisation. Prof. Kern brings with him extensive international experience and expertise in digital transformation. Prof. Hess strengthens the university with his expertise in the areas of innovation, research and transfer as well as with his trinational network.

The new architecture programme was launched in October 2023. It is the first dual degree programme in this traditional discipline in Germany. There is a high demand for young talent from Chambers of Architects, architects’ offices and local authorities, and there is also great interest in this programme from school students. With its focus on sustainability and building with wood as a renewable material, the programme not only meets the high demand in the region, but also significantly enhances the portfolio of construction and sustainability programmes across DHBW.

The role of the interdisciplinary and extracurricular Circle is to impart skills in innovation management so that they can be applied directly to real-life innovation cases. The recently certified student “Innopreneurs” presented some impressive solutions with a 3D printed prototype model, new customer segments and market analysis. The companies were impressed by this. Project manager Prof. Matthias Paul has succeeded in “preparing the students for advancing their partner company in the important area of innovation management”. The Circle is a model for successful theory-practice transfer. See also: dhbw-loerrach.de/innopreneur-circle.

“Growing knowledge together”: with more than 120 contributions over 128 days, DHBW Mannheim used BUGA 23 as a unique opportunity to publicise the university and the dual study model to (inter)regional and international visitors. The programme was as diverse as the courses themselves, ranging from electromobility, AI and digitalisation, to sustainability in teaching and research, to energies and technologies of the future. Cooperative Partners and other DHBW cooperation partners were also present.

Only at the Mannheim location: by introducing the innovative laboratories in spring 2023, DHBW Mannheim expanded its laboratory landscape for a lively and very business-oriented theory-practice transfer. While the Cyber Security Intelligence Lab focuses on network and IT security and even actively simulates attack and defence scenarios to protect data, students in the Design Thinking Lab learn how to use design thinking to produce innovations, products and services.

Without conceding a single goal in eleven (test) matches, the interdisciplinary student team TIGERs succeeded in bringing the world championship title in the RoboCup Small Size League to Mannheim in July 2023. Their intelligent robots not only impressed with their expertise in artificial intelligence, but also won the Technical Challenge for the highest number of passes in five minutes, the Small Size Excellence Award for special sporting spirit and the Best Paper Award for documenting their concepts, ideas and learning experiences.

Prof. Kim Tina Linsenmayer was elected Head of the Bad Mergentheim Campus with a large majority. She is the first person in the Mosbach management team to have studied at DHBW herself: Communications/Digital Media at DHBW Ravensburg. She succeeds Prof. Seon-Su Kim, who had guided the fortunes of the campus for an entire decade, securing endowed professorships and third-party funded projects and developing new courses. Professor Kim will be responsible for the BMBF project University Personnel and the DHBW Diversity Audit.

Sustainability will be taught even more intensively in new courses in the future: Sustainable Construction, Sustainable Production, Sustainable Management. However, the topic is already a fundamental part of study. For example, all six winners of the Business and Ethics Award, which was presented at the Academic Evening 2023, examined both business-related sustainability issues (sustainability reporting and carbon footprinting) and technical issues (reducing emissions with electric forklift trucks or the recyclability of plastics) in their Bachelor’s theses.

DHBW Mosbach is one of four universities in Baden-Wuerttemberg taking part in the project “Innovative space solutions in university construction”, which takes into account the state government’s carbon neutrality target. Flexible space solutions are to be developed and tested here, taking into account the working, teaching and studying of the future. During the pilot phase, a Design Thinking room was created at the Mosbach campus. Modular seating, foldable tables and large screens enable the lecture room to be transformed into an interactive project workshop with a digital control centre in minutes.

At the annual conference of the Centre for Empirical Communication Research (Zentrum für empirische Kommunikationsforschung, ZEK), the speakers examined the topic of “Innovations in communication: AI, VR etc. for effective language in business practice”. The focus was on the way in which digital tools are revolutionising everyday business life, whether machines can replace people and the opportunities and risks of this development. The speakers agreed on one thing: people are needed at the interface.

For ten years now, the Genussgipfel has aimed to provide impetus for an economical, ecological and enjoyable food culture. DHBW Ravensburg has co-hosted the event from the very beginning. A panel discussion focused on the future of the industry.
The conclusion was straight to the point: we have to succeed in getting guests excited about good and sustainable products – and they have to value them. “Since 2012, the Genussgipfel has stood for dialogue about the future of food culture at the interface between enjoyment, responsibility and economic efficiency,” said Peter Hauk, Minister for Food, Rural Areas and Consumer Protection in Ravensburg, on the occasion of the tenth Genussgipfel.

The Centre for Digitalisation and Electrification of Aerospace Systems (ZDEL) at DHBW Ravensburg addresses current research and development needs in aerospace technology. The endowed professorship of the Zeppelin Foundation plays a key role in this, as it enables DHBW to carry out research and to offer training that benefits from it. Current research and teaching projects were presented. One focus of the research work is the electric drivetrain, one of the major challenges in the transformation of aviation to sustainable flight. Together with renowned companies in the industry, DHBW Ravensburg sets standards for long-term cooperative research in this environment.

On 17 May 2023, Finance Minister Dr. Danyal Bayaz and Science Minister Petra Olschowski handed over the new replacement building for the Faculty of Engineering at DHBW Stuttgart. The new building is located in the immediate vicinity of Stuttgart University and Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences along Lerchenstrasse on the edge of Stuttgart city centre. The proximity to the other universities has created a campus in a central location at the Stadtgarten.

The DHBW Research Day on 6 July 2023 focused on the topic of “Shaping sustainability: Society, Health, Technologies and Markets” and took place this year at DHBW Stuttgart. Around 300 participants benefited from a diverse programme that reflected all facets of research at DHBW – including keynote speeches by top-class speakers from science and industry, sessions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), a poster exhibition with poster slam and exciting laboratory tours.

In recent years, there have been many technical innovations in the digitalisation of the healthcare sector. There is a need for comprehensive skills training in the field of digital health for all employees in the healthcare sector. It is precisely this demand and this development that the Digital Health contact study programme is now addressing. Under the motto “Digital expertise in healthcare as a mission”, all Cooperative Partners are offered a permanent training opportunity for their employees.

Under the title “Industry in Regional Structural Change”, the specialist event Future Forum is promoting dialogue between education, business and politics for the 5th time. (10/22) | Prof. Daniela Steenkamp is supporting the state capital Stuttgart in the implementation of the first action plan under the title “Child-friendly Community – Local Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 2020 to 2022”. (12/22) | Six graduates receive prizes for their outstanding Bachelor’s theses in “Business Administration – Banking” and “Business Administration – Technical Management” (2/23) | Students support the Caritas and Diakonisches Werk associations in the Schwarzwald-Baar district in developing a concept for the “Stable Finances” project for families at risk of poverty. (4/23)

Students from seven DHBW locations are traveling to the long-standing partner university German Jordanian University. Coordinated by DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen, they are attending courses on “Sustainability” as part of the Intensive Study Programme. (3/23) | Representatives of European partner universities meet during the 5th International Week in Villingen-Schwenningen and discuss inter-university projects and possible collaborations. (5/23) | International network expanded with partner universities in South Africa and Spain. (2023) | Successful English-language programme “Current topics with international lecturers” enters its third round. (4/23)

StuV sets up a “gift shelf” for students. (2/23) | With its new print campaign “Words hurt”, the A-Team draws attention to verbal violence and raises awareness of the need for a conscious use of language. (6/23) | Prof. Steffen Arnold takes office as Vice-Rector and Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (7/23) | The “Social Economy” programme celebrates its 25th anniversary. (7/23) | Cooperative Partner Conference of the Faculty of Business reflected current developments and needs of DHBW, companies and businesses. (6/23)

Prof. Joachim Frech worked as Director of DHBW CAS for six years, building the foundations that have made its academic training pioneering in the university landscape far beyond Baden-Wuerttemberg. Prof. Boris Alexander Kühnle succeeded him on 7 December 2022 with a symbolic handover of the baton. The former Dean of the Faculty of Economics has set himself the task of positioning the topic of lifelong learning even more successfully in the marketplace. To this end, he is currently visiting all locations on his “Tour de Länd”.

The graduates had to wait a long time for their graduation ceremony to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic. DHBW CAS made up for this last summer with around 500 guests: In bright sunshine, the former Master’s students enjoyed an evening hosted by poetry slammer Rainer Holl. A BMX artist impressed with his tricks, while live bands provided the background music. The racing car of the Formula Student Team CURE Mannheim was on display – an example of successful theory-practice transfer at DHBW.

The Intersectoral School of Governance (ISoG BW) was established in 2019 with the aim of strengthening cooperation between business, politics and civil society and developing sustainable solutions for intersectoral challenges such as mobility, health and integration. It is located at DHBW CAS. Thanks to the positive experience, the funding partners – the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, the Dieter Schwarz Foundation, Südwestmetall and the Robert Bosch Foundation – decided in April to extend the funding contract.