Last week, the Federal Minister, Dr Barbara Hendricks, visited the Kamp-Lintfort campus of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences and the warehouse building on the former Bergwerk West colliery site.
Kleve/Kamp-Lintfort, 19 February 2016: During a guided tour of the RAG warehouse building on the site of the former Bergwerk West colliery and around the Kamp-Lintfort campus, Federal Minister Hendricks learnt about the innovations and technologies at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Minister Hendricks was accompanied by the University’s President, Dr Heide Naderer; Prof. Dr Karsten Nebe, Professor of Computer Science and Internet Technologies in the Faculty of Communication and Environment; the Mayor of Kamp-Lintfort, Prof. Dr Christoph Landscheidt; René Schneider, Member of the State Parliament; and other representatives from the university and the town of Kamp-Lintfort.
The Minister was able to see for herself the developments at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. “As a member of the Friends’ Association, I have visited the temporary premises of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kamp-Lintfort on several occasions. The university, particularly with its new campus and the planned use of the RAG warehouse building, represents a wonderful opportunity for development for the town and the region. Young people are not moving away, but are often staying in the region. This goes some way towards offsetting the job losses caused by the closure of the coal mine and Siemens,” explained the Federal Minister during her visit.
As well as discussing structural change in towns and cities and the university’s role in the region, as well as economic and environmental sustainability, public transport and rail links to Kamp-Lintfort were also discussed. “Connecting both campuses of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences to the public transport network is a particular priority for us. For Kamp-Lintfort, this is urgently needed, particularly in view of the 2020 State Garden Show,” explained the President of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Dr Heide Naderer. Mayor Landscheidt also emphasised this: “A rail link for Kamp-Lintfort is feasible, sensible and economically viable. We have backed this up with numerous expert reports. From 2018, the former colliery site will be redeveloped for the 2020 State Garden Show. That is why we now need the support promised by the State Minister for Transport and a clear vote in favour from the decision-makers in the local transport authorities.”
A highlight of the Federal Minister’s visit was a tour of the FabLab at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. FabLabs – short for ‘fabrication laboratory’ – are open fabrication laboratories that give members of the public access to production equipment (e.g. 3D printers and laser cutters) and modern industrial production processes for one-off items. “The FabLab is an important facility at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. Practical work must be particularly encouraged at a university of applied sciences, and that is precisely what the FabLab on the Kamp-Lintfort campus stands for,” explains Dr Heide Naderer. “It is an important hub for members of the public and school pupils. During the State Garden Show, a creative workshop is to be set up on the RAG site in collaboration with the FabLab, where anyone interested can get involved.”
