www.hs-rm.de

REIN IN MEIN LEBENINto My LIfE

DEpaRtMENts 04tEachINg aND stuDIEs 08caMpus / LIfE 12INtERNatIoNaL 16REsEaRch 20INfoRMatIoN 24

Welcome…to the RheinMain University. We offer our students state-of-the art, modern educational and job oppor tunities. Currently approximately 10 000 students are enrolled here, supported by nearly 300 professors in six departments with almost 50 degree programmes. Our three locations Wiesbaden, Rüsselsheim and Geisenheim are situated in the heart of Germany, easily accessible in the Rhein-Main area, a key economic and cultural region.

The RheinMain University is cosmopolitan, combining team spirit and commitment for acad-emic studies, teaching and applied research with the students’ interests. With the introduction of the pan-European Bologna process we have taken a considerable step towards becoming a university which is fit for the future: our bachelor degree programmes are consistently geared towards attain-ing professional qualifications and our master’s degree programmes include research-oriented con-tents. We were the first University of Applied Sciences in Germany to found a postgraduate collo-quium, thus guaranteeing that the sky is the limit as far as the acadamic career ladder is concerned. Our students additionally benefit from the manifold networks with academic institutions on a nat-ional and international level as well as from connections to regional and national companies.

The RheinMain University is open to new developments and objectives and influences its envi-ronment with ideas, impulses and innovation. It is flexible, communicative and gets things moving outside its immediate sphere of influence too. At the same time the University also has strict princi-ples. You could say it has clear and binding values. Traditionally, one of these is to be accessible to a wide range of areas of the population, whether these are first-year students or professionals seeking to improve their qualifications. It is almost superfluous to add that foreign students are welcome here. The number of international university partnerships is growing, thus contribuing towards toler-ance and mutual understanding. And of course we also cultivate close contact to former students of our University (Alumni).

Our students are able to broaden their horizons with the help of institutions such as the Stu-dents’ Centre, the Language Centre and our Career Services, so that their personal development – keyword “soft skills” – combined with what they have learned in the course of their academic stud-ies, during phases of work experience or with competence gathered abroad – all comes together to form a whole.

All in all, the manifold facets of our university can be summed up as follows: our students take centre stage! This is the motivation for our lecturers, our academic and our administrative staff. All this – and maybe more – characterizes the RheinMain University: a University of Applied Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Detlev ReymannPresident of the RheinMain UniversityUniversity of Applied SciencesWiesbaden Rüsselsheim Geisenheim

Departments

The University of Applied Sciences offers a wide range of courses of study in six departments. From Architecture and Civil Engineering to Design Computer Science Media, Applied Social Studies and the Wiesbaden Business School to Engineering Sciences and the department in Geisen-heim with its “green” subjects.

I chose the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences because the tutors really support me.

SimoneCampus Geisenheim

0504

Three sites with six departments – a University of Applied Sciences

Four of the six departments are located in Wiesbaden, the capital city of the federal state of Hesse. Wiesbaden, the former “imperial city” or “cosmopolitan spa town”, combines attractive arch-i tecture and parks which invite you to linger, a lively cultural scene and many wine and street festi-vals, making it an ideal environment in which to study.

The departments of architecture and civil engineering as well as applied social studies are situated on the campus at Kurt-Schumacher-Ring. Practice oriented training is key in the depart-ment of applied social studies. The students get to know real everyday work life and have the oppor-tunity to analyse and reflect upon the experiences gained here. The department of architecture and civil engineering is characterized by its close links to the region: teaching and research pro-jects and the achievements of the laboratories associated to the department shape the develop-ment of architecture and civil engineering in the Rhein-Main region. And in addition, the computer scientists from the department Design Computer Science Media teach and carry out research at our Kurt-Schumacher-Ring site.

On our media campus Unter den Eichen we find further degree courses in our Design Com-puter Science Media department. Here, competence in the areas of design, technology, media IT and economics are connected in an interdisciplinary way. Each bachelor and master’s degree course is closely linked to the others, thus enabling interesting combinations for study, teaching and research.

The Bleichstrasse campus of the Wiesbaden Business School is located in the heart of the city. The department is defined by interdisciplinary course contents and its pronounced international character. Lectures and seminars in modern rooms, small learning groups, multimedia IT labora-tories and a well-equipped modern library – all this adds up to an excellent learning environment.

People from over 100 nations live in Rüsselsheim. This multicultural town is characterized by its exciting contrasts all within a small area: International corporations can be found here – side by side with many small trade and service companies. The campus of the Engineering Sciences department is centrally located. This offers attractive full-time and part-time degree courses in the areas of mechanical engineering, environmental technology, physics, IT and electrical engi-neering and is nationally renowned as a competence centre for combined vocational training and degree programms.

The picturesque little town of Geisenheim in the Rheingau region is the home of the “green” department of the RheinMain University. This special learning environment enables friendly and relaxed interaction between teachers and students. The Geisenheim department’s courses are characterized by their open and international approach in the areas of enology and beverage tech-nology as well as landscape architecture and horticulture. The internationally acclaimed Geisen-heim Research Center for enology and horticulture is our local partner for academic training on the campus. This close connection between the two institutions enables research and practical training in Geisenheim to complement each other in a way which is unique in Germany.

Seminar teaching is characteristic for the RheinMain University. The knowledge acquired in the seminars is deepened in small study groups, for example in practically oriented research assignments.

0706

Teaching and sTudies

The Bologna process has propelled the university world forward in an immense way. With approximately 50 bach­elor and master’s degree courses, the RheinMain Univer­sity has participated in this European development. And this is a positive development as surveys amongst grad­uates have shown – they were satisfied with their studies and have made a successful start into their professional lives.

I like the practically oriented studies at the RheinMain University which confront me with tasks that have prac-tical relevance to my working life.

BenediktStudying at the Unter den Eichen campus in Wiesbaden

0908

Knowing how it’s done: Broadening horizons in theory and practice

The title “University of Applied Sciences” comes to life and is filled with content in the teaching and studies at the RheinMain University. This means that the professors have to know how the world outside, especially the working world, works. And that the working world is constantly evolving due to technological innovations and economic and social developments. Therefore our teaching staff have to have qualified themselves through special achievements in their professional lives before they can receive a professorship at the university.

Our assistant lecturers for special assignments coordinate theory and practice and thus make a valuable contribution to the course contents. In addition, the mainly seminar-based teaching style with a comparatively small amount of students is typical for the teaching methods at the RheinMain University.

Practice oriented training phases or semesters are an important aspect of the studies. For ex-ample in commercial enterprises, in municipal and charitable organisations, in architectural offices and advertising agencies. External dissertations on, for example, practical engineering problems are also typical for these studies. In the master’s degree courses the students have a “direct line” to re-search projects. Specifically to projects on applied research, so that the graduates can enter their professional lives on a high level. And with the growing number of postgraduate colloquiums – in cooperation with university institutes – the RheinMain University offers the entire range of final degrees.

Proving your knowledge, developing creative ideas, looking at things from a different angle: our students and graduates have received prizes for these achievements. The awards come from inter-nationally renowned companies, from federations of industrial enterprise and marketing communi-cation and other organisations. At the same time we must not forget the fact that our lecturers, too, have won prizes, for example for their outstanding teaching. Three professors from Rüs-selsheim and two from Wiesbaden were amongst the top award winners of the Hessian ministry of science’s competition “Teaching excellency”.

The strong international focus of teaching and studies at the RheinMain University broadens horizons – literally. Not only as far as course contents are concerned, but also in terms of our stu-dents’ personal development, which has always been a significant element of studying. For this reason, many of our degree courses include an obligatory semester abroad.

And more and more people come “back” to study. In other words, the extra-occupational and Open University courses are steadily gaining in significance. Our Rüsselsheim site has even devel-oped into a national competence centre. Engineers from the industry and other professionals can gain further qualifications here, for example in the area of modern CIM technology. Similarly, a professional career in social work can be moved forward: blended learning, a mix of online learning and attendance phases, leads to a bachelor’s or master’s degree and qualifies for executive func-tions.

Individual tutoring for students is nothing unusual at the RheinMain University, whether in a seminar or a laboratory. Of course lectures in modern, well-equipped auditoriums are also part of studying here.

10 11

Campus / Life

The campus is the hub of student life – to relax, chat or debate, whether in Wiesbaden, Rüsselsheim or Geisen­heim. “Campus” figuratively also means everything that studying involves and not only learning and exams. Uni­versity sport is part of this, as are multicultural activ­ities, parties, theatre or tinkering around on machines for the fun of it and not because it’s on the curriculum.

Alongside my studies I also look at the other things the university has to offer, such as sporting activities and of course student events.

IsabelleStudying in Wiesbaden on the Kurt-Schumacher-Ring campus

1312

Lively studies – with sports, art, parties and more

Firstly let it be said that the RheinMain University is the official partner university of top class sports and is a certified “family friendly” university. A kindergarten, for example, makes student life – in the auditorium or on the campus - easier for students with children.

University sport is open to everyone. The popular sports on offer – gymnastics, running, golf, chess, sailing, dancing, football, volleyball – are an attraction especially for first-year students and foreign students. Here you can make friends and be amongst like-minded people. The top athletes studying here – including Olympics participants – benefit from support during their studies. They have mentors in their departments and if an important competition is coming up they can postpone exami-nations.

Another vital part of campus life: the students restaurant. Run by the Studentenwerk Frankfurt am Main, our canteen on our Kurt-Schumacher-Ring campus in Wiesbaden was once voted best canteen in Hesse by the students.

Students’ parties at the beginning and the end of a semester attract many guests from the whole area around the university. These and other parties are the little “pick-me-ups” in the course of one’s studies and therefore of great importance. The same applies to the traditional freshers’ greet-ing. Wiesbaden’s “Kulturzentrum Schlachthof” is a regular venue for more than 1000 freshers. Other special occasions are for example the parties when students come back from a semester abroad and

want to share their new experiences. Multicultural celebrations are also part of campus life, for exam-ple our “African Night” and encounters which are organised by the catholic students’ community. An-other hot tip are the parties in Geisenheim, some of which taking place in the lovely park at Castle Monrepos. The “Engineering Night” in Rüsselsheim and the “Upgrade Party” in Wiesbaden have turned out to be a huge success: with music, infos and great entertainment, for example when European cham-pions present their skills on a trampoline!

For those with an interest in the fine arts there is also plenty on offer. For example in the univer-sity’s theatre group or the “literary workshop”. Another highlight is the “poet’s lecture: young authors”, the only poet’s lecture at a German University of Applied Sciences. Well-known authors such as Daniel Kehlmann have guested here.

And yet another (completely different) facet of campus life can be found among the engineering degree programmes. A very presentable Bolid – a racing car built by students – is now competing inter-nationally i.e. on famous race courses. The racing team car won 3rd place for its design at Hockenheim-ring, the German Grand Prix Formula One venue. It’s one good-looking racer! The University of Applied Sciences can also be found on the water: with a canoe made of concrete, built by a students’ develop-ment group from the civil engineering department. These are just a few of the sporting, cultural, enter-taining and technically ambitious campus activities at our RheinMain University. They make studying here an experience!

Relaxing (maybe a relaxed chat about course contents with fellow stu-dents?) is also part of studying, as are sporting or musical activities and “animated” parties.

1514

InternatIonal

The RheinMain University is a cosmopolitan university characterized by many international contacts. Unique in Europe: the “export” of a degree course to Italy. German-French double degrees and study and research visits to famous high-tech “forges” such as Oak Ridge/USA are further aspects of “boundless” studies.

At the RheinMain University people from all over the world meet, whether they are students or teachers: a wonderful world with many new perspectives and insights.

XianStudying in Wiesbaden at the Unter den Eichen campus

1716

Breaking new ground: Undertaking challenges

Students at the RheinMain University who would like to spend time abroad receive competent sup-port. This is provided by the staff in our International Office and by the appropriate Foreign Studies officer in each department. Exchange students and participants in the Erasmus programm who want to spend a part of their studies at the RheinMain University also receive support. The Inter-national Office takes care of international guest students from our partner universities, for exam-ple by helping them to apply for a visum, assisting their efforts to find accommodation, when regis-tering and with many other things. Crash courses in German are also on offer and our Buddy Programme helps them throughout their stay.

There are foundations which offer financial support during a stay abroad. At the Wiesbaden Business School it is the Richard Müller Foundation, which offers grants to outstanding students. The press regularly publishes articles on these students when they return and report on their inter-esting stay in India, Japan, the USA, Spain etc. The Daniel Renn Foundation in Geisenheim also sponsors stays abroad through grants. And Geisenheim – this tranquil little town on the Rhine – is part of an international network, giving the students the opportunity to gather experience in the areas of winemaking and marketing – a very important aspect considering the advance of globali-sation.

The Language Centre at the RheinMain University, too, opens opportunities to go abroad: in order to study or for an internship. Taught by native speakers, the students can attain language skills in the most important and significant languages of the world. And also – if necessary – in the less commonly spoken ones.

An impressive example of the international character of the department Design Computer Science Media was the inauguration of the new virtual classrooms, in which the Wiesbaden site was connected to the USA and Russia simultaneously and teachers and students of all three coun-tries were able to communicate live. Of course there are also other, less spectacular forms of inter-national cooperation: the summer schools for example. Whether it is a meeting on the subject of “Media” which took place at the Unter den Eichen site. Or one which took place in Siberia – thus giv-ing the words “summer” and “Siberia” a whole new connotation for the Rüsselsheim students of the Engineering Sciences department. The time spent together with their fellow students from the University Novosibirsk turned out to be anything but cold.

It would go beyond the scope of this brochure to describe our students’ enthusiasm about their stays abroad and their resulting professional and personal development. This is true for every faculty culture we could mention: the civil engineers interested in building tunnels and motorways in Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary; or teachers and students of communication design gaining new perspectives in Turkey, Syria and Armenia. Or students from the department of Applied Social Studies gaining insights into social contexts in South Korea: boundless studying is definitely a gain in experience and is wholeheartedly supported by the RheinMain University.

Many students at the RheinMain University enter new territory – liter-ally: A semester abroad can open up a whole new world of personal and professional perspectives. And our international guests are welcomed here.

1918

ReseaRch

Research is fascinating! Innovative people and labora-tories come together to create new insights and prod-ucts. Alongside studying, teaching and further educa-tion, research is one of the most prominent and widely recognized characteristics of the RheinMain University today. The results of its attractive research projects can be found at international trade fairs, at conferences and in everyday use.

The research projects at the RheinMain University are oriented towards practical work – in this way, teachers and students in our modern laboratories are working together towards creating better living conditions for many people.

ElhachniStudying at the Rüsselsheim site in the department of Engineering Sciences

2120

Research outside the ivory tower

Research and development (R & D) is increasingly becoming a showpiece of the RheinMain Univer-sity. The research activities provide insights and applications with innovative perspectives, not only for special branches of science but also for the general public.

The good reputation of the researchers in Wiesbaden, Rüsselsheim and Geisenheim in the national and the international research community is emphasized by the two post graduate collo-quiums which have been established at the RheinMain University. The postgraduate colloquium in Geisenheim was the breakthrough, being the first independent colloquium of its kind at a University of Applied Sciences in Germany. It was established together with the research institute in Geisen-heim. In cooperation with the Goethe University in Frankfurt there is also a second postgraduate colloquium in the area of IT. Additionally further postgraduates – also from abroad – are supported and assisted in the RheinMain University’s laboratories. In 2009 more than 30 postgraduates were to be found at the RheinMain University. This number increases to over 70 when we look at the Re-search Institute Geisenheim, as the doctoral supervisors at the Institute hold professorial teaching positions at our Geisenheim site.

While the Universities of Applied Sciences were excluded from conducting research in their early days – they were supposed to teach only – this has now changed radically. Young people today can climb the entire length of the academic ladder at the RheinMain University – from bachelor to doctorate.

The professors at the RheinMain University conduct research on a wide range of subjects. In the department Wiesbaden Business School for example the subject of “Nation Branding” is being con-sidered i.e. the competition of nations concerning their image abroad. In the area “3 D cinema” work is being done on a software-based, cost-effective workflow which will enable even small studios to be on a par with the high technical standards of large producers. And we contribute to progress and innovative applications in the area of nanotechnology. Our professors are also work-ing on projects such as “Place of work: Hospital” and “Social innovations for quality of life in old age”.

Altogether the first general overview with the titel “Research has many faces” was able to present 25 research projects to a large audience within the framework of a poster exhibition. This included projects which were successful in the national competition for sponsorship and some of which were financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. This ministry also awarded the RheinMain University one of its seals of quality. It was namely the University of Applied Science with the most convincing funding applications in 2009 and is actually the most successful University of Applied Sciences in Germany in terms of the continuous improvement of the application quality.

In other words or to put it more casually: The RheinMain University’s R & D projects are “storm-ing the charts” as far as the ranking of the most important funding associations and organisations is concerned.

The RheinMain University is well-established in the research land-scape. Numerous cooperations with renowned research institutions and with small and medium-sized companies guarantee a transfer of ideas and technologies from which teaching also benefits.

22 23

InformatIon & contact

Before, during and after your studies: the staff at the Rhein­Main University are happy to help you. As competent con­tact partners they offer advice on all questions as to the organisation of your studies, support you by any means necessary in your endeavours to attain any of many addi­tional qualifications and help you when entering your working life.

Even before you start studying at the RheinMain Uni-versity you can get lots of advice – and during your studies the university is always available to give you advice and practical support.

Laura und MarcStudying in Wiesbaden at the Bleichstrasse / Bertramstrasse campus

2524

The Students’ Union Executive Committee (AStA) represents the interests of all students when negotiating with the university executive board, the administration, the ministeries, the city coun-cil etc.wiesbaden@asta-wiesbaden.de www.asta-wiesbaden.de

At the Students’ Centre for Key Qualifications and the Language Centre, you have the oppor-tunity to gain further qualifications during your studies above and beyond what you have lear-ned in your field of study.Students’ Centre for Key QualificationsBertramstrasse 27+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 3142 studienzentrum@hs-rm.de

Language CentreBleichstrasse 44, Basement+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 3215sprachenzentrum@hs-rm.de

If you are planning an internship or a semester abroad our International Office will be pleased to assist you. Here you can get information on support programmes and grants.International OfficeKurt-Schumacher-Ring 18Building A, Room A 124 – 127+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 1570international@hs-rm.de

Students spend a lot of time reading and at their computers. Our university sport programme offers a wide and varied range of sports as a contrast to desk work.University sportsKurt-Schumacher-RingBuilding A, Room A 105a+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 1580

The women’s representative assists the univer-sity executive board in implementing equal rights legislation.Women’s representativeKurt-Schumacher-Ring 18Building A, Room A 213+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 1676frauenbeauftragte@hs-rm.de

Students and employees of the RheinMain Uni-versity who require child care can contact our day-care centre. Day-care centre Kurt-Schumacher-Ring 18Building F+49 (0)611 / 478 98

When making the transition from university to working life, our Career Service can support you by checking your application papers, with trai-ning and workshops and individual counselling.Career ServiceBertramstrasse 27Room N I 13+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 3210careerservice@hs-rm.de

Graduates are also welcome at the RheinMain University. The institute Further Vocational Trai-ning (iwib) organises seminars, conferences and further education courses.Further Vocational TrainingBertramstrasse 27+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 3156iwib@hs-rm.de

Graduates from the RheinMain University can stay in touch with each other via our Alumni net-working sites of the individual departments or fields of study, for example:

Geisenheim Alumni Association e.V.www.geisenheimer.de

IWI Alumni An association of graduates, students and pro-fessors from the International Industrial Engi-neering programmewww.iwi-alumni.de

WiWiNet e.V. An association of graduates and students from the Wiesbaden Business Schoolwww.wiwinet.de

Unsure of which degree programme is the right one for you, you want to change your degree pro-gramme or you suffer from exam nerves? Our Student Advisory Service can help.Student Advisory ServiceKurt-Schumacher-Ring 18Building A, Room A 122+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 1590studienberatung@hs-rm.de

The office responsible for your application and admission to the university is the Students’ Of-fice, located at all three sites.Students’ Office Wiesbaden Kurt-Schumacher-Ring 18Building A, Room A 114 / 115+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 1560studienbuero-wiesbaden@hs-rm.de

Students’ Office Rüsselsheim Am Brückweg 26Building A, Room A 10+49 (0)6142 / 898 - 4114studienbuero-ruesselsheim@hs-rm.de

Students’ Office GeisenheimVon-Lade-Straße 1Administrative Building, Ground Floor+49 (0)6722 / 50 27 12studienbuero-geisenheim@hs-rm.de

The four libraries on our four sites offer media, work places, equipment and material for aca-demic work.Kurt-Schumacher-Ring library +49 (0)611 / 9495 - 1186bib-ksr@hs-rm.de

Bertramstrasse library +49 (0)611 / 9495 - 3133bib-bbs@hs-rm.de

Unter den Eichen library+49 (0)611 / 9495 - 2180bib-ude@hs-rm.de

Rüsselsheim library +49 (0)6142 / 898 - 412 55bib-rue@hs-rm.de

Geisenheim Research CenterMain library+49 (0)6722 / 502 - 261HB@fa-gm.de

26 27

Imprint Editorthe president of hochschule RheinMainuniversity of applied sciencesWiesbaden Rüsselsheim geisenheimwww.hs-rm.de

Designwww.novamondo.dewww.everydayisagoodday.net

Photographyprof. Lothar Bertrams andreas schlote

Editorial officepublic Relations office of the RheinMain university

Printingfrotscher Druckwww.frotscher-druck.de