History

2006

The Association for the Promotion of Higher Education in Kleve and the Region, later the Campus Kleve e.V. friends association, is founded.

2008

The government of North Rhine-Westphalia passes a resolution for the establishment of a new “Northern Lower Rhine” university of applied sciences located in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort.

2009

Renovations are completed for the first provisional university buildings in Kleve.

The Hochschule Rhein-Waal e.V. friends association is founded.

Professor Dr Andreas Pinkwart, NRW Minister of Innovation, appoints Professor Dr Marie-Louise Klotz as University President and Dr Martin Goch as Vice-President for Finances and Human Resources.

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is officially founded. President Klotz and Vice-President Goch officially enter into office.

The first students are enrolled in the undergraduate degree programme International Business and Social Sciences.

The Ministry of Innovation of North Rhine-Westphalia approves the construction of new campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort.

The Campus Camp-Lintfort e.V. friends association is founded.

Rhine-Waal University applies for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education, thus joining the family of European universities receiving EU funding to promote the exchange of students and teachers among EU member states.

Rhine-Waal University begins its first semester of operations with three undergraduate degree programmes: Bio Science and Health, International Business and Social Sciences and E-Government. Fifteen students begin their studies. It employs a total of 30 staff members: six professors, five academic staff members, and 19 non-academic staff members.

2010

The foundation stone is laid for a new campus on the banks of the Spoy canal in Kleve.

The winner of the design competition for the new campus in Kamp-Lintfort is announced: pbr Planning Office Rohling AG Architects and Engineers in Osnabrück, Germany.

The first Studium Generale lecture is held at Rhine-Waal University. This new lecture series format serves as a first important contribution to the knowledge transfer process in the region.

Professor Dr Peter Scholz is appointed Vice-President for Research and Development.

First Erasmus partnerships are established with universities in the German-Dutch border region, Spain and France.

Rhine-Waal University’s four faculties launch a combined eleven undergraduate and two postgraduate degree programmes. The University now offers a total of 16 degree programmes taught in either German or English.

2011

Topping out ceremony is held for the new Kleve Campus.

The Wednesday Academy ("Mittwochsakademie") lecture series is launched in Kleve. Lectures focus on contemporary topics with broader social relevance and are open to all members of the public.

Professor Dr Anja Freifrau von Richthofen is appointed Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Continuing Training.

Ground is broken at the future site of the new Kamp-Lintfort Campus.

Rhine-Waal University concludes its first overseas partnership agreements with the US universities Fitchburg State University and Ferris State University.

Rhine-Waal University now offers a total of 20 undergraduate and three postgraduate degree programmes across four faculties.

2012

Construction begins on the new Kamp-Lintfort Campus.

Rhine-Waal University congratulates its very first graduate, who completed his master’s degree in Bionics/Biomimetics.

Rhine-Waal University moves from the provisional campus in Emmerich to its new home in Kleve on the Spoy canal at Marie-Curie-Strasse 1.

Grand opening celebrations for the new Kleve Campus.

The first lectures commence on the new Kleve Campus.

Topping out ceremony is held for the new Kamp-Lintfort Campus.

The first DAAD PROMOS scholarships for study abroad stays and internships overseas are awarded. The DAAD Award for Talented International Students is also awarded for the first time.

A total of 28 degree programmes (25 undergraduate and three postgraduate) are now offered at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The undergraduate degree programmes Bioengineering, Industrial Engineering, Journalism and Bionics, Gender and Diversity and Early Childhood Education are launched. Some 2,700 students are enrolled at Rhine-Waal University at this point.

A total of 72 professors now teach at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

2013

Kids‘ Uni is launched at Rhine-Waal University. These short lectures are designed to introduce children to scientific topics in an accessible way.

The Rhine-Waal University Senate convenes for the first time.

In the 2013 academic year, a total of 798 new students enrolled in the Faculty of Society and Economics, 547 in the Faculty of Communication and Environment, 368 in the Faculty of Life Sciences and 271 in the Faculty of Technology and Bionics. More than 4,000 students are enrolled in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort for winter semester 2013/14.

The DAAD-sponsored Eastern Partnerships Programme is launched.

Rhine-Waal University now employs 77 academic staff members and 93 non-academic staff members.

2014

The Senate elects Bibiana Kemner as new Vice-President for Finances and Human Resources.

Start up the moving trucks again: staff and students move into the newly completed Kamp-Lintfort Campus at Friedrich-Heinrich-Allee 25.

The first Board of Governors is elected.

Grand opening celebration for the new Kamp-Lintfort Campus.

The first lectures are held on the new Kamp-Lintfort Campus.

Bibiana Kemner enters into office as Vice-President for Finances and Human Resources.

The Board of Governors are officially appointed by Ministerialräten Angelika Claßen. Professor Dr Gerard J.M. Meijer is elected chair, Professor Dr Robert Renner is elected deputy chair.

A combined 33 degree programmes (25 undergraduate and eight postgraduate) are now offered across four faculties at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

The Board of Governors elects Dr Heide Naderer as the new President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Rhine-Waal University expands its international network of partner universities to Brazil, Italy, Norway, Poland, France, Taiwan and South Korea.

Enrolment exceeds 5,000 students for the first time.

2015

The Kleve Campus expands to a new building, designated 5A.

Dr Heide Naderer enters into office as the new President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

The Board of Governors elects a new Executive Board: Professor Dr Marion Halfmann is elected as Vice-President of Studies, Teaching and Continuing Training; Professor Dr habil. Jens Gebauer as Vice-President for Research and Outreach; and Professor Dr Georg Hauck as Vice-President for Human Resources and Organisational Development, Diversity.

Rhine-Waal University is officially recognised as a family-friendly workplace (audit familiengerechte hochschule).

The new Vice-Presidents enter into office.

Rhine-Waal University now employs 94 academic staff members and 120 non-academic staff members.

2016

A total of 36 degree programmes (25 undergraduate and 11 postgraduate) are now offered across four faculties at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

The Kleve Campus expands to a new building, designated 2A.

The Kamp-Lintfort Campus expands to a new building, designated 6 and located on the adjacent decommissioned coal mining complex.

The first annual Academic Celebration is held at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

The first partnership agreement is concluded with Australia: The University of the Sunshine Coast and Rhine-Waal University are now partners.

104 professors now teach in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort.

2017

The Rhine-Waal University Alumni Network is founded.

The Board of Governors elects Professor Dr Aloys Krieg as new chair.

Rhine-Waal University congratulates the first graduate of its double-degree programme with Ferris State University.

Rhine-Waal University announces a new Strategic Development Plan, its roadmap of development through 2022.

Rhine-Waal University congratulates the first graduate of its double-degree programme with Donghua University in China.

The Rhine-Waal University Election Assembly elects Michael Strotkemper as new Chancellor.

Rhine-Waal University earns the distinction of being the first Fair Trade University in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Rhine-Waal University maintains 90 active partnerships with universities in 34 countries.

Enrolment exceeds 7,000 students for the first time.

2018

Rhine-Waal University is officially recognised for its diversity and inclusion efforts by the Stifterverband für die deutsche Wissenschaft.

Michael Strotkemper enters into office as Chancellor.

The Kamp-Lintfort Campus expands to the Villa Kellermann building (now building 7) and the Kleve Campus expands to a new building in the nearby Minoritenstrasse, designated building 20.

Rhine-Waal University becomes the first partner for the Landesgartenschau 2020, the largest horticultural festival and exhibition in North Rhine-Westphalia, which will be held in Kamp-Lintfort in 2020.

New partnership agreements are concluded with Jinan University in Guangzhou and Shanghai University, China.

For the first time, half of the students enrolled at Rhine-Waal University (now numbering some 7,300) hail from outside of Germany. Seventy-five percent of its offered degree programmes are taught in English.

Rhine-Waal University now employs 435 staff members: 110 professors, 146 academic staff members and 179 non-academic staff members.

2019

The Rhine-Waal University Election Assembly elects Dr Oliver Locker Grütjen as the new President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

The Department of Student Affairs, the Legal Department, the Centre for Innovation and Transfer as well as the office of Vice-President of Research and Transfer move into the newly renovated building 20 in Kleve.

The second Board of Governors is elected.

Rhine-Waal University launches its first online merchandise and apparel shop.

Rhine-Waal University celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a huge campus festival in Kleve.

Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen enters into office as new President of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Rhine-Waal University successfully re-certifies as a family-friendly workplace.

Rhine-Waal University celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a huge campus festival in Kamp-Lintfort.

The second Board of Governors is officially appointed by State Secretary Annette Storsberg. Professor Dr Aloys Krieg is elected as chair, Professor Dr Robert Renner as deputy chair.

The Board of Governors elects three new Vice-Presidents to the Executive Board: Professor PD Dr Tatiana Zimenkova is elected as Vice-President for Internationalisation and Diversity; Professor Jörg Petri as Vice-President for Studies, Teaching and Continuing Training; and Professor Dr-Ing. Peter Kisters as Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Transfer.

Rhine-Waal University’s total number of exchange students, incoming and outgoing, exceeds 200 for the first time.

The new Vice-Presidents enter into office.

2020

Project “StartGlocal – Global Spirit for Local Start-ups” launched to promote startup culture at HSRW

Green FabLab opens in Kamp-Lintfort

HSRW organises first annual Days of Antidiscrimination

2021

Research focus area “Sustainable Food Systems” launches

Sustainable Development Management M.A. becomes first internationally accredited sustainable development degree programme in Germany

HSRW begins collaborating with the Kurhaus Kleve museum

2022

Research focus area “Assistance and Participation” launches

HSRW wins nationwide Innovative Hochschule competition with the project “TransRegINT – Innovation, Sustainability, Participation”

HSRW receives endowment for a professorship in “Sustainable Land Use Systems”

HSRW commences new double-degree programme with the Kazakh-German University in Almaty, Kazakhstan