Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University

Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University

The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University (German: Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg) is an undergraduate college with several campuses throughout the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It offers dual education degree programs in cooperation with industry and non-profit institutions in the areas of engineering, business administration and social services. As the school currently offers no postgraduate education nor performs research it is not a university as commonly understood. The German name does not include the term “university”.

History

The first Berufsakademie was founded in 1974 and officially recognized by the state of Baden-Württemberg in 1982 under the name of Staatliche Berufsakademie Baden-Württemberg, sometimes translated to “University of Cooperative Education”. This type of educational institution grew quickly to include seven institutions at eleven different locations. By 2009 the combined student enrollment 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 were consolidated to form the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, or "Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University", an institution of higher education according to German federal law.

Dual Studies

The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University offers dual education programs focused on practical applications in cooperation with industry and non-profit institutions. Concurrent employment with one of the college's cooperative education partners is a non-waveable requirement for student admission. 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.

A Master's curriculum is planned for October 2011.

Campuses

Heidenheim, Karlsruhe, Lörrach, Mannheim, Mosbach, Bad Mergentheim, Ravensburg, Friedrichshafen, Stuttgart, Horb, Villingen-Schwenningen

External links

• Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University
• Former Berufsakademie Baden-Württemberg
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Heidenheim
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Lörrach
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Mannheim
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Mosbach
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Ravensburg
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart
• Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg, Villingen-Schwenningen