Fachhochschule Wedel: English Language Programs On Applied Sciences In Germany
Prof. Dr. Eike Harms, Director
Germany has always been ahead in engineering and the country's engineering education is said to be one of the best in the world. Students from all across the world aspire to pursue their engineering education in Germany. Recent immigration policies by the government have made it very easy for students especially from Asian countries to go and study in Germany. However, every native or foreign student wants to study in an institution which is trusted and known for the quality of education. Moreover, students from other countries won't be able to study German language based programs which is why they need programs in English. FH Wedel is the oldest university for applied sciences in Germany that offers completely English language based programs to its students. It was founded by the grandfather of the present director in 1948, and the mission was to help the scattered industry of after-war Germany to get highly qualified employees with a strong practical focus and an excellent theoretical background. The institution constantly adapted to the needs of the industry around it. It started with physical engineering and steadily converted to computer engineering and various IT specializations which is its stronghold up to now. Meanwhile, it also included business courses. At present, the college is offering 13 bachelor courses (most of them with an IT/engineering focus) and 9 master courses, one of them offered in English: IT Engineering.
It is well- known in the neighbourhood, the Hamburg metropolitan area, for the practical orientation and the deep scientific background of its graduates. Although some of the graduates migrated to far distant places, most of them keep local, and this is why it is not known in all of Germany. "We are constantly cooperating with a variety of local companies. Nearly all gradation theses are performed at a company. We have dual contracts with a lot of companies who sponsor our students. Most of our students work in a company parallel to their study. Some companies even sponsor professors and other staff", mentions Prof. Dr. Eike Harms, Director, Fachhochschule Wedel.
Uniqueness in Education
It is in the practical orientation combined with a university standard for the theoretical foundations that is unique about this institution. The lab courses (specially the IT ones) are renowned for the industry-prone orientation concerning professional standards and deadlines. Each of the college's faculty members must have had an industrial work experience (3 years minimum). They are constantly kept up-to-date through the graduation and other projects with companies. Teaching is the most important factor for employing new members, and the college has a continuous anonymous evaluation of the faculty by all students. It has eight engineering labs and eight IT labs constantly kept up-to-date.
“We are constantly cooperating with a variety of local companies. Nearly all gradation theses are performed at a company. We have dual contracts with a lot of companies who sponsor our students”
The institution does not offer scholarships by itself. But there are a lot of companies offering scholarships. However, these scholarships are not open for international incomings, since the requirement for any scholarship is a German graduation. But if an international student studies successfully with it, the working opportunities of the cooperating companies are open in the second year. As soon as a student is studying with the college, previous educational background does not matter. It is important how this student performs with Fachhochschule Wedel. "Our IT based study courses require at least 4 hard industry-prone lab courses. We also require at least 1 seminar where a student must prepare and present an issue totally alone (for strengthening the presentation capability). Once in a while there are workshops offered by companies", mentions the Director.
Looking Ahead
The institution is particularly pleased to hear from students who are enthusiastic about the German higher education system and the attractive location conditions and can imagine a permanent or temporary career in Germany. The German economy needs well-trained and application-oriented academics and offers the graduates numerous well-paid career opportunities. The college's mission is to produce the academics needed for a better future.
As a university, it wants to continue to grow, including an increase in incoming students. To this end, it will introduce more English-language courses. It also wants to further expand the course offerings in the area of sustainability. As a state-funded start-up university, it empowers the students to build their businesses. Together with the city of Wedel, it now wants to establish a university-related startup and technology center. In addition, it wants to become more attractive to female students and are adapting its course offerings accordingly. "In the early bachelor semesters, we will further increase the proportion of face-to-face exercises and further improve the supervision situation, also through new teaching concepts. In the master's programs, we would instead like to offer higher proportions of distance learning and blended learning and better adapt our time models to the needs of students", concludes the Director.
It is well- known in the neighbourhood, the Hamburg metropolitan area, for the practical orientation and the deep scientific background of its graduates. Although some of the graduates migrated to far distant places, most of them keep local, and this is why it is not known in all of Germany. "We are constantly cooperating with a variety of local companies. Nearly all gradation theses are performed at a company. We have dual contracts with a lot of companies who sponsor our students. Most of our students work in a company parallel to their study. Some companies even sponsor professors and other staff", mentions Prof. Dr. Eike Harms, Director, Fachhochschule Wedel.
Uniqueness in Education
It is in the practical orientation combined with a university standard for the theoretical foundations that is unique about this institution. The lab courses (specially the IT ones) are renowned for the industry-prone orientation concerning professional standards and deadlines. Each of the college's faculty members must have had an industrial work experience (3 years minimum). They are constantly kept up-to-date through the graduation and other projects with companies. Teaching is the most important factor for employing new members, and the college has a continuous anonymous evaluation of the faculty by all students. It has eight engineering labs and eight IT labs constantly kept up-to-date.
“We are constantly cooperating with a variety of local companies. Nearly all gradation theses are performed at a company. We have dual contracts with a lot of companies who sponsor our students”
The institution does not offer scholarships by itself. But there are a lot of companies offering scholarships. However, these scholarships are not open for international incomings, since the requirement for any scholarship is a German graduation. But if an international student studies successfully with it, the working opportunities of the cooperating companies are open in the second year. As soon as a student is studying with the college, previous educational background does not matter. It is important how this student performs with Fachhochschule Wedel. "Our IT based study courses require at least 4 hard industry-prone lab courses. We also require at least 1 seminar where a student must prepare and present an issue totally alone (for strengthening the presentation capability). Once in a while there are workshops offered by companies", mentions the Director.
Looking Ahead
The institution is particularly pleased to hear from students who are enthusiastic about the German higher education system and the attractive location conditions and can imagine a permanent or temporary career in Germany. The German economy needs well-trained and application-oriented academics and offers the graduates numerous well-paid career opportunities. The college's mission is to produce the academics needed for a better future.
As a university, it wants to continue to grow, including an increase in incoming students. To this end, it will introduce more English-language courses. It also wants to further expand the course offerings in the area of sustainability. As a state-funded start-up university, it empowers the students to build their businesses. Together with the city of Wedel, it now wants to establish a university-related startup and technology center. In addition, it wants to become more attractive to female students and are adapting its course offerings accordingly. "In the early bachelor semesters, we will further increase the proportion of face-to-face exercises and further improve the supervision situation, also through new teaching concepts. In the master's programs, we would instead like to offer higher proportions of distance learning and blended learning and better adapt our time models to the needs of students", concludes the Director.
