Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University

History

The DHBW is the direct successor to the Staatliche Berufsakademie Baden-Württemberg. The first Berufsakademie was founded in 1974 as a new type of educational institution and recognized by the state of Baden-Württemberg in 1982. It grew quickly to include seven institutions at eleven different locations. By 2009 the combined student enrolment across all institutions had reached 23,409 students, involving around 8,000 cooperative education partners and over 90,000 graduated alumni. On March 1, 2009, all institutions in the state of Baden-Württemberg were consolidated to form the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg.

Mission

The institution's core mission is to provide application-oriented education that aligns theoretical instruction with practical professional requirements. Key elements of this mission include the structured cooperation between the university and its partner organizations, the promotion of international exchange, and the support of diversity and equal opportunity within the academic environment. The university's mission encompasses the following key principles:

• Integration of Theory and Practice: Combining academic instruction with practical training phases in partner organizations.
• Collaborative Partnerships: Working closely with corporate and social institutions to co-develop and continuously improve educational programs.
• Internationalization: Promoting global cooperation through exchange programs and international collaborations.
• Commitment to Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity and provides equal opportunities for all members.

The university aims to ensure that its graduates are equipped with both academic qualifications and relevant work experience in their respective fields.

Dual studies

DHBW offers job integrated learning (JIL) programs only. Job integrated learning (JIL) defines those work integrated learning (WIL) programs with compulsory internships, in which the student has to be employed by a single company during the complete duration of the study program and in which lectures and internships are geared to maximize applied learning and the transfer of knowledge. Therefore, the recruitment is exclusively done by the cooperative education partners, while the DHBW only has to verify the higher education entrance qualification. The three-year dual education program is divided into three-month phases alternating between the college and the cooperative education partner. The college phases provide traditional undergraduate education while the other phases provide insight and work experience in the field of the cooperative education partner. The dual education program operates on a non-stop, twelve-month schedule. Students are granted vacation days as stipulated in the three-year employment contract signed by the student and the cooperative education partner at the beginning of the program.

In 2011 the school introduced a Master's curriculum. It is mostly limited to DHBW alumni.

Currently the DHBW offers 21 courses of study with about 90 branches from the sections economic science, technics and social science.

Partner companies in the field of information technology are, e.g., SAP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IBM, Atos and Accenture. Examples in engineering are Airbus, Siemens, Bosch, Freudenberg and Ziehl-Abegg.

Campuses and satellite campuses

International

The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, DHBW) engages in international academic cooperation through institutional partnerships, mobility programs, and participation in European and global networks. The university is a participant in the Erasmus+ programme and maintains bilateral agreements with institutions in Europe, North America, Asia, and other regions.

Several campuses offer structured exchange programs, including English-language modules and semesters for incoming students. These programs are designed to align with the dual study model and are integrated into the academic calendar of the respective locations.

DHBW is a member of the EU4DUAL alliance, a consortium of European institutions focusing on dual education formats. Administrative and advisory services for international students and staff are coordinated through the university's Central International Office and local international offices at individual campuses.

References

References

1. "Zahlen und Fakten zur DHBW".
2. "About Us {{!}} Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg".
3. "Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg (DHBW)".
4. "About Us {{!}} Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg".
5. CONSULTANTS, KCR. (2023-08-18). "Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (DHBW)".
6. "Mission".
7. Hoffmann, Marcus. (2016). "Taking Work Integrated Learning (WIL) One Step Further: A Case Study in Job Integrated Learning (JIL)". epubli.
8. "Cooperative State University Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) Programs".
9. "Das Masterprogramm der DHBW".
10. "Zahlen und Fakten zur DHBW".
11. "International Students".
12. "Exchange Students".
13. "Incomings - DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen".
14. "Central International Office {{!}} Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg".