Pioneering studies at the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences: This is how it works!

Pioneering studies at the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences: This is how it works!

The Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences in Bottrop not only enjoys a first-class reputation in the region, but is also highly specialized in digitalization and sustainability. As the Bottroper Zeitung reports, courses in computer science as well as energy and environmental sciences are at the top of the popularity scale. Whether you have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree or a doctorate – technology and environmental enthusiasts will get their money’s worth here. What is particularly interesting is the university's commitment to supporting its students: They benefit from scholarships that enable almost free education, with only a semester fee.

There is a strong team behind the university, including Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Handmann, who works as dean and professor of neuroinformatics. Students, such as Emily Rudolf, who chooses the interdisciplinary Human-Technology Interaction course, experience an exciting combination of computer science, psychology and design. The modern technical equipment and up-to-date teaching content give these students a real advantage on the job market, where the prospects are extremely good.

A location for innovation

A special highlight for the university is the campus, which functions as the “Energy Campus”. Intensive work is being done here on research into energy efficiency and renewable energies. Another notable theme is student engagement in social activities; They not only support each other, but also make valuable contacts with companies and institutions. Practical experiences are promoted through projects such as digital solutions for seniors and a historical society.

In this context, it is also exciting to mention that the university is taking part in the 25th Human and Computer Conference in Chemnitz with a workshop and two contributions. Justyna Sedkowska and Prof. Dr. Stefan Geisler from the Institute of Computer Science has promising topics in store: Their workshop is entitled “There’s an App for That… But Should There Be?” Here the need for technological solutions is critically examined and it is discussed which alternatives might make more sense. In this context, the focus is also on the ethical questions of participatory design in human-machine interaction, which will be discussed in the first article. In addition, a bachelor's thesis will be presented that deals with safety aspects of highly automated trains. The results of the bachelor's thesis come from Marius Herold and show how demographic characteristics such as age and gender influence trust in technologies.

Strategic orientation of digitalization

A look outside the box shows that other universities such as the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences are also consciously addressing the topic of digitalization. This is trying to establish digitalization as a strategic guideline for securing the future of its students. According to information from the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, the aim is to be one of the leading universities in digitalization by 2035. The focus here is on promoting the digital competence of all university members.

The digital infrastructure should always be kept up to date through modern technologies and collaborations with other universities. The goal is to make all processes fully digital and paperless and thus develop a comprehensive digitalization strategy.

With its commitment to teaching and research as well as its efforts to create a future-oriented digital infrastructure, the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences in Bottrop is positioning itself as an attractive educational institution. It proves that modern education and active research in the field of digitalization are inextricably linked - for a successful future in the STEM world.