University of Applied Sciences Erfurt

The title University of Applied Sciences makes it internationally clear what the Fachhochschule Erfurt stands for: the combination of scientific training and its practical applications. The new Bachelor and Master degrees are effective and compact study programmes, which provide a quick route into professional practice whilst opening up opportunities for further academic training.

The University of Applied Sciences Erfurt was founded on 01.10.1991. Now, 22 years on, it is an established, modern and practice-oriented university with a good reputation. This is underlined by top spots in national rankings (eg. in complying with minimum legal study periods), countless useful contacts with business, intensive local and regional networking, and growing international status. The excellent cooperation with a wide variety of regional and community enterprises, institutions and organisations is particularly worth a mention. Held annually since 1998, the business contact day ("Day of Research"), the bi-annual "in-house Heating and Sanitation Exhibition" organised as part of the course on building services and supply engineering, and the annual careers fair ("company networking forum") are outstanding examples of intensive and mutually beneficial cooperation with business. Allied with practical research, the applied teaching gives students the best possible preparation for their later careers. Training provision is rounded off by extensive opportunities to learn languages and intercultural skills and to gain basic and key qualifications.

There have been reforms to the degree system in Germany since 2000: "Bachelor" and "Master" have become part of everyday academic life outside Anglo-Saxon states and UAS Erfurt has been involved from the start. Now 95% of all study courses lead to a Bachelor's or Master's degree, enhancing students' prospects of studying internationally. Traditional courses are supplemented by some innovative opportunities for dual training and study.

Restructured committees with greater decision-making powers and effective administration support teaching and research at a central level. The university has considerable potential for research and development which it makes available to the region, and which provides students with various options to apply their newly-acquired knowledge in practical situations.

A striking feature is the relatively large proportion of female students and staff. More than 37% of employees at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, and around 50% of current students, are women. Whereas on average just 5% of chairs are occupied by women nationally, nearly 15% of the university's professors are female. UAS Erfurt was also the first university in Thuringia to elect a woman as Rector.

Between 1993 and 1997 the university was led by Professor Dr. Gisela Rauschhofer. Her successor in this office was Professor Dr.-Ing. habil. Wolfgang Storm from 1997 - 2001 and the third Rector from 2001 to 2005 was Professor Dr. Wolf Wagner. From 2005 to 2011 Prof. Dr.- Ing. Heinrich H. Kill has been Rector and afterwards President of the university. Since 2012 Professor Dr. sc. agr. Kerstin Wydra is President of the UAS Erfurt.

All professors and staff at the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt are working hard to spread its good reputation. A large number of students are already from outside Thuringia. By ensuring new, innovative and flexible development of traditional study courses the university is responding to increasingly fast-moving changes in the requirements for modern, practice-based and contemporary training for students.

Thus the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt is a university with both a history and a future.