Who ranks at the forefront of scientific research in Germany?
In the realm of higher education and research, Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Germany have been making significant strides, particularly in the fields of career and technology. One such notable figure in this sphere is Alexandra Ilina, a graduate journalist and translator with over two decades of experience in journalism, communication, and digital content management.
Despite generally being less integrated, UAS like HAW Hamburg and OTH Regensburg exhibit high network activity. A recent analysis has revealed that 68% of all consortium projects involve partners outside academia, with UAS accounting for 74% and universities for 67%. This collaboration with non-academic partners has become the norm, according to the analysis.
The performance of UAS is particularly impressive in several federal states, notably Brandenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and Rhineland-Palatinate. In these states, UAS participate in more than 100 transsectoral projects per 1,000 researchers. In some cases, UAS even achieve better per capita values than universities.
The RWTH Aachen, Technical Universities in Dresden, and Munich are among the most well-connected universities in Germany, but UAS hold their own when it comes to contacts per scientific staff member. Better research conditions for UAS include targeted funding programs for projects with industry partners and reduced teaching loads to allow for more research time.
In recent years, several UAS in Germany have become particularly active in interdisciplinary research consortia with businesses and society. These collaborations often take place in large innovation networks and projects supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and other funding bodies. Examples include participation in consortia addressing public health, sustainable agriculture, and digital transformation.
Isabel Roessler, a researcher, highlights that UAS are well-suited for interdisciplinary research due to their professors' practical experience. She emphasizes the need for UAS to utilize their potential more strongly, but this is not an easy task and requires better research conditions.
Germany is the world champion in MINT (Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology), but research funding is unequal. The average funding for universities is higher, but the gap to UAS is smaller than expected. This discrepancy is a testament to the growing influence and potential of UAS in the German research landscape.
The article is a contribution to the project "TDR4HAW. Transdisciplinary Research at Universities of Applied Sciences - Status Quo and Potential of a Sleeping Giant." Since 2015, more than 26,000 projects have been evaluated within this project by the CHE. The project aims to shed light on the current state and potential of UAS in transdisciplinary research, with the hope of fostering a more equitable and productive research environment in Germany.
Lastly, it's worth mentioning that job offers in the field of research & teaching are available for those seeking to contribute to this exciting and dynamic field.
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