Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort: The approximately 500 invited guests, professors, staff and students of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences experienced some moving moments at the new premises when the university’s new buildings in Kamp-Lintfort were officially opened with a ceremonial event. “The grand opening of our new campus marks the start of a new chapter for university life in Kamp-Lintfort,” said Professor Dr Marie-Louise Klotz, President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort: The approximately 500 invited guests, professors, staff and students of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences experienced some moving moments at the new premises as the university’s new buildings in Kamp-Lintfort were officially opened with a ceremonial event. “The grand opening of our new campus marks the start of a new chapter for university life in Kamp-Lintfort,” said Professor Dr Marie-Louise Klotz, President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. “With these new buildings, we are symbolising that the university and its students are now an integral part of Kamp-Lintfort’s townscape, and we are delighted to be able to play a part in shaping this historic event.” Svenja Schulze, Minister for Innovation, Science and Research for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, was also delighted with the new buildings at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. At the opening ceremony for the Kamp-Lintfort campus, Minister for Science Schulze said: “All teaching and research facilities are now brought together on a single site. For students and teaching staff, this means shorter distances and the opportunity for rapid interdisciplinary exchange.”
Spanning a total area of around 19,000 m² and with a gross floor area of 15,600 m², the campus’s five buildings are situated in the heart of the town. With a construction budget of 50 million euros, the new buildings at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kamp-Lintfort will in future accommodate around 2,000 students from all over the world. Seven new lecture theatres – the centrepiece of which is the 300-seat Audimax – as well as a further eight seminar rooms invite students to study and live on the new campus. In addition to seminar rooms and lecture theatres, there will also be state-of-the-art laboratories, computer suites, a language centre, a canteen, a library and spacious technical facilities. The new campus provides space here for innovative, interdisciplinary and international teaching and research.
But it is not just the students who are meant to feel at home here. At the heart of the campus is a square where lecturers and students of all nationalities and faculties can meet, and where members of the public are warmly welcome. The open, bright and sociable atmosphere is the result of an architectural competition launched in 2010 and won by ‘pbr Planungsbüro Rohling AG Architekten und Ingenieure’ from Osnabrück. The client was the Bau- und Liegenschaftsbetrieb NRW (BLB NRW).
Open Days
People flocked to Friedrich-Heinrich-Allee in droves – because here, at the new Kamp-Lintfort campus of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, the doors were opened for the first time to all interested visitors during the open days. Young and old, academics, parents, toddlers, schoolchildren and students wandered through the premises of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, taking a look at the canteen, the library, the technical centre, the Student Service Centre and the lecture theatres, and got a taste of the world of research under the motto ‘Stadtgespräche’ (City Talks).
To mark the opening of the new site, the Faculty of Communication and Environment welcomed the Faculties of Technology and Bionics, Society and Economics, and Life Sciences – which are normally based in Kleve – to the new premises of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. A varied programme for young and old alike awaited all those interested. Everyone had the chance to get a taste of university life, take part in conferences and laboratory experiments, have a look around the lecture theatres, the university library, the canteen or the language centre, and discover what else the campus has to offer.
There was plenty on offer at the Faculty of Communication and Environment, based in Kamp-Lintfort: here, anyone interested could visit numerous student projects and exhibitions and embark on a virtual journey through time at Kamp Abbey. Students from the faculty used computer simulation to bring the famous and first Cistercian monastery in Kamp-Lintfort back to life, showcasing its eventful history. Visitors were able to see for themselves that innovation, in the sense of technical advances, is an important driving force during the lecture ‘Science Fiction: How we imagined today’s world yesterday’. Science fiction literature focuses on innovation and, in one form or another, examines its impact on individuals or their interactions. What can we learn from this for real-world technological developments? Where does science fiction outpace reality, and where has technology already left its literary counterpart behind? Prof. Dr Sandro Leuchter discussed all these fascinating questions.
Visitors to the Faculty of Life Sciences were able to view insects, flowers and feathers through a high-resolution microscope. Suddenly, the everyday seemed unfamiliar, exciting and new. Next door, visitors were able to get a taste of the world of cosmetics and skincare and make their own lip balm. Whether honey, cherry or melon scents – there was a fragrance to suit everyone here.
At the Faculty of Technology and Bionics, under the motto ‘See, touch and get involved’, visitors were able to explore what we can learn from nature for future technologies and products. Here, the faculty was showcased through various exhibits and experiments, offering those interested an engaging introduction to its work.
Visitors to the Faculty of Society and Economics were given an introduction to the history of ethics. The lecture ‘Key Problems in Moral Philosophy and Fundamental Ethical Positions’ explored the question ‘What is good?’ and provided an insight into the most important ethical positions, such as Aristotle’s virtue ethics, utilitarianism and Kant’s categorical imperative.
City Talks – the evening show
The highlight of the campus opening was a grand opening show on 4 April. From 5.30 pm, the bands “Owner’s Manual” and “Welcome” got visitors in the mood for the evening show.
On the square in front of the lecture theatre building, the show began unexpectedly at dusk – almost ‘quietly’ – with a saxophonist playing on the roof of the lecture theatre building. A laser beam shone out from the saxophone into the night, serving as a landmark for the new Kamp-Lintfort campus. The guests were then treated to a surprise in the form of an evocative projection onto the lecture theatre building.
The show ended fittingly – with the official launch of teaching activities. A fireworks display was set off from the roof of the lecture theatre building. This marked the visual and emotional start of university life!
On the outdoor stage, the live band “The Funked Up Soundation” took to the stage seamlessly, allowing visitors to round off the evening. Many enthusiastic comments could also be heard throughout the evening’s programme. “The university brings innovation to the town,” said one passer-by, “it is definitely an asset to the town of Kamp-Lintfort.”
Captions
Image 1: Prof. Marie-Louise Klotz, President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, together with Svenja Schulze, Minister for Innovation, Science and Research of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Image 2: Panel discussion at the campus opening ceremony
