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Minister Dorothee Baer Emphasizes Practical Research in Germany's Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW)
Dorothee Baer, the newly appointed Minister of Research in Germany, has taken office in May 2025. One of her key focuses is the consolidation of research programs in the country's universities of applied sciences (HAW).
HAW, known for their strong focus on practical education, are now placing greater emphasis on research. According to Baer, this shift aims to apply research findings to real-world problems. The "Research in HAW" program, which covers a wide range of topics including healthcare sciences, neurotechnologies, and climate adaptation in rural areas, is one of the programs that Baer is focusing on for consolidation.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has been instrumental in fostering networking and collaborations among HAW worldwide through the HAW.International program. This extensive networking, which has been ongoing for over five years, has resulted in various international partnerships.
One such partnership is the "Global Women in Engineering and IT" project, which encourages academic exchanges between women from Berlin University of Technology and its Australian partner universities. Another is the "Smart Textiles" bachelor's program, which is being developed with partner universities in Belgium, Finland, Sweden, and Indonesia.
The diversity of these international partnerships was showcased at a congress in May 2025 in Dortmund. The event highlighted the establishment of international startup networks, such as the one set up at Neu-Ulm University, as well as the development of academic programs like "Smart Textiles".
In addition to these partnerships, the DAAD HAW.International program has also supported exchanges between HAW and universities in Scotland and Jordan. Jordan, in particular, has recently been a focus of HAW's international exchanges, supported by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
The DFG has initiated an exchange program for German HAW researchers with Central Asian counterparts, focusing on topics like digitization, sustainable urban development, renewable energies, and resource management.
HAW also collaborate with businesses to prepare students for professional activities, including dual study programs. This practical approach to education is reflected in the "Research in HAW" program, where the emphasis is on applying research findings to real-world problems.
Baer emphasized the need to consolidate programs like "Research in HAW" to better utilize the strengths of practical research in HAW. The Minister believes that this consolidation will further strengthen the practical research capabilities of universities of applied sciences in Germany.
