A Hamburg success story50 Years of Cooperation in Industrial Engineering and Management Program

7 June 2024, by Newsroom editorial office

Photo: HWI

Fifty years ago, the cross-university degree program in industrial engineering and management (HWI) was launched. On 6 June, cooperation partners Universität Hamburg, the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg), and the Helmut Schmidt University—University of the Federal Armed Forces celebrated their successful joint program alongside Katharina Fegebank, Hamburg’s science senator, and numerous alumni.

The joint degree program began in Summer Semester 1974 with 31 students. At the anniversary celebration, several prominent alumni in different areas talked about their career paths and experiences, giving a good idea about why the program has grown many times over. It now boasts 230 first-year students, including 150 in the bachelor’s and 80 in the master’s programs.

The introduction of the degree program in Hamburg in 1974 marked an innovation. The partnership between a university and a university of applied science to realize a joint degree program was new in the higher education landscape, and from the very start it combined applied engineering courses (HAW Hamburg) and economics lectures (Universität Hamburg).

Graduates in demand on the job market

This lets students get to know different kinds of universities and benefit from a wide-ranging curriculum to best prepare for their careers. Statistics show: graduates of the program enjoy outstanding starting salaries and are in great demand on the job market.

“The HWI consolidates everything that makes Hamburg such a strong center of scientific pursuit: the close relationship between research and application, interdisciplinary work, and ideal networking opportunities. For 50 years, the HWI has been a cross-university academic opportunity in our city that has continuously developed and significantly shaped Hamburg’s university landscape. Excellent and practical engineering training is what we need for innovation and sustainable technologies. On the occasion of this anniversary, I congratulate you on this Hamburg success story and I am looking forward to the upcoming years of this pioneering degree program,” said Katharina Fegebank, Hamburg’s science senator.

“The joint industrial engineering and management program is a wonderful example of cooperation in studying and teaching between universities in Hamburg. As a University of Excellence, we feel a social responsibility to work hand-in-hand with partner institutions in offering and building upon sound teaching. This is the only way to train the best minds of tomorrow and address the dearth of skilled workers. The economic engineering program is in this regard a success story,” said Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, president of Universität Hamburg.

“From construction and technical quality control to controlling and marketing: our graduates in the industrial engineering and management program are, thanks to well-functioning cross-university cooperation, deeply knowledgeable,” said the president of HAW Hamburg, Prof. Dr. Ute Lohrentz. “On the occasion of the 50th anniversary, I congratulate everyone responsible on the successful and attractive cross-university curriculum. This enables students not only to get to know different kinds of universities but also, depending on personal interest and professional goals, to deepen their own interests as they choose.”

In 1992, enrollment exceeded 1,000 students for the first time

Student enrollment also attests to the program’s success: in 1978, huge demand already led to the doubling of admissions. In 1989/90, the acceptance limit increased to 180 students per year and the teaching staff grew accordingly. Yet there were still not enough places: in 1990/91, a maximum of 855 applicants led to the introduction of an admission restriction of a 1.1 GPA. And in Winter Semester 1992, enrollment exceeded 1,000 students for the first time. In Winter Semester 2007/2008, the Bologna Process ultimately led to the introduction of the first bachelor’s program and in Winter Semester 2010/2011, the first master’s program followed.

Universität Hamburg and the HAW Hamburg offer the HWI bachelor’s program jointly. The Helmut Schmidt University—University of the Federal Armed Forces cooperates in the master’s program. Courses are offered at the respective locations.