Enrollment increases at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (press release)
The enrollment phase for the ongoing winter semester 2017-18 has concluded, and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is ready to announce a new enrollment record of 7,222 students, crossing the 7,000-mark for the first time in its history. In coming semesters, the University intends to shift its focus from growth to consolidating these enrollment numbers.
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences continues to grow! With 7,222 young people now pursuing degrees in 25 undergraduate and eleven graduate programs, compared with 6,757 students at this time in the previous year, enrollment has increased by roughly seven percent. Original plans for the University envisioned only 5,000 students. “We’ve grown to the limits of our capacity, which calls for new middle- and long-term solutions to cushion these numbers and continue to ensure our University’s high standards of quality into the future”, commented Dr. Heide Naderer, President of the University. Dr. Oliver Herrmann, Interim Chancellor of the University, expanded further: “These needs demonstrate why, in the future, we’ll need to focus more on consolidating existing resources. A similar jump in growth in the coming years would push us beyond our limits.”
Nonetheless, this new record also shows how Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences has grown in popularity and reputation over the last few years. Well-equipped and well-funded, the University also boasts a unique international character: nearly 46% of its students originate from outside of Germany, including over five percent from EU countries. In fact, the University’s international community has grown by over 12 percent compared to the previous year. “We’re especially proud of that fact,” said Dr. Naderer. “It shows us, once again, that we can confidently claim the title of most international university in Germany.”
This international character is clearly reflected in the enrollment numbers for winter semester 2017-18, as the number of international students has increased by over 27 percent compared with the previous winter semester 2016-17. In total, the current semester commenced with 1,747 new students, similar to the previous year’s numbers. Both the President and the Chancellor see Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences well positioned for the coming years: “The government of North Rhine-Westphalia has firmly committed to providing us with sufficient operational funding on a perpetual basis,” commented Dr. Herrmann. “This additional funding is granted on top of the University’s existing general funding. This leaves us in a more than comfortable position going forward into the future.”