A ceremony held as part of the Bad Wiesseer Kreis’s traditional annual conference in Lübeck on 13 June 2019 marked the 50th anniversary of the universities of applied sciences (FHs) and universities of applied sciences and arts (HAWs) in Germany. Around 100 presidents adopted the ‘Lübeck Manifesto’, which sets out key demands for policymakers.
What remains is the continued strong and defining focus on practical application – both in teaching and in research – and the wide-ranging transfer of knowledge and technology into practice. Through their close collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as stakeholders from the social and healthcare sectors, universities of applied sciences (FHs) and universities of applied sciences and arts (HAWs) act as problem-solvers and drivers of innovation at the cutting edge, whilst also playing a vital and defining role in their respective regions.
At a ceremony held as part of the traditional Bad Wiesseer Kreis conference under the patronage of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the 50th anniversary of the universities of applied sciences and universities of applied sciences in Germany was celebrated on 13 June 2019 in Lübeck – the birthplace of one of the first German universities of applied sciences – the 50th anniversary of universities of applied sciences (FHs) and universities of applied sciences and arts (HAWs) in Germany was commemorated. During the conference, around 100 presidents of German universities of applied sciences (FHs/HAWs) drafted and adopted the ‘Lübeck Manifesto’ – a document setting out key demands on policymakers to strengthen the future viability of the universities of applied sciences (FHs/HAWs). President Dr Oliver Locker-Grütjen attended the annual conference on behalf of Rhein-Waal University of Applied Sciences. “As a university of applied sciences, we have become an integral part of today’s educational landscape and now play an indispensable role as a centre for science and innovation. However, alongside our strengths, there is also untapped potential for addressing current societal challenges, which can only be fully realised through political support. The Lübeck Manifesto is a crucial step towards ensuring that universities of applied sciences are fit for the future. The promotion of applied research and the right for universities of applied sciences to award doctorates are of particular importance to us,” said Locker-Grütjen.
The Lübeck Manifesto can be viewed at www.badwiesseerkreis.de.
