FDP members of the Bundestag and state parliaments met with representatives of the university management at the Kamp-Lintfort campus and discussed, amongst other things, research funding, future funding models and the ‘Future Agreement: Strengthening Study and Teaching’.
The programme included not only a meeting with the university management but also a tour of the Kamp-Lintfort campus – and, in particular, a presentation and guided tour of the FabLab Kamp-Lintfort, which, as one of the largest FabLabs in the world, offers a detailed insight into the digital manufacturing of the future. The guests discussed current higher education policy issues with Chancellor Michael Strotkemper and Professor Dr.-Ing. Peter Kisters – Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer. The discussion focused, amongst other things, on approaches to research funding for universities of applied sciences (HAW), future funding models and the details of the ‘Future Contract: Strengthening Studies and Teaching’, which is currently being discussed between politicians and universities. In addition to the financial and governance-related implications for the university, the amendments to the Vocational Training Act and experiences with dual study programmes were also discussed. A lively exchange also took place on the topic of the shortage of skilled workers and how to address it. In this context, various pilot projects were presented and discussed by the university representatives.
