University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt

University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Name	University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Native name	Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Established	1971
Type	Public
President	Prof. Dr. Robert Grebner
Students	~9,500
City	Würzburg, Schweinfurt
State	Bavaria
Country	Germany
Website	https://www.fhws.de

University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt is a major public university of applied sciences located in the Free State of Bavaria. With campuses in the historic cities of Würzburg and Schweinfurt, it is one of the largest institutions of its kind in Germany, known for its strong emphasis on engineering, business, and social sciences. The university fosters close ties with regional industry and international partners, providing practice-oriented education to approximately 9,500 students.

History

The institution was founded in 1971 through the merger of several predecessor engineering schools, including the Staatliche Ingenieurschule Schweinfurt and the Staatliche Ingenieurschule Würzburg. Its establishment was part of a broader reform in West Germany to create a distinct sector of Fachhochschulen, or universities of applied sciences. Significant expansion occurred in the 1990s and 2000s, with the addition of new faculties in fields like Business Informatics and Social Work. A key milestone was the renaming to "Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften" in 2013, reflecting its enhanced academic profile under the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act.

Campuses

The university operates across two main campuses and several specialized locations. The **Würzburg campus** is situated near the city center at Münzstraße and houses faculties such as Architecture and Civil Engineering, with additional facilities at the Sanderheinrichsleitenweg for Electrical Engineering. The **Schweinfurt campus** is located at Ignaz-Schön-Straße and is a central hub for Mechanical Engineering, Business Engineering, and Design. Key specialized sites include the **Campus for Logistics, Informatics, and Management** in the Würzburg district of Zellerau and the **Technology Transfer Center** in Schweinfurt, which promotes collaboration with companies like ZF Friedrichshafen and SKF.

Academic profile

The university offers a wide range of bachelor's and master's degree programs with a strong practical focus. Renowned faculties include Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Computer Science, and Faculty of Business and Economics. It maintains numerous dual study programs in partnership with corporations such as Brose Fahrzeugteile and Fresenius Medical Care. Research is concentrated in applied fields like Automotive Engineering, Logistics, Renewable Energy, and Digital Health, often conducted through institutes like the Institute for Applied Logistics and the Institute for Medical Engineering. The university holds institutional accreditation from the German Council of Science and Humanities.

Organization and administration

The university is led by a president, currently Prof. Dr. Robert Grebner, and a vice-presidential team overseeing areas like Research and International Affairs. The academic senate, comprising professors, staff, and student representatives, is the central self-governing body. It is organized into ten faculties, each with a dean, such as the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and the Faculty of Visual Design. The institution is funded primarily by the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and receives additional project funding from organizations like the German Research Foundation and the European Union.

Student life

Student life is vibrant across both cities, supported by the university's Studentenwerk Würzburg and the General Students' Committee. There are over 50 student initiatives, including the Formula Student team, the UNICEF university group, and a popular University Sports program. The campuses host annual events like the Schweinfurt Campus Festival and the Würzburg Long Night of Sciences. Students have access to modern libraries, makerspaces, and counseling services from the Career Center and the International Office, which also manages exchange programs with partners like the University of Michigan–Dearborn and Tongji University.

Notable people

Notable alumni include automotive executive Markus Schäfer of Mercedes-Benz Group, robotics pioneer Prof. Dr. Alin Albu-Schäffer of the German Aerospace Center, and politician Dorothee Bär, former Minister of State for Digitalization. Distinguished faculty have included computer scientist Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Grimm, a cybersecurity expert, and design professor Dieter Mankau. The university has also been visited by prominent figures such as former Federal President of Germany Christian Wulff and European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel.

Category:Universities in Bavaria Category:Universities of applied sciences in Germany Category:Educational institutions established in 1971