50 Years 50 Faces

For me, FHWS is …
the most important educational institute in Main-Franconia in the last 50 years, particularly when it comes to studies in engineering sciences and their impact on the Main-Franconia economy. FHWS engineers from all study tracks form the backbone of industry in Main-Franconia.

What do you appreciate about FHWS?

The wide variety of options which FHWS offers for personally playing a part and getting involved, whether in the context of internationalisation, research or perhaps even “just” in the further development of your own teaching through the introduction of digital offerings and video course sessions. Since the faculties generally have excellent laboratory facilities, there are also excellent opportunities for getting involved with experiments and deepening your own focus areas for the lecture. You also get support from service departments such as the Campus for Applied Research (CAF), the International Office (HSIN), the Centre for Digital Education (ZDL) or the University Media Centre (HMZ).

What was the best decision in your professional career and why? What has changed since then?

Despite having a general higher education qualification, I initially opted for the university of applied sciences plastics technology degree in Würzburg, which immediately opened up an attractive job in industry for me. However, looking back, my decision at that time to do an extra-occupational university postgraduate degree in parallel with a secure job was the most important decision and turned out to determine my direction. At that time, the universities of applied sciences didn’t yet offer any Master’s degrees. However, there was the option of an extra-occupational doctorate, which opened additional doors as a result. The decisive point at the time, however, was the request from then professor Dr. Möhler from the Plastics and Rubber Engineering degree programme to support him as a lecturer. That was my introduction to teaching at FHWS.

What do you think has shaped FHWS the most over the last 50 years?

Sadly I can only evaluate the last approx. 30 years here, but the development of the various university sites has certainly played an important role in the development of the FHWS degree programmes. The Bologna reform arguably shaped all former universities of applied sciences; it is fundamentally nothing special for FHWS in that respect, but in my opinion it is the development which has caused the most lasting changes to FHWS in the last 50 years. Some master’s programmes, among other things, also came about as a result of the reform and the goal must now be to see these as an opportunity and use them to our own benefit.

What is your vision of the future for FHWS? What might FHWS look like in 50 years’ time?

In my opinion, the recipe for success is a healthy balance between application-oriented research and teaching. In the medium term, the aim should be to gain the right to award doctorates in order to specifically accentuate the research institutions individually and lead the best of our students to a doctorate. But it is important for FHWS not to deny its origins. The “FH-Diplom” (university of applied sciences degree) was a success story in the past. Close collaboration with industry in the form of technology transfer, e.g. by means of bilateral exchange or technology transfer centres, also offers the opportunity to shape teaching in an up-to-date and application-oriented manner. It’s a balancing act that must be managed first of all. But imitation of university education would be the wrong path and certainly wouldn't meet the expectations of industry.

What is your insider tip for the cities of Würzburg or Schweinfurt and why?

Chambinzky in Würzburg: theatre and pub rolled into one! And in the lunch break: Sir Quickly in the city centre!