A vocational university or university of applied sciences ( UAS ), less commonly called a polytechnic university is an institution of higher education and increasingly research that provides applied professional education and grants academic degrees . It should not be confused with vocational schools or technical schools that do not meet the strict standards of higher education nor have the ability to grant officially accredited academic degrees.
45-585: The Fachhochschule Potsdam is a University of Applied Sciences in Potsdam , the capital of the German federal state of Brandenburg . It was founded in 1991 and teaching began in the 1991/92 winter semester. After the state of Brandenburg was founded again in 1990 following the German Reunification , the tertiary education system was restructured. The Fachhochschule Potsdam was thus founded in 1991. Located in
90-450: A Fachhochschule was the Diplom (FH) . Coursework generally totaled six semesters (three years) of full-time study, with various options for specialization. In addition, there were one or two practical training semesters to provide hands-on experience in real working environments. The program concluded, usually after 3.5 – 4 years, with the final examination and a thesis ( Diplomarbeit ) which
135-500: A Master's from either, one can now enter a doctoral degree program at a Universität , but a graduate with a bachelor's degree from either is normally unable to proceed directly to a doctoral degree program in Germany. Also, with the master's degree of either of the institutions a graduate can enter the höheren Dienst (higher service) career for civil servants . The Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences and Arts
180-582: A finished apprenticeship and a Fachmatura (subject Matura ) and students with the Matura and a practical year in a company can access further education within the Universities for Applied Science. The UAS and their Bachelor's and Master's degrees are federally accredited. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and is in charge of the accreditation of the UAS which are requested to meet
225-401: A number of subjects, such as social work or the legal sub-discipline of social law, which are traditionally underrepresented at traditional universities. In these areas, universities of applied sciences make a significant contribution to research. UAS professors are also increasingly attracting national and international third-party funding. To support their research activities, they can apply for
270-769: A practical profile. They focus primarily on teaching the practicing of a profession at the highest professional level and applied science research, at the state of the art. This as opposed to research universities (Dutch: "universiteiten"), that focus on the highest level of professional practice, as well as practicing theoretical research. This so-called binary system of professional and academic education co-exists with upper secondary vocational education, which provides vocational education at EQF levels 1-4 for equal, similar or different professions. Universities of applied sciences offer associate's degrees , bachelor's degrees and master's degrees . From 2022 onward there will be pilots on Professional Doctorates . Hogescholen in
315-869: A significant reduction in their teaching load. Swiss law calls Fachhochschulen and universities "separate but equal". In terms of student numbers, universities of applied sciences are on average smaller than traditional universities. However, there are also a number of HAW, such as TH Köln or UAS Frankfurt, which can keep up with large universities in this respect. Due to the Bologna process , universities and Fachhochschulen award legally equivalent bachelor's and master's degrees. Excepting research-intensive institutions in Hesse, Saxony Anhalt, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria Fachhochschulen do not award doctoral degrees themselves but sometimes in cooperation with award-granting partner universities. In
360-838: A third of the 136 Fachhochschulstudiengänge are organized as part-time courses of studies. The Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences UAS are vocational universities established in Switzerland in 1995 following the model of the German Fachhochschulen. They are called Fachhochschule in German, Haute école specialisée in French and scuola universitaria professionale (SUP) in Italian. The Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences offer third level education, continuing education, services businesses and institutions, and produce applied research activities. In 2013 there are seven public UAS approved by
405-625: A year later the subjects of Cultural Science and Catering were established. In 1999 the Internationale Begegnungszentrum der Wissenschaften Potsdam (Potsdam International Meeting Centre of Sciences) was opened on the Pappelallee campus. The following year, the European Media Studies degree program was relaunched. Helene Kleine was appointed in 2001 as its first incumbent and the campus underwent further expansion. In 2003
450-548: Is a university of applied sciences ( UAS ), in other words a German tertiary education institution that provides professional education in many applied sciences and applied arts, such as engineering, technology, business, architecture, design, and industrial design . Fachhochschulen were first founded in Germany and were later adopted in Austria , Liechtenstein , Switzerland , Cyprus , and Greece . An increasing number of Fachhochschulen are abbreviated as Hochschule ,
495-466: Is a public university administrated by Ministry of Science, Research and Technology with various branches all over the Provinces of Iran. This university helps to increase skill level of employed personnel in various sectors of economic field and graduates of higher education and professional skills that are lacking in administrative. It is an educational system inspired and derived from 'Community College' in
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#1732844339697540-494: Is a type of German institution of higher education that emerged from the traditional Engineering Schools and similar professional schools of other disciplines. It differs from the traditional university ( Universität ) mainly through its more practical orientation. Subjects taught at Fachhochschulen include engineering, computer science, business and management, arts and design, communication studies, social service, and other professional fields. The traditional degree awarded at
585-502: Is also called university of cooperative education , but a Duale Hochschule also offers master's degrees. In Greece, comparable institutions to the vocational universities (or perhaps better to the universities of applied sciences) are the technological educational institutes (TEIs). These constitute part and parcel of the higher education in Greece and offer in their own capacity bachelor's and master's degrees, and soon doctorate degrees. On
630-528: Is an Italian tertiary educational institution. They were established in 2008, and are modelled on the Fachhochschule system of Germany. Programs have a duration of two or three years, and require a high school degree for access. As of January 29, 2008, a Dutch hogeschool (HBO) may call itself a "university of applied sciences" in English. Just like the German 'Fachhochschule', these HBO institutes firstly have
675-548: Is divided into two locations. Most of the courses take place at the Pappelallee Campus in northern Potsdam in the buildings of the former Adolf-Hitler Barracks of the Wehrmacht Infantry Regiment 9. The laboratory and workshop buildings that opened in 2003 and the library, theater workshop, and lecture theatres that went into service in 2009 offer opportunities for all fields of study. The college house on
720-586: Is home to the largest vocational education system in the world. In 2018, Mainland China had a total of about 11,700 vocational schools. Examples: In the 2023 Policy Address , the government facilitates the establishment of universities of applied sciences (UAS), and strive to raise the status of vocational and professional education and training to attain qualifications at university degree level, closely collaborating with technical professions and offer programmes with more internship and practical learning opportunities, to help students hone their practical skills in
765-439: Is much more prestigious than "university". A " Grande École " is one of the types of higher education institution that can be similar to vocational universities, along with Universities of Technology (UTs) and National Polytechnic Institutes (INPs). According to Campus France , the government agency responsible for promoting French higher education abroad, the grandes écoles represent "the French culture of excellence", while
810-401: Is not officially used in many countries, and an assignment to a certain type of university in a certain country's educational system is therefore difficult. The UK once had a very extensive vocational university sector with its polytechnic system dating back to the mid-19th century. Vocational universities are often regulated and funded differently (for example, by the local government rather than
855-773: Is usually an extensive project on a current practical or scientific aspect of the profession. In an effort to make educational degrees more compatible within Europe, the German Diplom degrees were mostly phased out by 2010 and replaced by the European bachelor's and master's degree. The Fachhochschule represents a close relationship between higher education and the employment system. Their practical orientation makes them very attractive to employers. Today, Fachhochschulen also conduct research. Research projects are either publicly funded or sponsored by industry. Nevertheless, in Germany
900-485: The Bologna process , most German Universitäten and Fachhochschulen have ceased admitting students to programs leading to the traditional German Diplom (FH) , but now apply the new degree standard of Bachelor's and Master's degrees. In line with the Bologna process, bachelor's and master's degrees awarded by both types of universities ( Universitäten and Fachhochschulen ) are legally equivalent. With
945-611: The Fraunhofer Society or the Max Planck Society ). There are a few universities, such as Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and Bundeswehr University Munich , which run Fachhochschule courses in addition to their normal courses. It is also important to note that in the 1990s, some universities of applied sciences were developed from former GDR universities with the right to award doctoral and post-doctoral degrees in order to cut costs. These include, for example,
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#1732844339697990-520: The Swiss Federal Council in 1998 and two private UAS approved by the Federal Council in 2005 and 2008. The public UAS are run by one or more cantons . UAS have the institutional mandate to provide degree programmes ( Bachelor's degrees and Master's degrees ), continuing education and training, to conduct applied research and to offer services to companies and institutions. Students with
1035-1028: The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna , Austria (Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien, formerly Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien), or the Örebro University , Sweden (formerly Örebro Högskola). There are also some establishments which now have full university status but continue to use their former names, such as the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm , Sweden . In Finland, vocational universities are called Ammattikorkeakoulu (Yrkeshögskola in Swedish, translated "university of applied sciences", literally "vocational high school"). They focus on vocational education and do not grant licentiate or doctorate degrees. Certain universities are called korkeakoulu because they effectively have only one faculty, e.g. Teatterikorkeakoulu ,
1080-463: The Alte Markt, which housed the departments for social services and information sciences, was demolished in 2018 as part of redevelopment project. 52°24′45″N 13°03′03″E / 52.4126°N 13.0509°E / 52.4126; 13.0509 Fachhochschule A Fachhochschule ( German: [ˈfaxhoːxʃuːlə] ; plural Fachhochschulen ), abbreviated FH ,
1125-523: The Netherlands have been provided with the right to conduct research by the revised Higher Education and Research Act (WHOO) 2010. The main difference between universities (universitet) and vocational universities (högskola, official translation university college ) is that only the former ones have the right to award doctorate degrees in all subjects they offer. Some vocational universities have been given such rights within limited areas of research. China
1170-563: The Potsdam district of Neu Fahrland the faculty for Social Sciences was the first to be started in the 1991/92 winter semester. The college's founding principal was Helmut Knüppel . In the same year, the college moved to the former teacher training college in the Friedrich-Ebert-Straße in the town centre. In 1992 the five departments: architecture, design, construction, and library/documentation science were opened. In 1993 Volker Bley
1215-516: The Theatre Academy, whereas universities with several faculties are called yliopisto . The term ammattikorkeakoulu (AMK) creates some confusion with korkeakoulu , because traditionally AMK's were not considered universities. A graduate of university of applied sciences ( ammattikorkeakoulu ) is eligible for doctoral studies in Finnish universities ( yliopisto ). In France, the term " Grande École "
1260-553: The United States. With more than 1500 education center in all corner of Iran. UAST confers degrees in over 100 programs at the associate, bachelor's and master's degree levels. The Technical and Vocational University ( TVU ) is one of Institutes of Higher Education under control of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. The university has more than 176 schools and colleges across the country and more than 220 thousand students
1305-498: The Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences. In these institutions, the classic university spirit lives on to this day. The Austrian government decided to establish Fachhochschulen (FH) in 1990. In the academic year of 2010/11, there were twenty-one institutions officially considered as Fachhochschulen plus a number of other providers of Fachhochschulstudiengängen with a total of over 27,000 students. About
1350-510: The college and the University of Potsdam . The Pappelallee college campus offers a degree programme in Interface Design which is almost unique in the whole of Germany . As of 2015 the college offers courses in Architecture and Urban Development, Civil Engineering, Design, Information Sciences, Conservation and Restoration, Cultural Work, and Social Services. The Fachhochschule Potsdam
1395-702: The federal legislative requirements. The UAS are supported by the cantons, the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) and by the Rector's Conference of Swiss Universities (swissuniversities). University of applied sciences In some countries, a vocational university more precisely grants professional degrees like professional bachelor's degree, professional master's degree and professional doctorates. The term
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1440-619: The fields. At 11 November, 2024, the government launched the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, comprising four post-secondary institutions as founding members, with the Hong Kong Metropolitan University and Saint Francis University as full members, and Tung Wah College and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong as associate members. The University of Applied Science and Technology ( UAST )
1485-475: The generic term in Germany for institutions awarding academic degrees in higher education, or expanded as Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (HAW) , the German translation of "universities of applied sciences", which were primarily designed with a focus on teaching professional skills. This is reflected in the fact that the ratio of the number of students to the number of professors is significantly better than at traditional universities. However, there are also
1530-464: The laboratory and workshop buildings were opened and Social Work was offered in the first instance as a distance learning programme. Within the framework of the Bologna-Prozess the degrees of diploma (FH), Bachelor , and Master were converted. In 2009 the foundation stone for the new main building on the Pappelallee campus was laid and Much Haber was appointed rector of the college in 2007. He
1575-423: The meantime, however, some professors at HAW also have additional habilitations and can therefore directly supervise doctoral students at their home university. This and the rule that they give priority to hiring professors with a professional career of at least three years outside the university system additional to the doctoral degree are the two major ways in which they differ from traditional universities. Due to
1620-637: The other hand, the term college in Greece may refer, among others, to the institutions that are officially titled Centres of Post-lyceum (secondary) Education. These have a solely professional, i.e. non-academic, orientation according to existing Greek law, and are so far only private. However, they run in collaboration with foreign authorities, such as universities and accreditation organisations, that may recognise them academically. They may offer professional bachelor degrees of minimum three years, as well as master's and doctorate degrees. An Istituto tecnico superiore (abbreviated ITS – Higher Technical Institute)
1665-432: The permission to grant doctoral degrees (e.g. Hesse or Saxony Anhalt). Otherwise, doctoral programs must be carried out in cooperation with degree-awarding institutions such as universities. Furthermore, Berufsakademie is a college type strongly inspired by the dual education system . A Berufsakademie is called a university of cooperative education in English and only grants bachelor's degrees. This type of institution
1710-957: The prestigious denomination "university" in all countries. They had to use other, more general terms (which in many languages are false friends of the English term "high school", sometimes with modifiers), including Fachhochschule in German , Haute École in French ( Belgium and Switzerland ), Hogeschool in Dutch , Høyskole in Norwegian , Scuola universitaria professionale in Italian , etc. There are different varieties, including vocational universities of applied sciences (also named polytechnics or institutes of technology ), vocational universities of liberal arts, etc. In recent years, many vocational universities have received full university status, such as
1755-460: The right to confer doctoral degrees is still generally reserved to Universitäten . In 2016, however, Fulda University of Applied Sciences became the first Fachhochschule to be conferred this right for its graduate center for social sciences. Several Fachhochschulen run doctoral programs where the degree itself is awarded by a partner university in Germany or abroad (similar to the doctoral programs in German research institutes , such as
1800-440: The state) from research-focused universities, and the degrees granted are not necessarily interchangeable. The education at vocational universities combines teaching of both practical skills and theoretical expertise. It can be contrasted with education in a usually broader scientific field, which may concentrate on theory and abstract conceptual knowledge. There is also the historical background that an educational institution
1845-418: The universities offer higher education to all. The term vocational university is not used. In contrast to traditional German universities, a Fachhochschule (translated "university of applied sciences") has a more practical profile. Universities of applied sciences grant academic bachelor's degrees and master's degrees . In some federal states, research-intensive universities of applied sciences have
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1890-500: Was appointed chancellor and the Freunde und Förderer der Fachhochschule Potsdam e.V. (Association of Friends and Patrons) was founded. In 1994 the faculties of architecture, design, and construction moved to the newly created campus in Pappelallee in the north of Potsdam. The Institute for Further Education, Research, and Development was founded as a registered charity in 1994, the management and administration relocated to Pappelallee and
1935-472: Was called a university in the Middle Ages only if a certain classical canon of subjects was taught (typically including philosophy , medicine and theology ). In modern times, other subjects, namely natural and engineering sciences, became more important, but institutions of tertiary education focusing on these subjects and not offering the classical canon have been until recently or are still denied
1980-454: Was first created in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and now exists in Hamburg , Hesse , Lower Saxony , Saarland , Saxony , Schleswig-Holstein , and Thuringia , but not in the other German states. In 2009, Baden-Württemberg transformed its Berufsakademie into a new type of institution, which until now only exists in that state, a "Duale Hochschule". In English, this type of institution
2025-568: Was followed in 2013 by Eckehard Binas as president. In 2014 a new seminar building was opened. All courses are modularized and are rewarded with internationally recognised credits. In addition to the bachelor's degrees almost all faculties also offer courses for master's degrees. Students can take part in courses at all universities in Brandenburg. The Bachelor's and master's degree courses in European Media Studies, are jointly offered by
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