Prospective students will be able to enrol for four new Bachelor’s degree programmes in the departments of Engineering and Tourism Studies at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences from mid-May 2025. These innovative and practice-oriented degree programmes will commence in the 2025/26 winter semester.
In addition to the existing degree programmes, prospective students at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW) will be able to enrol on four newly developed, practice-oriented Bachelor’s degree programmes when the application period opens in mid-May 2025. There are three new degree programmes to choose from in the Faculty of Technology and Bionics and a further one in the Faculty of Society and Economics. In this way, HSRW is responding to the constantly changing demands of the world of work, academia and society; new technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics are becoming part of modern life, whilst issues such as climate change and sustainability remain highly topical due to natural disasters and resource scarcity. All four degree programmes are taught in English.
To ensure that future graduates can meet the demands of society and the economy, a sound and practice-oriented education must keep pace with science, research and social change. Only in this way will graduates be well prepared for their careers. At the same time, degree programmes must be tailored to young school leavers and compatible with international standards.
Sustainability as an engineering discipline
Modern engineering sciences, technical solutions and products inspired by nature, and sustainable, contemporary developments in materials – these and much more will be taught from the 2025/26 winter semester onwards in the three innovative, modular and practice-oriented Bachelor’s degree programmes at the Faculty of Technology and Bionics.
With the ‘Engineering for Sustainability, B.Sc.’ degree programme, the university is embracing a completely new concept: a project-based course of study that actively involves students in real-world challenges from the very first semester. Instead of traditional lectures, students work on interdisciplinary projects that combine technology and sustainability. Flexible modules enable students to choose their own areas of specialisation and thus tailor their studies to their interests and career goals. Supported by close academic mentoring, they develop solutions for a sustainable future whilst still studying.
The programme is based on nine so-called ‘Centres of Knowledge’, which cover various key areas, including Engineering Design, Science Communication and Business & Entrepreneurship. A distinctive feature is the close collaboration with companies, facilitated through joint projects, work placements and innovation partnerships. This fosters direct links with industry, ensuring that graduates are optimally prepared for the world of work.
The Engineering, B.Sc., degree programme offers a broad engineering education with the opportunity to specialise in six different fields. These include, amongst others, Electronics, Robotics and Sustainable Product Creation. It is also possible to combine the programme with a focus on business subjects such as Business Operations, leading to a degree in Business Engineering.
Furthermore, the faculty has restructured the Biomaterials Science degree programme and renamed it Nature-Inspired Materials, B.Sc., to communicate its concept more clearly. In terms of content, the focus remains on the development of innovative, biologically inspired materials – ranging from biocompatible materials for medical technology to sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. Nature serves as the model here.
Current social and economic challenges, such as energy and resource scarcity or demographic change, are the focus of the Faculty of Society and Economics at the Kleve campus. From the 2025/26 winter semester, the faculty will offer the new English-taught degree programme ‘Sustainable Tourism, B.A.’. It is aimed at prospective students who view travel not only as a passion but also as a social responsibility.
The development of the tourism industry into one of the world’s largest economic sectors brings with it positive aspects such as income and jobs. However, global travel also leads to socio-cultural and environmental problems, such as breaches of social standards and human rights, or high CO₂ emissions and, consequently, climate change. This is where the interdisciplinary degree programme in Sustainable Tourism comes in.
Right from the start of their studies, students engage with current issues such as environmental protection, social justice and sustainable forms of travel. Over the course of their studies, they acquire a broad, interdisciplinary knowledge in fields such as tourism studies, sustainability, sociology, economics and ecology. Through the programme’s highly practice-oriented teaching methods, students learn to develop innovative and feasible solutions for a sustainable tourism industry, thereby minimising its negative impacts. The aim is to inspire and empower the tourism professionals of tomorrow to play an active role in shaping a responsible, fair and forward-looking travel culture.
With these interdisciplinary and international degree programmes, Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences is raising its profile in the fields of engineering and tourism studies and offers a modern, practice-oriented range of courses designed to meet the challenges of the future.
Background
In order to fulfil their educational mandate, the faculties at Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences regularly review their range of degree programmes and teaching formats. Evaluations and re-accreditation processes ensure quality, whilst societal challenges such as sustainability and social responsibility are integrated into the curricula. The aim is to maintain the relevance, sustainability and attractiveness of academic education and to address the shortage of skilled workers by training urgently needed specialists for a highly developed economy. This also applies to the education of international students.
