The South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences [German : Fachhochschule Südwestfalen] is a high-ranked research institution located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With more than 14,000 students, it is one of the largest of its kind in North Rhine-Westphalia. The headquarters and one of its four campuses are in Iserlohn. It has three more campuses located in Hagen, Meschede and Soest and a subsidiary in Lüdenscheid.
It offers a total of about 52 bachelor and master courses in the fields of Engineering, Natural Sciences, Information Technology, Business management and Agriculture.
It offers courses for both full-time students and for those in employment. It also accommodates those who wish to combine vocational training with studies.
History
The oldest forerunner of the university was the trade school in Hagen, founded by the Prussian reform politician Beuth on 1 December 1824, for the qualification for the Berlin Royal Technical Institute, which later became the State Engineering School for Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, and then the Märkische Fachhochschule, based in Iserlohn and the two locations Iserlohn and Hagen.
The Fachhochschule was founded on January 1, 2002, when the entire university education was disbanded in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Märkische Fachhochschule with the Fachhochschulabschaltungen Meschede and Soest of the former Gesamthochschule Paderborn was united as an equal partner. Seat of the Fachhochschule is Iserlohn.
The founding rector was Michael Teusner from 1 January 2002 to 31 August 2004. From 1 September 2004 to the end of 2008 Jörg Liese was rector of the university. On 9 December 2008 Claus Schuster was elected as the first president of the University of Applied Sciences Südwestfalen by the University Council, confirmed by the Senate of the university. After a reform by the Senate, the university management was renamed the Rectorate and Claus Schuster was elected Rector of the university on 9 December 2014.
Timeline
The Fachhochschule Südwestfalen and its predecessors
Year
Location
Facility
1824
Hagen
Provincial vocational school Hagen
1852
Iserlohn
Provincial vocational school Iserlohn
1879
Iserlohn
Royal technical college for metal industry
1898
Hagen
Royal Higher Machine Building School
1918
Iserlohn
State technical school for metal industry
1919
Hagen
Higher machine building school Hagen
1923
Soest
Higher educational institution for practical farmers
1931
Hagen
Higher Technical School of Applied Engineering and Electrical Engineering
1938
Hagen
State Engineering School of Mechanical Engineering
1938
Iserlohn
State vocational school for metal industry
1947
Soest
Higher land building school
1948
Iserlohn
Engineering school for metalworking industry
1953
Hagen
State Engineering School of Construction
1959
Iserlohn
State Engineering School of Mechanical Engineering
1964
Soest / Meschede
State Engineering School of Mechanical Engineering with an outsider in Meschede
1966
Soest
Engineering School for Agriculture
1968
Meschede
State Engineering School of Mechanical Engineering in Meschede
1971
Hagen / Iserlohn
Fachhochschule Hagen with a department in Iserlohn
1971
Soest
Fachhochschule Südostwestfalen with the departments Höxter, Soest and Meschede and the integration of the engineering school for agriculture into the new Fachhochschule
1972
Meschede / Soest
University of Paderborn with the departments Höxter, Meschede, Soest and the Paderborn Department of the University of Applied Sciences Westphalia-Lippe
1988
Hagen / Iserlohn
Märkische Fachhochschule in Iserlohn with a department in Hagen
Campus
Campus Iserlohn
The South Westphalia University of Applied Sciences has four campuses located in Iserlohn (seat), Hagen, Meschede and Soest and a subsidiary in Lüdenscheid. The university strongly believes in small classes and personal support. The university is known for its student friendly environment.
Research
Main areas of research include
Aluminum Technology
Applied Digital Image Processing
Automation of Metalworking Processes in the Automotive Industry
Soil Ecology / Soil Protection
Computational Intelligence and Cognitive Systems
Decentralized Power Supply
Digital Audio Broadcasting
Digital Signal Processing
Finite Field Calculations
Fuzzy Technology
Gerontotechnology
Integrated Supply Chain Management
Corrosion Protection / Surface Technology
Plastic technology
Lightweight Construction and Aluminum Technology
Life Science Analytics
Mechatronics
Nanoscale Materials
New Lighting Technologies
New Technologies for Electrical Power Generation
Reduction of Pollutant Emissions
Sensors / Actuators
Chipless Production Processes and Production Design
System Engineering and Management
Forming Technology
Environmentally Compatible Production Automation
Environmentally Compatible and Appropriate Agriculture / Sustainable Agriculture
