Ten years ago, the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia decided to establish the ‘Nördlicher Niederrhein’ University of Applied Sciences, with campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort.
Professor Dr Andreas Pinkwart – at the time Minister for Innovation, Science, Research and Technology for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia – announced the cabinet decision on 28 November 2008. The decision was taken on the basis of a recommendation by a panel chaired by former State Secretary Dr Fritz Schaumann.
The state announced that it would provide additional state funding of around 1.3 billion euros by 2020 for the establishment of a total of three new universities of applied sciences and the expansion of eight existing ones in North Rhine-Westphalia. The aim was to create 11,000 new student places with a focus on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and to further develop North Rhine-Westphalia’s higher education landscape over the following decade, as set out in the state government’s innovation and growth programme at the time.
Next year, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences will celebrate its official 10th anniversary.
