50 Years – 50 Stories | Brain City Berlin

27.08.2021
50 Years – 50 Stories

Brain City Berlin

The Berlin universities of applied sciences – four State and two denominational – are celebrating their anniversaries. On the occasion of the joint anniversary, they are showing the faces of the scientists who study, work, teach and research there with the “50 Jahre – 50 Köpfe” (50 Years - 50 Minds) campaign. At the same time, the campaign shows what makes universities of applied sciences so attractive.

Dr. Hürrem Tezcan-Güntekin is Professor of Public Health at the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin), Dr. Melita Grieshop works as a professor of midwifery studies at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences Berlin (EHB) and Professor Mohammad Abuosba has specialised in the areas of modelling, database systems, software engineering and project management on the computer engineering course at the HTW University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin). Dr. Antje G. I. Tölle, on the other hand, is Professor of civil law for public administration at the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin), one of the youngest law professors in Germany. And Brain City Ambassador Susanne Plaumann is involved at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences Berlin as the central women’s representative in the Women’s and equality office, while Dr. Marion Bonillo works as coordinator of the International Office at the Katholische Hochschule für Sozialwesen Berlin (Catholic University of Social Services Berlin, KHSB).

The diversity of the skills of these six experts is not only characteristic of the Brain City Berlin, but also confirms the high quality of teaching and research at the four State and two denominational Berlin universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen, FHs), which together turn 50 this year. Celebrating the anniversary. On this occasion, ASH Berlin, Beuth University of Applied Sciences, HTW Berlin, HWR Berlin, EHB and KSHB have now teamed up. “50 Jahre – 50 Köpfe” (German only) is the name of the anniversary campaign, which makes the concentrated expert knowledge and diversity of the six Berlin universities of applied sciences visible on braincity.berlin. Interesting personalities who study, work, teach and research in Berlin are introduced in short interviews.

Application-related, interdisciplinary and broadly based

With more than 320 courses, almost 50,000 students, around 930 professors and 3,000 lecturers, the State and denominational universities of applied sciences make a major contribution, above all to application-oriented teaching and research. The range of disciplines extends from economics and engineering to computer science, architecture and construction, environment and fashion, to health sciences and social and educational systems or administrative science and safety management.

The universities of applied sciences strengthen Berlin and the capital region as a business location by means of close contacts with companies, authorities and associations. Small and medium-sized companies in particular are ideal cooperation partners. “The success story of Berlin as a location for innovation is also the success story of Berlin’s universities of applied sciences,” confirms the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller. “With their courses of study, their research and the close cooperation with business and society, they have been making a decisive contribution for 50 years to ensure that Berlin and the region develop well.”

Students benefit above all from working in small groups, practical course content and the interdisciplinary approaches of the universities of applied sciences. Professors and lecturers are mostly specialists and managers with practical experience and have dual qualifications and personal contacts with companies. The term “University of Applied Sciences” (HAW) is increasingly gaining ground for universities of applied sciences – with a focus on practical and dual courses of study.

Melanie Mai Phuong Winkler, a graduate of the dual study program Bachelor of Nursing at EHB, now works as a research assistant at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). She has fond memories of her time at the EHB for various reasons: “It is easy to get an overview of the EHB, which has a very positive effect on the (learning) atmosphere. The relationship with the lecturers is more personal than at the big universities, they were always available for me. The practical training in small groups in the skills lab was also very effective.” In addition, the EHB has many cooperation partners at home and abroad. “I was able to make use of this offer for exciting assignments.”

Melanie Mai Phuong Winkler’s experiences confirm what other graduates from Berlin’s universities of applied sciences highlight as particularly positive about their training: Thanks to the special application focus and the close networking of the universities, also with international partners, they have good career opportunities. It is no coincidence that the German model of the HAWs/FHs for imparting job-relevant skills is now also being adapted abroad. (vdo)