Minister Ina Brandes with her counterparts at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (from left to right): Dr Petra Radtke (Head of the President’s Office, HSRW), Sara Khaffaf-Roenspieß (Acting Head of the Student Affairs Department, HSRW), Wolfgang Gebing (Mayor of the City of Kleve), Dr Günther Bergmann MdL, Ina Brandes (Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia), Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen (President of HSRW), Ocke Hamann (Head of the Location, Digital, Innovation and Environment Division at the Duisburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Prof. Christoph Landscheidt (Mayor of Kamp-Lintfort), — Minister Ina Brandes with her counterparts at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (from left to right): Dr Petra Radtke (Head of the President’s Office, HSRW), Sara Khaffaf-Roenspieß (Acting Head of the Student Affairs Department, HSRW), Wolfgang Gebing (Mayor of the City of Kleve), Dr Günther Bergmann MdL, Ina Brandes (Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia), Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen (President of HSRW), Ocke Hamann (Head of the Location, Digital, Innovation and Environment Division at the Duisburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Prof. Christoph Landscheidt (Mayor of the City of Kamp-Lintfort),

23/08/2024

Minister for Science Ina Brandes visits Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences

The visit by the Minister for Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) on 21 August 2024 focused on the current challenges facing the university and the region. The discussions with representatives from business, politics and academia took place on the Kleve campus.

The discussion focused on the university as a driver of innovation and the specific conditions prevailing, in particular, at the two campuses in Kleve and Kamp-Lintfort. Topics such as mobility in the region, the housing situation and the shortage of skilled workers were also raised. The event was hosted by Dr Günther Bergmann, Member of the State Parliament, and Prof. Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen, President of HSRW. Among the participants were the mayors of the two university towns: Wolfgang Gebing, mayor of Kleve since 2020, and Prof. Dr Christoph Landscheidt, mayor of Kamp-Lintfort since 1999. The Lower Rhine Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Niederrhein) was represented by Ocke Hamann, Head of the Location, Digital, Innovation and Environment Division at the Duisburg Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK Duisburg).

Minister for Science Ina Brandes said: “Training skilled workers is one of the major challenges of our time. They are the key to North Rhine-Westphalia’s success as a centre for science and business. With its regional roots, close cooperation with businesses and a strong international focus, the Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences is doing an outstanding job of training the next generation of scientists.”

University President Locker-Grütjen welcomed the Minister’s visit and took the opportunity to present her with the new university development plan: “The University Development Plan 2030 should be seen as an innovative contract for the future of our university. Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences sees itself as an international university in the region and for the region.” Mayors Gebing and Landscheidt agreed with Member of the State Parliament Bergmann’s assessment that, since its foundation in 2009, HSRW has contributed significantly to the region’s further development. According to Hamann, the representative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK), companies particularly value their close contact with the university because of its practical focus.