School - Bergische Universität Wuppertal

Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch, Rector of the University of Wuppertal 

Dear Reader, 

The annual report of the University 

of Wuppertal (UW) 

appears for the first time here 

in an entirely new format. Together 

with the University Research 

Bulletin OUTPUT and 

the Management Report of the 

Rector’s Office, the new UNI 

Report will provide an annual 

review of UW’s development. 

Accordingly, this first issue 

focuses on the period from 

spring 2009 to summer 2010. 

The university can look back 

with a sense of pride on the 

past 18 months, which have 

seen further intensive work on 

the sharpening of our teaching, 

research and transfer profiles. 

A milestone in this respect was 

approval of the UW mission 

statement, whose formulation 

of the university’s contemporary 

role, and corresponding 

interdisciplinary teaching and 

research focuses, not only enhances 

our public image but 

also reinforces concentration 

on key areas and activities. 

This process has been further 

supported by the creation of effective 

service structures, the 

establishment of new teaching 

and research institutes and programs, 

and the extension and 

deepening of our regional and 

trans-regional networking. 

The UNI Report provides information 

about new offers 

and projects in teaching and 

research, includ-ing the launch 

of 15 new degree programs in 

winter semester 2009-2010; 

and it outlines the ‘Bologna 

Check’ (recently accepted as 

a national best-practice model) 

with which the university has 

sought – by evaluating and enhancing 

the user-friendliness of 

its degree programs – to meet 

public criticism of the changes 

brought in by the Bologna process. 

Further positive developments 

have been a sharp 

in-crease in external funding 

and the foundation of the four 

new business-sponsored professorships 

de-scribed later in 

this issue. 

None of these gratifying developments 

would have been 

possible without the commitment 

and coop-eration of our 

professors, academic and nonacademic 

staff, and students. I 

must take the opportunity here 

to thank them, as well as those 

who have compiled this excellent 

report. In this context I like 

to think we can apply to ourselves 

a saying of the automobile 

pioneer Walter Chrysler: “The 

real secret of success is enthusiasm”. 

The work of the past 

18 months demonstrates that 

we at UW can also be fired by 

such enthusiasm. 

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01_UW_UNIVERSITY OF WUPPERTAL

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01_UW_UNIVERSITY OF WUPPERTAL 

Wuppertal – many-sided, innovative, global 

Shaping the future together 

Research and study: looking forward 

Organizational structure 

Faculties and departments 

Degree programs 

Aspects 09|10 and Outlook 

At a glance 

02_UW_ACADEMIC 

A healthy future: Bergisch Regional Competence Center for 

Health Management and Public Health 

Barmenia: commitment to the future 

Technical Academy of Wuppertal: intensive preparatory course for engineering degree 

Twin-track degree: professional training + BSc 

Business engineer: profession of the future 

Wuppertal Municipal Utilities link-up with UW teaching and research 

Summer Academy 2009: Architecture and Energy 

Solar Decathlon Europe 2010: UW’s zero energy house 

Design and media competence: Apple Authorized Training Center 

Shaping Europe: new MA in European studies 

At a glance 

School of Education: pioneering teacher education 

Career profile: teaching – a women’s preserve? 

Actively shaping your program: Student Counseling Service 

Quality attack: Bologna check 2010 

Opening the door to a profession: Careers Service 

Wuppertal Waste Services: powerful partner in environmental protection 

03_UW_RESEARCH 

Seeking the origin of the world: Wuppertal’s particle-physics at CERN 

HALO – a research laboratory above the clouds 

Soil ecology: impacts of climate change 

Better air through photocatalysis 

Human movement: healthy activity without pain 

NOVOTERGUM: success against back pain 

Terahertz radiation: IT of the future 

Riedel: ICT for the automobile of the future 

At a glance 

04_UW_REGIONAL 

NRW Innovation Goal 2015: pathways through the funding jungle 

Active Safety Car: automobile of the future 

Wuppertal’s Sparkasse Bank: an equal partner 

Energy Efficiency Agency: innovative partnerships 

Sachsenröder: Bergisch Land InnovationLab 

Key regional think tank: UW’s Institute of Security Systems 

Velbert and Heiligenhaus: world’s key region 

psyrecon: tracking emotions 

Infrasonics: delta waves against sleep disorders

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168 

Heinz Schmersal: global player with regional roots 

At a glance 

New design for Wuppertal’s Schwebebahn 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL 

International relations: the wide world of knowledge and science 

UW’s international partner universities 

Studying abroad: partner university portraits 

A semester in Wrocław, Poland 

At a glance 

Untying tongues: UW’s Language Center 

Havana: an intercultural experience 

Iranian students in Wuppertal: building earthquake-proof houses 

Go west, young man! 

A week in the life of a Professor of Traffic and Transport Engineering 

06_UW_CAMPUS 

University sports: from exercise to competition 

A family-friendly university 

Living space with environmental bonus: UW’s student halls 

Perfect framework for successful studying 

Campus at work: a glance behind the scenes 

07_UW_CULTURE 

Remscheid-Solingen evergreen: local media cooperation 

Shakespeare Live! Visions for generations project 

University ball: keeping in touch 

25 years University Concerts 

UniTal – a lecture series with cult status 

At a glance 

Unicut Film Festival 

08_UW_FOR SCHOOLS 

Seeing your way ahead: student counseling at UW 

At a glance 

Abitur – then what? Education and training fairs 

Bergisch Schools Science and Technology Program (BeST) 

09_UW_PEOPLE 

At a glance 

Hans-Joachim von Buchka – a tribute 

Honorary doctorate for Ranga Yogeshwar 

Prizes and honors 

Comings and goings 

In memoriam 

10_UW_FACTS 

UW history: milestones 

Facts and figures 

Imprint 

Contents 

3

01_ 

UW_UNIVERSITY OF WUPPERTAL 

5

6 

Bildunterschrift 

Wuppertal – many-sided, 

innovative, global 

Nicknamed the “green city”, 

Wuppertal lies amidst the 

hills and valleys of the idyllic 

Bergisch Land, an oasis at the 

center of one of Germany’s 

major industrial regions. With a 

population of around 352,000 

Wuppertal is a modern city 

with many different facets. 

For centuries innovation and 

creative ideas have set the 

tone. This is the city of the 

world-famous Schwebebahn, 

the suspension monorail that 

since 1898 has been the city’s 

trademark and a symbol of its 

progressive engineering tradition. 

This is the birthplace of 

Friedrich Engels and a cradle 

of Europe’s early industrialization, 

the city of spinning and 

bleaching and the many industries 

that followed. The twin 

traditions of textiles and toolmaking 

spread the name of the 

valley and region throughout 

the world, and made them 

rich. The heritage of this period 

is still visible today in the elegant 

art nouveau houses that 

line the streets of entire quarters, 

and the extensive parks 

and magnificent villas that wait 

to be discovered by the discerning 

visitor. 

Today it is the metalworking, 

chemical, and electrical industries, 

along with the automotive 

and service sectors that 

characterize Wuppertal and 

the Bergisch region: mediumsized 

firms, many of them 

traditional family enterprises, 

with high quality products and 

markets across the globe. And 

the textile-dying tradition is still 

alive in the valley: the saffroncolored 

curtains of Christo’s 

7,500 “Gates” in New York’s 

Central Park (2005) were dyed 

in Wuppertal. 

R&D is the city’s daily bread, 

and Wuppertal’s university, 

founded in 1972, is no exception. 

Here research has many sides, 

and the exchange of ideas 

with local industry is rich and 

fruitful. With its unique spectrum 

of subjects, leading-edge 

research, and regional roots, 

the ‘university on the hill’ has 

become an indispensable partner 

within the economy of the 

Bergisch Land. 

Leisure 

Wuppertal is an attractive university 

city offering a wide 

range of leisure-time activities 

including sports centers and 

facilities for swimming, indoor 

soccer, indoor climbing and 

ropes courses. And Wuppertal 

is active: its 250 sports clubs 

total some 75,000 members. 

The city is full of parks and 

wooded areas, and the green 

valley of the Wupper boasts 

almost 500 km of footpaths 

and woodland tracks. Wherever 

you are in the city there is 

a park or recreational area nearby, 

often with wonderful panoramic 

views across the city. 

One such park, lined with mature 

trees and shrubs, houses 

Wuppertal Zoo. Opened in 

1881, it still ranks as one of 

Germany’s finest, containing 

some 4,500 animals of 450 

species from every continent. 

City 

Wuppertal has a number of 

smaller residential, shopping 

and recreational areas and two 

main centers, Elberfeld and 

Barmen, with long-established 

stores, fashionable boutiques 

and modern shopping malls, as 

well as daily and weekly markets. 

Centrally situated and at the same 

time close to the university, 

the old quarter of Elberfeld, 

with its art nouveau houses 

around the Laurentiusplatz, 

and the adjoining Luisenstrasse, 

with its cafés, pubs and restaurants, 

have taken on the air 

of an unofficial student quarter. 

The people of Wuppertal enjoy 

partying, and each quarter 

has its characteristic street 

markets and feasts: Vohwinkel, 

with the world’s biggest annual 

one day flea-market, and similar 

events, like the Luisenfest, 

in the picturesque old quarters, 

where you can enjoy the culinary 

delights and colorful international 

culture of the city. Every 

five years the so-called langer 

Tisch brings thousands out of 

their houses to meet, eat and 

celebrate at the 14 km long table 

that fills the valley’s main 

thoroughfare. 

Art and culture 

Wuppertal’s art and cultural 

scene is extraordinarily lively

and international. Pina Bausch 

founded her world-famous 

dance theater here, and the 

city also fostered the roots of 

free jazz: it was from Wuppertal 

that Peter Kowald and Peter 

Brötzmann revolutionized the 

international jazz scene. 

In Wuppertal you will find exhibitions 

of contemporary paintings 

and sculpture, as well as 

light and video installations, 

and the city’s Von der Heydt 

Museum houses a unique 

collection of 16th–21st century 

art. Ranging from classical 

concerts at the historic City 

Hall to rock and pop at the UNIhalle 

(University Sports and 

Events Hall), Live Club Barmen 

or Waldbühne, and from drama 

at the Municipal Theater to 

cabaret and Kleinkunst at the 

Rex, the city’s cultural program 

offers something for everyone. 

A lively salsa and tango scene 

has also developed in recent 

years, and Wuppertal’s clubs 

are well-known even outside 

the city. The U-Club, for example, 

has again in 2009 been 

titled the “best club in Germany”. 

And Wuppertal is a city of cinema: 

directors like Tom Tykwer 

(Run Lola Run, Perfume), 

and TV detective Horst Tappert 

(Derrick) are from Wuppertal, 

and the city hosts a number 

of small film festivals. Several 

times it has itself featured 

on celluloid, with the Schwebebahn 

foregrounded in Knockin’ 

on Heaven’s Door (1997) 

and the UW campus as background 

for some scenes from 

The Princess and the Warrior 

(2000) and The Experiment 

(2001). 

Mobility 

Wuppertal’s Schwebebahn is 

more than a tourist attraction: 

gliding congestion-free through 

the valley it is an indispensable 

means of public transport, carrying 

some 75,000 passengers 

a day to work, school and university. 

Centrally situated within 

Europe’s transportation network, 

Wuppertal is a mere 

four-hour train journey from Pa- 

Wuppertal’s Schwebebahn: symbol of the city’s creativity and innovation 

ris or Berlin and three hours by 

road from Amsterdam and the 

Dutch coast. 

Situated close to the A1, A3 

and A46 autobahns, fully integrated 

into Deutsche Bahn’s ICE 

train network, and with Dusseldorf, 

Cologne/Bonn and Dortmund 

airports 30-60 minutes 

(at most) away by car, Wuppertal 

is well connected both nationally 

and internationally. 

Wuppertal’s Historic Civic Hall: one of Europe’s finest concert and congress venues 

7 


8 

The University of Wuppertal 

Shaping the future together 


(UW) is a dynamic, future-oriented 

university at the heart of 

Europe. Centrally situated near 

the major cities of Dusseldorf 

and Cologne, and surrounded 

by the rolling hills of the 

Bergisch Land, the ‘green university’ 

is workplace and living 

space for more than 15,000 

people. 

UW’s academic disciplines are 

grouped into seven faculties 

spread across three city campuses, 

all relatively close to 

each other and conveniently 

linked by the city’s public transport 

system. The interconnected 

buildings of the main Grifflenberg 

campus make it simple 

to walk in a few minutes from 

the English department to economics, 

from physics to chemistry, 

from German studies to 

history – or from any of these 

to the ‘Mensa’, the university 

dining hall. At the center of the 

main campus stands the university 

library with more than 

1.2 million books directly accessible 

to users. 

With their leading-edge research, 

our interdisciplinary 

centers and institutes, networked 

not only amongst 

themselves but internationally, 

make an outstanding contribution 

to the national and global 

reputation of the university. 

All UW degree programs 

have now been integrated into 

the two-tier bachelor’s and 

master’s structure, thus facilitating 

the international comparability 

of qualifications and 

enabling graduates to pursue 

a career on the international as 

well as national stage. 

The establishment of two specialized 

entities, the Schum- 

peter School of Business and 

Economics and the School of 

Education, marks a new step 

in the provision of up-to-theminute 

university training. 

The university’s wide range of 

service units and facilities for 

students, staff and visiting academics 

includes the Language 

Center, University Sports 

Program, Student Advisory 

and Counseling Service, Career 

Service, and a number of 

programs for the promotion of 

young scholars and scientists.

Bildunterschrift 

“Like a castle built on a hill” 

“Like a castle built on a hill” the 

university towers over the city 

of Wuppertal. Set on the leafy 

slopes of the Grifflenberg, the 

main campus enjoys a panoramic 

view across the town and 

the surrounding countryside of 

the Bergisch Land – a perfect 

environment for developing 

ideas and projects that will shape 

the future. 

Currently some 250 professors, 

almost 900 other academic 

and non-academic employees, 

and around 14,000 

students from 90 different 

countries study and research at 

UW. Another 700 people work 

on the administrative side to 

keep the complex organization 

up and running. 

Success and excellence of 

achievement demand passion 

and enthusiasm for what one 

is doing. However, success- 

Aachen 

ful achievement is based not 

only on knowledge and highly 

developed abilities, but also 

on teamwork: innovative 

solutions with future impact 

are generally the product of 

interdisciplinary cooperation. 

Teamwork of this sort calls for 

breadth of vision, a deep sense 

of responsibility, and the 

insatiable will to move things 

on. 

That is the spirit of UW. No 

wonder things are moving 

here. Above average growth 

figures enable the university 

management to look confidently 

and positively toward 

the future. 

NRW 

Essen 

Wuppertal 

Düsseldorf 

Bochum 

Dortmund 

Köln 

Bonn 

Münster 

Deutschland 

Bielefeld 

Successfully shaping the future 

means concentrating on 

core research and teaching 

competencies. At UW these 

are: 

- Building blocks of matter, experiment, 

simulation, and mathematical 

methods 

- Education and knowledge in 

social and cultural contexts 

- Health, disease prevention 

and movement 

- Language, narration and 

editing 

- Natural environment, engineering 

and safety 

- Business, innovation and economic 

change. 

9 


10 

Research at minus 40° C: UW atmospheric chemist in the Arctic 

Research and study – looking forward 

Research for the future 

Researching for the future at 

UW means investigating climate 

change in the Arctic or the 

structure of matter at CERN 

(Conseil Européen pour la Recherche 

Nucléaire) in Switzerland; 

it means approximating 

conditions immediately after 

the Big Bang and evaluating 

the experimental data on the 

supercomputers ALiCEnext 

in Wuppertal and JUGENE in 

Jülich. 

It means creating materials and 

processes that make products 

better, safer and more ecological. 

It means focusing on society 

and its development, as 

well as on the individual. And 

it means improving machines, 

enhancing production proces- 

ses, and analyzing economic 

and political structures with a 

view to understanding future 

requirements. 

All these activities have a global 

dimension, but all of them 

are centered here at UW, 

the regional university of the 

Bergisch Land. 

Many research projects are 

joint ventures with local and 

regional companies – from the 

development of the driver assistance 

systems that will make 

automobiles of the future 

safer, to innovative products 

and processes based on sustainable 

natural resources. However, 

UW is not only a reliable 

R&D partner: our Knowledge 

Transfer Office is specifically 

tasked with initiating and managing 

cooperations with regional 

business, as well as with 

new start-ups launched from 

the university – including the 

entire process of funding application 

and acquisition.

Studying for the future 

UW offers its students a manysided, 

practically slanted range 

of subjects that opens excellent 

prospects for their future 

careers. And students also profit 

from our forward-looking research 

and our many contacts 

with regional business. 

Student involvement in UW 

research provides the opportunity 

to apply theoretical knowledge 

in a wide variety of stimulating 

projects. 

The intensive contact between 

university teachers and regional 

enterprises underpins the 

varied, market-oriented range 

of courses and the more than 

70 degree programs offered 

at UW. These include twintrack 

programs with on-thejob 

training integrated into the 

bachelor’s program, as well as 

a range of business engineering 

degrees. 

The regional business network 

also provides students with 

internships, jobs for supplementary 

income, and important 

contacts for the future. In 

addition, students in certain 

faculties may choose to write 

their bachelor’s or master’s 

thesis in connection with their 

industrial or commercial work 

experience. 

The local dimension of UW’s 

teaching and research is complemented 

by a strong international 

outlook. The intensive 

ERASMUS exchange program 

for students and postgraduates 

links UW with almost 100 European 

universities, and further 

international partnerships exist 

with some 65 universities in 

Europe, Russia, Africa, the 

Far East and South-East Asia, 

North and South America, and 

Australia – perfect conditions 

for students seeking global cultural 

experience. 

11 


12 

Organizational structure 

of the University of Wuppertal 

FACULTIES 

A Faculty 

of Humanities 

OFFICE OF THE RECTOR – 

STAFF UNITS 

Press Office 

Knowledge Transfer Office / 

UniMarketing 

Quality control / Evaluation 

of teaching and study 

conditions 

Academic 

Staff 

Training 

B Faculty of Economics – 

Schumpeter School of Business 

and Economics 

C Faculty of Mathematics 

and Natural Sciences 

Data Protection Officer 

D Faculty of Architecture, Civil 

Engineering, Mechanical 

Engineering and Safety 

Engineering 

E Faculty of Electrical, 

Information and Media 

Engineering 

F Faculty of 

Art and Design 

G Faculty of 

Educational and 

Social Sciences 

School of Education 

Querschnittsorganisation mit 

Verantwortung für die zentralen 

Aufgaben in der Lehrerbildung 

Office of the Rector 

CENTRAL ORGANIZATIONAL 

UNITS 

University Library 

Information and 

Media Center 

Central Student Advisory 

and Counseling Service 

Language Center 

UNIVERSITY SUPERVISORY BOARD 

RECTOR 

Pro-Rector I: 

Academic Affairs 

Pro-Rector II: 

Research, External Funding and 

Advanced Scientific Training 

Pro-Rector III: 

Finance, Planning and 

Information 

Pro-Rector IV: 

Transfer and International 

Relations 

SENATE 

INTERDISCIPLINARY 

CENTERS 

Interdisciplinary Center for 

Science and Technology 

Studies: Normative and 

Historical Perspectives 


Applied Informatics and 

Scientific Computing 


Technical Process 

Management 

Institute of Polymer 

Technology 

Microstructure Research 

Center 

Institute of Educational 

Research 

Center for Narrative 

Research 

Center for Graduate 

Studies 

Bergisch Competence Center 

for Health Management and 

Public Health

Institute of 

Phenomenological 

Research 

Institute of European 

Economic Relations 

Institute of Entrepreneurship 

and Innovation 

Research 

Institute of Civil 

Engineering 

CHANCELLOR 

INSTITUTES OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF 

WUPPERTAL 

Institute of Safety 

Engineering 

Institute of Applied 

Art History and 

Visual Culture 

Institute of Robotics 

Institute of Environmental 

Planning 

Institute of Branding 

and Communications 

Research 

Institute of Foundation, 

Waste and Water 

Engineering 

Institute of 

Security Systems 

UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION 

– STAFF UNITS 

University Legal Office 

Equal Opportunities Coordinator 

ASSOCIATE INSTITUTES OF 

THE UNIVERSITY OF 

WUPPERTAL 

Bergisch Regional Institute 

of Product Development 


Management 

European Institute for 

International Economic 

Relations 

Telecommunications 

Research Institute 

Tools and Materials 

Research Association 

Institute of Occupational 

Medicine, Safety and 

Ergonomics 

Medical Engineering 

Association 

Institute of Social 

Gerontology and the 

Medicine of Aging 

Biblical Archaeology 

Institute 

UNIVERSITY 

ADMINISTRATION 

Department 1: Research 

Funding Management, 

Finance, Accounting and 

Procurement 

Department 2: Planning 

and Development 

Department 3: Academic 

and Student Affairs 

Department 4: Organization 

and Human Resources 

Department 5: Facility, 

Safety and Environmental 

Management 

13 


14 

Faculties 

and subjects 

A 

B 

C 

➔ 

A FACULtY oF HUMAnItIes 

- General and Comparative Literature 

- Linguistics 

- English and American Studies 

- Protestant Theology 

- German Studies 

- History 

- Catholic Theology 

- Classical Languages / Latin 

- Music Education 

- Philosophy 

- Political Science 

- Romance Studies 

B FACULtY oF BUsIness AnD eCono- 

MICs – sCHUMPeteR sCHooL oF BUsIness 

AnD eConoMICs 

- Economics and Business Administration 

- Business Law / Business Psychology 

- Business Education / Methods 

C FACULtY oF MAtHeMAtICs AnD 

nAtURAL sCIenCes 

- Biology 

- Chemistry / Food Chemistry 

- Mathematics / Informatics 

- Physics

D FACULtY oF ARCHIteCtURe, CIVIL en- 

GIneeRInG, MeCHAnICAL enGIneeRInG 

AnD sAFetY enGIneeRInG 

- Architecture 

- Civil Engineering 

- Mechanical Engineering 

- Safety Engineering 

e FACULtY oF eLeCtRICAL, 

InFoRMAtIon AnD MeDIA 

enGIneeRInG 

- Electrical Engineering 

- Information Technology 

- Printing and Media Engineering 

F FACULtY oF ARt AnD DesIGn 

- Industrial Design 

- Media Design / Design Technology 

- Art 

- Color Technology / Spatial Design / 

Surface Technology 

G FACULtY oF eDUCAtIonAL AnD 

soCIAL sCIenCes 

- Education 

- Psychology 

- Sociology 

- Sports 

sCHooL oF eDUCAtIon 

D 

e 

F 

G 

15

16 

Subjects and degree programs 

Übersicht Stand 08/2010) 

Key: 

• 

∆ 

▲ 

Summer and winter 

semester 

winter semester 

recommended 

winter semester only 

summer semester only 

SUBJECTS: 

English, Linguistics 

General and Comparative 

Literature 

Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie 

Architecture 

Civil Engineering 

Biology 

Fire Safety Engineering 

Chemistry 

Computational Mechanical 

Engineering 

Computer Simulation in Science 

Print and Media Technology 

Druck- und Medientechnik 

Editions- und Dokumentwissenschaft 

Electrical Engineering 

Energy Engineering 

European studies 

Color, Space and Surface 

design and Technology 

French, Linguistics 

German, Linguistics 

German studies and mathematics 

for primary schools 

History 

Applied Design Studies 

Gesundheitsökonomie und 

Gesundheitsmanagement 

Fundamentals of 


Industrial Design 

Informatics 

Information Technology 

Childhood, Youth, Social Services 

Art 

Latin 

Food Chemistry 

DEGREE PROGRAMS 

BACHELOR 

1 subject 2 subjects 2 subjects 

ARTS APPLIED 

SCIENCE 

• 

• • 

• • • 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• ∆ 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• • 

• 

• • 

• 

• ∆ 

• 

• 

MASTER STATE- 

Master Master Master of Education ExAMIof 

of NATION 

Science Arts Primary and High Vocational 

lower School technical 

secondary College 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Schools 

im zzt. eingerichteten 

Master of 

Education 

GHRGe werden 

keine Fächer 

studiert, 

daher erfolgt 

die Einschreibung 

in das Fach 

Erziehungswissenschaften 

SW 

m

Mechanical Engineering 

Mathematics 

Elements of Mathematics 

Media Design and Design Technology 

Music 

Communications Engineering 

Educational Science 

Philosophy 

Physics 

Psychology 

Political Science 

Quality Control Engineering 

Real Estate 

Management 

Romance studies 

Safety Engineering 


Sociology 

Spanish,Linguistics 

Banking 

Tax Accountancy 

HR 

Business IT 

PE, Sports 

Protestant Theology 

Catholic Theology 

Business Engineering: Traffic and Transportation 

Business Engineering: 

Electrotechnology 


Automotive 


Energy Management 


IT 

Economics 

Economics and Politics 

Business Mathematics 

BACHELOR 

1 subject 2 subjects 2 subjects 

• • 

• 

• 

• 

• ∆ 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• • 

• ∆ 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• • 

• 

• • 

ARTS APPLIED 

SCIENCE 

MASTER 

Master Master Master of Education 

of of 

Science Arts Primary and High Vocational 

lower School technical 

secondary College 

▲ 

• 

Schools 

im zzt. eingerichteten 

Master of 

Education 

GHRGe werden 

keine Fächer 

studiert, 

daher erfolgt 

die Einschreibung 

in das Fach 

Erziehungswissenschaften 

SW 

17 


18 

UW Rector Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch with Chancellor Dr. Roland Kischkel 

Aspects 09|10 

New Chancellor 

(Head of 

Administration) 

The new Chancellor of the University 

of Wuppertal, Dr. Roland 

Kischkel, took over from 

Hans-Joachim von Buchka on 

October 1, 2009. Von Buchka 

had been in charge of UW’s 

administration for eight years. 

As program director of the German 

Research Foundation’s 

collaborative research centers 

for ten years, before becoming 

Chancellor of the Technical 

University of Dortmund 

in 2001, Kischkel had been 

responsible for research project 

funding. His appointment 

by the University of Wuppertal 

Supervisory Board (May 2009) 

and confirmation by the Senate 

was unanimous. 

UW on course 

for success 

Interdisciplinarity and openness 

to innovation, commitment, 

enthusiasm and teamwork 

– the forces that drive 

industry and science are at 

work in UW’s senior management 

team. Representing 

UW’s core disciplines, the Rector 

and Pro-Rectors have made 

it their goal since accession to 

office in 2008 to trim UW for 

the future. 

‘To do the right things and, 

whatever one does, to do it 

rightly’ – this motto has seen 

the launching of many projects 

and the opening to discussion 

of many topics that are set to 

shape the future of higher education, 

science and research. 

And success has been immediate: 

UW’s growth in student 

and graduate numbers, completed 

doctorates and external 

funding in 2009 was already 

above average for NRW universities. 

Notable research successes 

include breakthroughs in particle 

physics and low-energy 

teraherz radiation that is nondamaging 

to biological cells, as 

well as student projects such 

as the zero-energy house that 

qualified for the final round of 

the international ‘Solar Decathlon’ 

competition. 

The growth of contacts with 

regional business, reflected 

in intensive cooperation with 

the Chamber of Industry and 

Commerce, is evident in many 

research projects. One 

such joint venture, in tandem 

with the Schlüsselregion (Key 

Region) Association, was the 

founding of a UW Associate 

Institute of Security Systems 

in the nearby locksmiths’ town 

of Velbert. Another start-up for 

UW – in cooperation with regional 

health industries – is the 

Regional Competence Center 

for Health Management and 

Public Health located in the 

Schumpeter School of Business 

and Economics. 

The consistent focus on specific 

areas and innovative activities 

that characterizes UW’s 

management policy is evident, 

too, in the establishment of 

new degree programs such 

as Health Systems Economics 

and Management, which dovetails 

into the research specialty 

in public health indicated above.

New master’s graduates from UW’s Real Estate Management & Construction Project Management program at the award ceremony in 

Wuppertal’s Historic Civic Hall 

Aspects 09|10 

University ranking 

Over the past few years ranking 

has become increasingly 

important for universities, not 

only for recruiting students and 

staff, but also for acquiring external 

funding. Today Germany 

alone has more than a dozen 

widely acknowledged university 

ranking instruments. Applying 

a simple yardstick, based 

on common parameters and 

methods, they seem to show 

at a glance the strengths and 

weaknesses of the institutions 

concerned. 

But there are drawbacks. For 

each HE institution has its characteristic 

strengths – a technical 

university, for example, is 

based on quite different principles 

from a full university – 

and these are often difficult to 

compare accurately. Moreover, 

the evaluations on which rankings 

are based are rarely 

objective; for the most 

part they reflect the 

opinions of a handful 

of students 

and teachers in 

a subject area or 

department. Thus 

the CHE (Center 

for Higher Education 

Development) 

ranking of UW’s history 

department in 2010 surveyed 

30 out of a total of some 1150 

students in the department. 

This naturally lends great 

weight to the opinion of the individual 

respondent. 

However, despite these methodological 

shortcomings, 

UW views ranking in general 

in a positive light and uses the 

feedback to drive its ongoing 

development. Accordingly, 

another milestone in the pro- 

cess of boosting UW’s level 

of attractiveness and user 

satisfaction will be the 

opening of the new 

lecture hall center 

scheduled for 

winter 2010-2011, 

which will provide 

more room for students 

and teachers 

alike. 

That is one measure 

among many: all in all UW is 

doing well. The CHE ranking (a 

well-respected agency) sees 

UW in a solid middle position 

among German universities. 

And UW economics has just 

been promoted into CHE’s 

‘excellence ranking’, placing it 

among the top 50 departments 

in Europe. 

19

20 

Aspects 09|10 - Teaching 

A MINT tip for 

your degree program: 

Mathematik, Informatik, Naturnatural 

sciences and engineering 

offer ideal study conditions 

MINT stands for Mathematics, 

Informatics, Natural sciences 

and Technology: a good tip 

for your choice of degree program, 

because these subjects 

offer exciting, future-oriented 

knowledge with interesting career 

prospects. 

Whether researching atmospheric 

cleansing processes 

in chemistry, biology and environmental 

engineering, or 

developing earthquake-proof 

housing, or modern traffic and 

transportation concepts in civil 

engineering, natural scientists 

and engineers are laying 

the foundations for products 

that will make our lives safer, 

healthier and more comfortable. 

Conditions of study in the 

MINT subject areas at UW 

are ideal: small groups, highly 

motivated professors and sti- 

mulating research projects in 

which undergraduates regularly 

participate. Career prospects 

are excellent, as almost every 

other company in Germany is 

looking for scientists and engineers. 

www.zsb.uni-wuppertal.de 

BSc in 

engineering 

possible with entrance qualification 

for a university of applied 

science 

Civil engineering, printing and 

media technology, electrical 

engineering, mechanical engineering, 

IT and safety engineering 

can all now be taken 

at bachelor’s level at UW with 

the entrance qualification for a 

university of applied science 

(Fachhochschulreife). Presuppositions 

are: completion of 

a special preparatory course 

at the Technical Academy of 

Wuppertal (TAW) and passing 

an examination set by the university. 

www.uni-wuppertal.de 

kDegree programs k 

Fascination of technology: 

Prof. Anke Kahl with 

students of safety engineering 

Applications and enrollment 

kAdmission requirements 

kAdmission with 

entrance qualification for 

a university of applied science 

(Fachhochschulreife) 

Good teaching– 

“and the Oscar 

goes to …” 

UW has awarded its fifth annual 

‘Bergisch lion’ for outstanding 

teaching quality. After 

evaluation of more than 4300 

questionnaires, the awards for 

2009 went to: 

- Rebecca Dörfler Dipl. Psych. 

(Social Psychology) – in the 

category ‘less than 50 course 

participants’ 

- Dr. Ingo Busse (Zoology / Didactics 

of Biology) and Prof. Dr. 

Monika Rathert (German/Linguistics) 

– in the category ‘more 

than 50 course participants’ 

- Dr. Birte Kellermeier-Rehbein 

(German/Linguistics) – prize for 

particular commitment and innovation 

in teaching.

Importance of funding: 60 NRW scholarships were awarded in 2009 

Aspects 09|10 – Support, funding, scholarships 

As a responsible educational 

institution UW is concerned to 

support its students and staff 

in every way it can. Therefore 

it provides a wide spectrum of 

study, career and research-oriented 

services and a number 

of funding opportunities. 

The university’s Career Service 

offers seminars and courses for 

the acquisition of key competencies, 

among them speech 

and rhetoric, management, 

and job application training. 

The UW Young Entrepreneurs 

initiative bizeps runs seminars 

on business start-ups, and the 

Center for Graduate Studies offers 

all-round support for doctorate 

students and postdocs. 

Another important aspect of 

support is research promotion: 

here UW’s central Research 

Promotion Fund provides c. 

€500,000 annually for the preparation 

and submission of external 

funding applications for 

research projects. 

Scholarships 

at UW 

Promoting the best – NRW 

scholarships 

In October 2009 UW counted 

60 students with NRW 

scholarships. Given that these 

scholarships presuppose 50% 

funding from other (private) 

sources, this high number 

could only be achieved thanks 

to the efforts and commitment 

of regional industry and particular 

individuals, as well as 

various foundations and a number 

of professors. 

Funding where it’s needed – 

the University of Wuppertal 

Scholarship Foundation 

Founded in 2009, the University 

of Wuppertal Scholarship 

Foundation supports gifted 

students who have no private 

means to call on. The Foundation 

expects to grant some 

20 scholarships worth €300 a 

month for the academic year 

2010-2011. 

k www.uni-wuppertal.de/ 

studium/stipendien 

Information on 

funding and 

scholarship 

opportunities 

Scholarship fair 

The Student Union (AStA) 

holds an annual scholarship fair 

at UW every January. This provides 

an overview of various 

ways to finance your studies 

with particular reference to 

scholarship opportunities. 

Scholarship handbook 

UW’s Equal Opportunities Office 

published a scholarship 

handbook in 2009 containing 

details of all funding sources 

open to undergraduates and 

postgraduates. 

k www.gleichstellung.uniwuppertal.de 

21

22 

Outlook – University of Wuppertal 

New lecture hall block 

New Lecture Hall Center on Grifflenberg Campus with lecture theaters and seminar rooms for more than 1500 students 

The Construction and Property 

Department of the State 

of North Rhine-Westphalia 

(NRW) is currently converting 

UW’s original mechanical 

engineering hall (dating from 

1968) on the main Grifflenberg 

campus into a lecture 

hall facility for all 7 university 

faculties. Work started in early 

December 2009, and the 

new center – containing a large 

lecture theater seating 800, a 

smaller one seating 250, and a 

number of seminar rooms – is 

due to be opened at the end 

of 2010. Stretching along the 

hill above Gauss Str., the building 

has been given a new roof 

and façade, as well as a new 

main entrance area designed 

in a competition organized by 

NRW’s Art and Building Program. 

Mounted directly behind the 

glass front of the entrance foyer, 

a large work by the Cologne 

artist Carsten Gliese forms an 

optical highlight breaking up 

the profile of the newly converted 

building. Titled ‘Model 

Wuppertal’, Gliese’s black and 

white composition of floors 

and staircases creates a multidimensional 

virtual space reflecting 

the architectonic and 

intellectual structures of the 

university. 

Framed by the glass façade of the entrance foyer: Carsten Gliese’s 

‘Model Wuppertal’

At_A_GLANCE 

CAMPUSLUFT 

(‘CampusAir’): 

Five-and-a-half minutes short, 

the university’s new video 

film had its Internet premiere 

in June 2009. Presented on 

UW’s homepage with German, 

English and Chinese 

commentary, the film takes 

an impressive bird’s eye view 

of the 3 UW campuses and 

provides brief background 

information on the University 

and City of Wuppertal. 

A French commentary is in 

course of preparation. 

More women professors: 

UW has received almost a 

million euros from NRW’s 

innovation and structural 

funding program for its success 

in promoting women 

to professorial posts. The 

university’s 6 new women 

professors represented the 

second best result in NRW, 

one place better than 2008. 

ExcellenceRanking 2009 

Seal of quality for economics 

– UW’s Faculty of Economics 

was singled out by the Center 

for Higher Education Development 

(CHE) for its “research 

strengths and international 

outlook”. In its 2009 rankings 

the CHE places Wuppertal 

in the Excellence Group of 

Europe’s top 100 universities 

for the quality of its master’s 

and doctorate programs in 

economics, psychology and 

political science. 

Merger: 

The university administration’s 

former facility management 

and workplace 

and environmental safety departments 

merged on April 1, 

2009. The new Department 

of Facility Management, Safety 

and Environmental Protection 

contains five sections 

with a total of 95 employees. 

Refurbishment: 

NRW’s Construction and Property 

Department handed 

over the ‘HB’ building on Haspel 

Campus to the university 

in July 2009 after a thorough 

refurbishment costing €3.9 

m. The School of Architecture 

moved into the 4,200 sq m 

building during the summer 

vacation 2009. 

Planning cell: 

Against the background of 

rebuilding measures UW is 

breaking new ground. Invited 

by UW Rector Prof. Dr. 

Lambert T. Koch, 50 students 

selected by random sampling 

formed a planning cell in October 

2009 to make innovative 

and practicable suggestions 

for improving the university 

as a pleasant and productive 

study environment. 

Restructuring: 

UW has restructured the Faculty 

of Art and Design, and 

will concentrate in future on 

degree programs in the following 

areas: art, industrial 

design, media design and 

design technology, color 

technology and spatial design. 

The new focus was announced 

in July 2009 after a 

joint meeting of the Rector’s 

Office and the University Supervisory 

Board. 

Elected: 

UW Rector, Prof. Dr. Lambert 

T. Koch, took second place 

in the Association of German 

Universities’ election of 

‘Rector/President of the Year’ 

behind the Rector of the University 

of Rostock, Prof. Dr. 

Wolfgang Schareck. 

23 


02_ 

UW_ACADEMIC 

25

26 

Investing in the future health market: Founding members of the Bergisch Regional Competence Center BKG (l. to r.): Prof. Lambert 

T. Koch (UW Rector), Oliver Bredel (Managing Director, Sana Hospital Remscheid), Michael Breuckmann (Healthcare Professions 

Academy, Wuppertal), Elke von Brand (GHD Health, Germany), Ralf Nennhaus (Managing Director, St. Joseph’s Hospital 

Center for Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Wuppertal), Birgit Fischer (Deputy CEO, Barmer Health Insurances), Georg Schmidt 

(Managing Director, Bethesda Hospital Wuppertal), Prof. Kerstin Schneider (Schumpeter School of Business and Economics), 

Josef Beutelmann (CEO, Barmenia Insurances), Prof. Michael Fallgatter (Dean of the Schumpeter School of Business and Economics), 

Prof. Rainer Wieland (Schumpeter School of Business and Economics). 

A healthy future 

Bergisch Regional Competence Center for Health 

Management and Public Health (BKG) 

The Bergisch Regional Competence 

Center for Health Management 

and Public Health 

(BKG) looks to a healthy future 

for UW as a management training 

school for the growng 

NRW health market. 

Health today must be seen 

against the background of social 

and technological developments, 

in which the biological 

sciences in combination with 

human resources will contribute 

essentially to economic 

productivity. Biotechnology is 

already opening new perspectives 

in physical health, and 

the sustenance and enhancement 

of human resources 

will depend on our ability to 

maintain the development of 

psycho-social health. North 

Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is in 

both respects significant. The 

health sector is already a powerful 

motor for regional growth 

and innovation, with more than 

a million employees currently 

generating turnover in excess 

of €52.4 billion. Employment in 

the sector grew by 1.9% in the 

five years to 2008, against a 

drop of 1.2% in NRW as a whole. 

This trend is driven by the 

demand for all-round health: 

for it is clear that, however 

one defines it, health is more 

than the mere lack of disease. 

The WHO sees it as “a state 

of complete physical, mental 

and social well-being and not 

merely the absence of disease 

or infirmity.”

Health and 

productivity 

The question arises how health 

expenditure, which might at 

first sight seem a mere drain 

on resources, can be an engine 

of growth and employment. 

One should, however, remember 

in this context that economic 

prosperity s not primarily 

a matter of machines, capital 

or jobs, but of innovation. This 

applies to the health sector, 

too: progress will come from 

improvements in productivity 

related to both health and disease 

across the entire sector 

with all its subordinate areas 

and disciplines, which include 

not only medicine but also the 

broad fields of health economics 

and management. Here 

the demand for action in both 

research and specialist training 

is still vast. 

BKG: three pillars, 

one concept 

In close collaboration with regional 

health players UW is 

meeting this challenge with its 

co-foundation of the Bergisch 


for Health Management 

and Public Health, established 

as a university institute 

at the Schumpeter School of 

Business and Economics. The 

Center has three pillars: the regional 

network, the UW Institute, 

and the degree programs. 

These latter initially comprise 

a single and twin-track BSc 

in Health Economics and Management 

beginning in winter 

semster 2010-2011, to be followed 

in a second phase by 

an MSc and MBA. Based on 

the institute’s research remit, 

the new bachelor’s programs 

provide a comprehensive systemic 

understanding of health 

economics and management 

and include the fundamentals 

of medicine, along with key 

competencies in health psychology, 

economics, management, 

and insurance, as well 

as the elements of general 

economics and business administration. 

The BKG mission is to analyze 

and reflect on current challen- 

ges in the health sector and 

to channel these activities into 

specific research, teaching 

and practical transfer projects. 

Since the Center’s foundation 

in 2009, its initiators have 

worked with great speed and 

commitment, with the result 

that winter semester 2010 already 

saw the first students 

embarking on the BSc programs. 

Particular attention has 

been paid to high quality and 

practical orientation in both research 

and teaching. Officially 

established as an Institute of 

the University of Wuppertal, 

the BKG is financed by external 

sponsorships from regional 

enterprises and by NRW’s Ministry 

of Innovation, Science, 

Research and Technology. As 

well as being a leading research 

research institute supporting 

practical teaching programs, 

the Center thus sustains a network 

integrating UW into the 

regional health economy. 

Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schneider 

Prof. Dr. Rainer Wieland 

Bergisch Regional Competence 

Center for Health Management 

and Public Health 

(BKG) 

Technology Center Wuppertal 

W-tec GmbH 

Lise-Meitner-Straße 1-13 

Haus 1 

42119 Wuppertal 

T: +49 (0)202 85069661 

27 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

28 

Award of the Barmenia Mathematics Prize 2009 (l. to r.): Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch (UW Rector), Prof. Dr. Ralf Koppmann, (Pro-Dean of the 

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences), Heinz-Werner Richter (Barmenia Health Insurances), prizewinners Mario La Torre, Lukas 

Krämer, Leona Pleuger, Martin Wagner and Thomas Pawlaschyk with Prof. Dr. Peter Wiesen (Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural 

Sciences), and Pro-Dean Prof. Dr. Bruno Lang 

Partnership with many facets 

For many years there has been 

close cooperation between 

Barmenia Insurances and the 

University of Wuppertal. Based 

in Wuppertal, Barmenia is one 

of Germany’s big independent 

insurance groups. Its products 

range from health and life insurance 

through accident and 

motor vehicle to third party 

and property insurance. With 

more than 1400 employees at 

its Head Office, Barmenia is 

one of the Bergisch region’s 

biggest employers. The 

company’s forward-looking 

business approach and familyfriendly 

staff policy enhance its 

attractiveness as an employer. 

Barmenia appreciates the importance 

of supporting young 

people and puts this into practice 

in several longstanding projects 

at UW, among them the 

Barmenia Mathematics Prize 

awarded every year since 2002 

to outstanding students of the 

Faculty of Mathematics and 

Natural Sciences. The company 

also supports gifted students 

with NRW scholarships, 

offers internships, and supports 

specific student projects 

such as the Solar Decathlon 

Team. 

Research funding is equally 

important to Barmenia. The 

company is a founder member 

of the Bergisch Regional 

Competence Center for Health 

Management and Public 

Health (BKG) and has sponsored 

a five-year professorship 

at UW’s Schumpeter School 

of Business and Economics, 

thus contributing to the training 

of health management 

professionals and strengthe- 

ning the health service profile 

of the ‘Bergisch triangle’ cities 

of Remscheid, Solingen and 

Wuppertal. 

Barmenia Insurances 

Kronprinzenallee 12-18 

D-42119 Wuppertal 

Internships and jobs 

For information on internships 

and jobs at Barmenia visit 

www.myjob-barmenia.de or 

call (see below). 

Insurance for students 

For information on student insurances 

visit www.student. 

barmenia.de 

Contact (cooperations) 

Stephan Bongwald 

Press and Public Relations 

E-Mail: stephan.bongwald@barmenia.de 

Tel.: +49 (0)202 4383240 

Contact (internships and jobs) 

Monika Hentschel 

HR 

E-Mail: monika.hentschel@barmenia.de 

Tel.: +49 (0)202 4382416

First joint UW 

Technical Academy of Wuppertal 

educational project 

UW has been cooperating 

with the Technische Akademie 

Wuppertal (Technical Academy 

of Wuppertal – TAW) since 

1987, but July 2010 sees the 

launch of a new project: an intensive 

preparatory course for 

admission to a university degree 

program in engineering. 

Aimed at school-leavers with 

entrance qualifications for a 

Fachhochschule (university of 

applied science), the summer 

course in mathematics, physics 

and English will boost 20 

prospective engineering graduates 

to Abitur (higher school 

leaving certificate) level in six 

weeks. Program input includes 

geometry, linear algebra and 

calculus, as well as mechanics, 

acoustics, optics and electrostatics. 

Existing English skills 

will be freshened up and expanded 

especially in technical 

areas. 

The six week course ends with 

an admission examination opening 

the door to UW bachelor’s 

programs in civil, mechanical, 

electrical and safety engineering, 

as well as printing and 

media engineering and IT. 

The educational partnership 

established in this cooperative 

venture is to be extended in future 

years. 

Technical Academy of Wuppertal: UW educational project partner 

Technische Akademie Wuppertal e.V. 

Hubertusallee 18 


Telefon: +49 (0)202 74950 

Telefax: +49 (0)202 7495202 

E-Mail: taw-elberfeld@taw.de 

Internet: www.taw.de 

29 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

30 

Twin-track degree = 

professional training 

+ BSc 

A twin-track degree program 

combines on-the-job professional 

training and qualification 

with a university degree. UW 

offers an 8 semester program 

comprising 

- qualification in a recognized 

engineering 

profession 

- Bachelor of Science 

(BSc) degree. 

Students who choose this option 

complete thorough practical 

training, with excellent employment 

and career prospects; 

and, as trainees, they earn money 

while they study. 

Depending on their program 

year, students spend more or 

less time at the university, and 

the semester vacations are 

spent on the job. That restricts 

leisure time, but at the same 

time greatly enhances employment 

prospects. 

Twin-trackers are young, ambitious 

and experienced – which 

is why their employers like 

them. Graduates of the UW 

programs are well qualified 

and highly motivated, and they 

know their company, customers 

and markets inside out. A 

further advantage is that twintrack 

undergraduates can apply 

their theoretical knowledge immediately, 

which is profitable 

for their company as well as for 

themselves. 

BSc in Civil 

Engineering 

(twin-track) 

The content of this degree 

program is identical with that 

of the BSc in civil engineering. 

Students learn the fundamentals 

of civil engineering: constructional 

theory, physics, 

mathematics, chemistry, and 

statics. General practical training 

is run by the Construction 

Industry Training Centers‘ Association 

and the NRW Construction 

Industry Training Association, 

and on-the-job training 

takes place during semester 

vacations in standard training 

industries such as Deutsche 

Bahn AG (German Rail), which 

offers twin-track traineeships 

in civil engineering and railtrack 

construction. 

k www.fbd.uni-wuppertal. 

de k Faculty D k Civil 

engineering k Degree programs 

k Twin-track 

In Prof. Brues’ seminar on digital 

printing technology

BSc in Print and 

Media Technologies 

(twin-track) 

UW is the first German university 

to offer a twin-track 

degree program in print and 

media technologies. This enables 

trainees in the printing and 

media industries to complete a 

BSc degree whilst training. 

The program conveys specialist 

knowledge of the subject 

and its methods, as well as 

management skills, with university-based 

study increasing 

as the program progresses. 

On-the-job training takes place 

during semester vacations, 

complementing the university 

courses with solid practical 

knowledge and experience in 

the entire field of integrated 

media production. The twintrack 

program is offered in cooperation 

with the NRW Print 

& Media Association. 

k www.fbe.uni-wuppertal. 

de k Print and Media Technologies 

k Degree programsk 

Twin-track 

BSc in Electrical 

Engineering 

(twin-track) 

The twin-track program in electrical 

engineering combines 

professional training in an electrical 

engineering company 

with a university degree. 

The practical part of the program 

is organized in cooperation 

with the Remscheid Metal 

and Electrical Industries’ 

Educational Center (BZI). Onthe-job 

training begins in August 

and the university-based 

program in October. Students 

spend three days a week at the 

university during their first year, 

and the other two days either 

at the BZI or in their training 

companies. 

After two years students take 

their IHK (Chamber of Industry 

and Commerce) examination, 

which qualifies them as electronics 

craftsmen/women. 

The final four semesters are 

spent exclusively at the university. 

On completion of the 

bachelor’s thesis they graduate 

with a BSc in electrical engineering. 

UW twin-track civil engineering student Tim Vogt 

is also training as a Deutsche Bahn AG (German 

Rail) civil engineering and railtrack constructor 


de k Studying at UW k Degree 

programs k Electrical 

engineering k Twin-track 

electrical engineering 

31 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

32 

Working on the Active Safety 

Car project: research is an 

integral part of a UW engineering 

degree 

Business engineer– 

profession of the future 

Business engineers work at 

the interface of technology 

and business. At UW they are 

thoroughly prepared for their 

tasks, as they study both subjects, 

engineering and economics, 

with equal intensity. The 

combination is in great demand 

on the job market, and career 

prospects are excellent. 

Their all-round interdisciplinary 

training enables business engineers 

to see the economic and 

legal as well as the technical 

aspects of a company project 

– an approach that demands 

rapid grasp of the financial 

and controlling side of a task 

as well as its design and construction 

aspects. Integrated 

skills of this kind are required in 

many fields, from procurement 

to production and sales, from 

controlling to logistics, from 

quality management to marketing. 

The professional profile of 

the business engineer is complex 

and varied and calls for a 

high level of creativity and responsibility. 

UW currently offers two 

bachelor’s and four master’s 

programs in this area: 

Bachelor of 

Science (BSc): 

Business Engineering 

– Electrical 

The program focuses on the 

fundamentals of electrical engineering 

and business economics 

theory, and also has 

a strong practical slant. The 

knowledge and skills acquired 

can be applied directly in professional 

practice. 

The program trains engineer/ 

managers of the future for 

work in business and administrative 

areas directly concerned 

with electrical engineering. 

Students are taught to view

technology and product development 

within the context of 

its economic, marketing and 

controlling aspects. The program 

aims to provide graduates 

with a structured academic 

grasp of both technological and 

market developments. 

Graduates can either go directly 

into industry or proceed to an 

MSc in business engineering. 

Master of Science 

(MSc): Business 

Engineering – Electrical 

/ Automotive 



Engineering – 

Electrical / Energy 

Management 



Engineering – 

Electrical / IT 

Rising pressure on production 

costs demands that the traditionally 

technical vision of manufacturing 

industry be combined 

with business competencies. 

This is particularly so in the 

automotive sector (with regard 

to the interface between 

the automation of production 

processes and technical marketing), 

energy management 

(with regard to innovative energy 

technologies and the sustainability 

of resources and power 

supply), and IT (with regard to 

communications networks and 

Internet technologies). 

The UW programs aim to 

equip students to address 

complex technical questions 

in the context of economic, 

ecological, social and political 

considerations. Graduates will 

be generalists with all-round 

knowledge and know-how in 

business economics as well as 

engineering. 


de k Faculty of Electrical, 

Information and Media 

Engineering k www.zsb. 

uni-wuppertal.de k Student 

information 

Bachelor of Science 

(BSc): Business 

Engineering 

– Traffic and 

Transportation 



Engineering 

– Traffic and 

Transportation 

Traffic and transportation is a 

dynamic growth market, with 

experts forecasting a 100% 

rise in goods transport alone 

over coming decades. The planning 

and development of future 

land, sea and air networks 

for goods and passengers 

requires creative and comprehensively 

trained young 

engineers able to find economically 

and ecologically viable 

solutions. UW’s Business Engineering 

– Traffic and Transportation 

programs are among 

Germany’s broadest and most 

varied in this field. 

The BSc program covers the 

fundamentals of traffic and 

transport engineering as well 

as business economics. Separate 

modules are devoted to 

the specialist competencies in 

engineering, methodology, and 

social aspects necessary for 

successful professional practice. 

The MSc program takes a 

deeper look at traffic and transportation, 

logistics, economics 

and environmental factors. 

Students can specialize in road 

traffic and transport management, 

public transport management, 

or goods logistics. 

Graduates can expect to take 

responsible positions in the 

planning, project development 

and management of traffic and 

transportation systems both in 

Germany and abroad, as well 

as in environmental management 

and research. 

k www.fbd.uni-wuppertal. 

de k Faculty D k School of 

Civil Engineering k Degree 

programs k Vwing (Business 

Engineering – Traffic 

and Transportation) k 

www.zsb.uni-wuppertal.de 

k Student information 

33 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

34 

Keeping you mobile: Wuppertal’s UNI Express 

Municipal Utilities link up with 

UW teaching and research 

Cooperation between UW 

and Wuppertal Municipal Utilities 

(WSW) extends to both 

research and teaching. Two 

examples show how WSW 

research into new products 

and technologies involves the 

university along with other research 

institutes and industrial 

organizations: 

Gründerzeit villas 

become mini 

power stations 

A joint research project with 

UW and the Fraunhofer Institute 

for Solar Energy Systems 

(ISE) seeks to demonstrate the 

effectiveness of small combined 

heat and power (CHP) 

systems in late 19th and early 

20th century villas. 

Ambitious goals with regard 

to energy-saving and environmental 

protection in the historical 

residential building sector 

can only be achieved when a 

large number of buildings are 

refurbished simultaneously. 

This is the case in the magnificent 

villa quarters of several 

NRW cities, many of whose 

houses are landmarked buildings 

and cannot, therefore, be 

subjected to major constructional 

energy-saving measures. 

Because of their relatively 

high energy consumption, they 

are ideally suited to the use of 

small combined heat and power 

(CHP) systems. The efficiency 

of these systems is high, 

with more than 90% of energy 

input (generally from natural 

gas) available for use, and the 

30 or so systems installed in 

Wuppertal operate between 

3000 and 5000 hours per year. 

They consist of a power generation 

system (situated in the 

traditional heating cellar) whose 

excess heat output is used 

for domestic heating and hot 

water. This system is linked to 

the local grid, and as power is 

only generated when heat is 

required, most of the electricity 

produced is exported rather 

than used internally. 

Current research focuses on 

the economics and technology 

of this situation, where 

coverage of internal domestic 

use ranks as a priority. WSW 

is considering the introduction

of variable time-based remuneration 

for power fed into the 

grid, which would encourage 

owners to switch on their 

systems for example over the 

midday period, when the electricity 

produced would earn 

higher payment. This would 

require a heat storage system 

and an intelligent control unit. 

Joint research at UW’s School 

of Architecture and the Fraunhofer 

ISE has analyzed issues 

of the dimensions, fueling and 

economics of these systems. 

Filter shafts ease 

municipal waste 

water load 

In a joint venture with Dr. Pecher 

Engineering, Erkrath 

WSW is testing the effectiveness 

of filter shafts as an alternative 

to conventional rainwater 

purification in its waste 

water system. As a field research 

project this is unique 

worldwide. 

WSW invests several million 

euros a year in the extension of 

the municipal waste water system, 

including the construction 

of rainwater purification and retention 

basins, which function 

mechanically. The problem, 

especially in inner city areas, is 

the space these require. Here 

the new filter shafts provide a 

solution that purifies the water 

sufficiently for it to be fed into 

the Wupper and local tributaries 

at a fifth of the price of a 

conventional basin. 

Experimental shafts have been 

constructed in Cronenberg 

and at the Robert-Daum-Platz 

in Elberfeld. A UW engineering 

graduate is working with Dr. 

Pecher Engineering and WSW 

on the evaluation of the new 

procedure. 

Teaching input 

UW bachelor’s and master’s 

programs in Business Engineering 

– Traffic and Transportation 

incorporate know-how from 

the local mobility service provider 

WSW mobil. UW graduate 

Dr. Peter Hoffmann, systems 

management director of local 

public transportation at WSW, 

teaches on the programs, and 

WSW also provides internships 

as well as topics for seminar 

and degree theses for UW students. 

WSW Wuppertaler Stadtwerke GmbH 

Bromberger Str. 39 - 41 


Tel.: +49 (0)202 569-0 

Fax: +49 (0)202 569-4590 

wsw@wsw-online.de 

www.wsw-online.de 

35 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

36 

Rededicating former industrial floor-space: an architectural energy challenge 

Summer Academy 2009 – 

‘Architecture and Energy’ in Wuppertal 

How do you make 32 budding 

architects with an obsession 

for energy-optimized building 

happy in ten days? Quite simple! 

You provide a challenging 

task, intensive coaching, wellknown 

speakers and an attractive 

setting, and combine these 

ingredients with interesting 

excursions. 

From September 21-30, 2009 

UW’s School of Architecture, 

together with the architectural 

faculties of the Universities of 

Dresden and Karlsruhe, hosted 

a Summer Academy on ‘Architecture 

and Energy’ attended 

by architectural students 

from Germany, the Czech Republic 

and Switzerland. The 

event – part of a research initiative 

on energy-optimized 

buiding (EnOB) by the Federal 

Ministry of Economics and 

Technology – was coordinated 

by UW’s Department of Constructional 

Physics and Technical 

Building Services under Prof. 

Dr. Ing. Karsten Voss. 

The Summer Academy venue 

was the old Huppertsberg factory 

in downtown Wuppertal, 

a large four-story building from 

the early 20th century converted 

for use as an attractive 

cultural center with additional 

offices and studios for the 

creative professions. The setting 

was especially appropriate 

to the Summer Academy’s 

task, which was to rededicate 

a similar building on the former 

ELBA site in Wuppertal, and to 

develop an initial architectural 

plan for its new function(s) and 

users.

Outstanding architecture – 

high user-comfort – 

minimal energy consumption 

The initial task for environmentally 

conscious architecture is 

thorough refurbishment, so the 

Summer Academy design challenges 

were situated in this 

area. Their goal was to enable 

participants to plan an appropriate 

low-energy building for 

the ELBA site. Knowledge and 

know-how were communicated 

in lectures and software 

workshops focusing on bestpractice 

examples. 

Specialist lectures, some of 

them on site, were devoted 

to the energy and HVAC concepts 

of relevant buildings 

(Prof. Hegger’s lecture in the 

Mont Cenis Academy, Herne), 

the fundamentals of zero-energy 

building (Prof. Dr. Ing. Voss), 

the interface between energy 

efficiency and economic viability 

(Prof. Dr. Ing. Lützkendorf), 

and future solar construction 

materials (Prof. Dr. Wittwer). 

Academy participants learned 

how to use simulation tools for 

optimization of energy balance 

and interior environmental climate. 

Valuable design support 

was provided by the architects 

Dietmar Riecks (Banz & Riecks, 

Bochum), who had planned the 

Solvis zero-emissions factory 

building, and Michael Müller 

(Müller Schlüter Associates, 

Wuppertal), who was responsible 

for the redesign of the 

Wuppertal student residence 

Neue Burse as a so-called ‘passive 

house’, as well as other 

EnOB projects. Academy participants 

staying at the Neue 

Burse could test first-hand the 

quality of life in such a building. 

Additional stimulus was provided 

by excursions to local 

EnOB projects like the Remscheid 

waste disposal plant 

or the Zeche Zollverein former 

coal-mining complex (now a 

UNESCO World Heritage Site) 

in Essen. 

After the final presentation 

of the Academy’s results in 

the presence of the Rector of 

the University of Wuppertal 

and representatives of the city 

administration, economic 

development authorities, and 

real estate developers, the 32 

student architects could return 

home convinced that their 

journey to Wuppertal had been 

more than worthwhile. For 

the organizers it was clear that 

2010 must see another Summer 

Academy. 

Markus Hemp 

D Faculty of Architecture, 

Civil Engineering, Mechanical 


Engineering 

T: +49(0)202-439-4295 

E: mhemp@uni-wuppertal.de 

kwww.btga.uni-wuppertal.de 

kwww.enob.info 

Model of the former ELBA building in Wuppertal Energy-optimized buiding: the EnOB Summer Academy 

37 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

38 

Solar Decathlon 

Europe 2010 

Wuppertal students build 

solar house for international 

competition 

UW is one of 20 universities 

worldwide that in October 

2008 qualified for the ‘Solar 

Decathlon Europe 2010’ competition. 

The aim of the Solar 

Decathlon is to support research 

and the communication 

and transfer of knowledge at 

university level in the field of 

sustainable, energy-efficient 

construction. The international 

competition, already hosted 

four times by the US capital, 

Washington, was held for the 

first time this year on European 

soil in Madrid. 

The project was financed half 

from external public-sector and 

internal UW sources, and half 

from industrial and business 

sponsoring of materials and planning 

costs, as well as direct 

contribution of materials. 

The task 

Working independently, a team 

of students set out to build a 

100% solar-powered houseof-the-future. 

Planning, development 

and construction 

were to be followed by public 

presentation of the prototype 

in June 2010 to an international 

jury in Madrid. Judgment 

of the competition was based 

on ten principles – hence ‘decathlon’. 

The team 

Led by two professors from 

UW’s School of Architecture 

– Prof. Anett-Maud Joppien 

(Department of Construction 

and Design) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. 

Karsten Voss (Department of 

Constructional Physics and 

A rewarding experience: UW students gain 3 awards and take 6th place in the 

international Net Zero Energy Buildings competition in Madrid 

Technical Building Services) 

– an interdisciplinary team of 

30 students from UW’s architecture, 

civil engineering, 

industrial design, mechanical 

engineering and economics 

programs organized themselves 

into specialist planning and 

construction units and took up 

the challenge. 

The concept 

Central to the project was the 

development of intelligent spatial 

concepts for future living, 

accompanied by research into 

easily transportable modular 

elements, and the development 

of integrated solar energy 

modules and technical services. 

The house was to be 

designed for domestic living 

anywhere in Europe, which 

meant that it had to be adaptable 

for other climatic areas than 

Madrid. 

The architecture – 

dynamic unity 

The UW concept set out to 

achieve a harmonious balance 

of the four key factors Function, 

Aesthetics, Technical Services, 

and Space, taking consistent 

account of sustainability as 

an indispensable parameter 

of modern living. The concept 

was inspired by an awareness 

of the human person as an individual 

living within a community, 

with all the perceptual and 

environmental relations this 

entails. 

Set east-west on a 13 x 23 

m plot, and with a maximum 

height of 5.45 m, the house 

itself occupies an area of 74 sq 

m on two floors and is bounded 

by solar walls on two sides. 

The main living room, 

almost 50 sq m in size, opens 

via sliding elements onto additional 

deck areas to the east 

and west. The first floor space 

is formed by a 12 m long unit 

mounted in a single sweep on 

the supporting walls. The interior 

is defined by a multifunctional 

walk-in SmartBox and, 

opposite this, a kitchen with 

mobile counter unit. 

These constructional principles 

allow a flexible division of 

space adaptable to the changing 

requirements of the people 

who live in it – a ‘flowspace’ 

that blurs the distinction between 

inside and outside and 

enables functional areas to 

overlap. Integration of technical 

services applies consistent 

aesthetic principles, resulting 

in a well-adjusted climatic environment, 

balanced spatial 

proportions, and materials and 

colors that combine with the 

whole to create a flowing, dynamic 

unity. 

The energy concept 

The concept of a ‘net zero 

energy’ building is that over the 

course of a year it should produce 

at least as much energy 

as it consumes. The Solar Decathlon 

competition stipulated 

a ‘purely electrical’ building, 

so the house was designed 

to feed as much electricity into 

the grid as it took from it. 

Optimization of energy consumption 

sought to avoid peak

Wuppertal’s zero-energy house in Madrid 

loading and any consequent 

mismatch. 

As a European house, the building 

had to be adaptable to various 

climatic zones. The UW 

project was designed to meet 

the warm conditions of summertime 

Madrid and, with minor 

adjustments, the cooler climate 

of Wuppertal and regions 

further to the north and east. 

Electricity is generated primarily 

by an integrated solar system 

mounted on the flat roof, 

in addition to which a south-facing 

solar wall carries photovoltaic 

cells whose number can 

be varied to suit local climatic 

conditions. Thermal energy is 

collected via vacuum tubes on 

the south face of the northern 

solar wall. 

Efficient consumption of energy 

for heating and cooling is optimized 

by a high-performance 

insulating ‘skin’ that wraps the 

entire building, providing effective 

heat retention as well 

as protection from the sun. 

Further protection is provided 

by an aluminized fabric curtain 

reflecting radiant solar heat, 

which at the same time constitutes 

a significant architectonic 

element. The curtain’s balance 

between energy efficiency and 

transparency – both to daylight 

and human vision – was optimized 

in a sequence of experimental 

models. A central feature 

of the Wuppertal house’s 

technical equipment is a compact 

HVAC system with integrated 

micro heat pump that 

regulates the functions of heating, 

cooling and water heating 

in combination with the solar 

collectors. 

Prof. Anett-Maud Joppien 

FB D – Architektur: Baukonstruktion, 

Entwerfen und CAD 

T: +49(0)202-439-4036 

kwww.arch.uni-wuppertal.de 

39

40 

Certified design and media competence in the Apple Mac lab 

The Apple Authorized Training 

Center for Education in UW’s 

new combined BA program in 

Media Design and Design 

Technology 

Every area of media production 

has been transformed in recent 

years by the introduction of the 

computer, and the process is 

gathering momentum all the 

time. This has caused a convergence 

in the development 

of design technology – from 

visual communication through 

industrial design to the audiovisual 

and interactive media – 

that will definitively change the 

future of design. UW’s new 

program in media design and 

design technology, launched in 

winter semester 2009, addresses 

these new developments. 

It is the first German program 

of its kind, and its combined 

BA degree will prepare graduates 

for careers in fields ranging 

from design to vocational-technical 

school teaching. 

A central feature of the program 

– also unique in Germany 

– is the media design workshop 

in which the technical 

basics of design can be taught 

on all available professional 

programs. This enables students 

to grasp the overriding 

relationship between design 

and technology across the entire 

range of media, and provides 

an excellent preparation 

for professional design work.

INDESIGN 

ILLUS- 

TRATOR 

VECTOR- 

WORKS 

ARCHICAD 

PHOTO- 

SHOP 

PRINT WEB 

3D/ 

CAD 

CINEMA4D 

DREAM- 

WEAVER& 

FIREWORKS 

A/V 

PREMIERE 

Figure 1: Areas of media design and corresponding 

technical programs 

The success of the program 

can be measured by the intense 

student interest and 

demand it has awakened. A 

feature of the program is the 

tutorials given by specially 

qualified and trained students, 

which provide individual or 

small group tuition and form a 

TYPO3 

FLASH 

AFTER 

EFFECTS 

FINAL CUT 

PRO 

highly effective instrument of 

social integration between the 

student and teaching body. 

Apple Authorized Training 

Center for Education 

The UW media design workshop 

is one of three such 

units at German universities 

officially certified as Apple 

Authorized Training Centers 

for Education (AATCe). These 

enable students, after appropriate 

training and an examination 

(in English), to qualify as 

‘Apple Certified Pro’ or ‚Final 

Cut Pro’. The first UW students 

to gain this decisive career 

advantage qualified at the 

end of winter semester 2009- 

2010. 

Since 2009 Apple’s Munich 

office has been using the UW 

workshop for its nationwide 

qualification sessions – e.g. 

Apple Tech Series courses 

on operating systems. The 

cooperation with Apple – the 

established international leader 

in design technology – 

provides the university itself, 

as well as its media design 

program and students, with a 

unique boost in quality and 

standing. 

Teaching and 

research 

The media design 

workshop is used 

for computerbased 

seminars as 

well as individual 

student work. Synergies 

between 

the various areas of 

media design will be 

enhanced in the near 

future by the addition 

of new professorships 

for interactive and audiovisual 

media. 

Workshop equipment has recently 

been upgraded with the 

addition of new Apple MacPro 

computers and network structures 

financed within the 

framework of the German 

Research Foundation’s Integrative 

Cross-Media Communication 

project at UW. It is 

now possible to run PC and 

Apple computer systems on 

the same hardware, and thus 

to use integrated visual and 

presentation technologies in 

both teaching and research. 

The aim is to develop, analyze 

and apply methodical design 

processes and parallel didactic 

and communicative concepts. 

Not only for research and 

teaching, but also for the future 

career prospects of UW 

graduates, the media design 

workshop forms the basis of 

an excellent all-round qualification 

and a reflective aproach to 

media design and design technology. 

Prof. Dr. Johannes Busmann 

Björn Blankenheim 

Department of Media Design 

and Design Technology 

T: +49(0)202-439-5157 

E: busmann@uni-wuppertal.de 

41 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

42 

Shaping Europe with an 

MA in European Studies 

To understand Europe and 

shape its future is the goal of 

UW’s new one year master’s 

degree in European Studies. 

The interdisciplinary program 

offers wide-ranging and solidly 

founded knowledge, as well 

as direct contact to EU institutions 

and industrial, political 

and cultural players. Tailored 

to future EU professionals, the 

MA is open to all who have 

completed a 240 credit point 

(CP) bachelor’s degree. 

The program conveys, and develops 

on, the fundamentals of 

economics, political science, 

history and law, and includes 

interdisciplinary courses, language 

instruction, and attendance 

at a week-long summer 

academy at the renowned 

Gustav Stresemann Institute 

in Bonn. A summer semester 

spent at UW’s partner University 

of Kaliningrad will enable 

students to take a binational 

German-Russian MA degree. 

For further information on this 

unique offer visit the website 

of our partner institute 

kwww.europastudienkaliningrad.de/ 

Faculty of Humanities 

Prof. Dr. Franz Knipping 

Chair of Modern and Contemporary 

History / Jean 

Monnet Chair of the History 

of European Integration and 

International Relations 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2424 

E: fknipp@uni-wuppertal.de 

Prof. Dr. Hans J. Lietzmann 

Lehrstuhl für Politikwissenschaft 

/ Jean Monnet 

Lehrstuhl für Europapolitik 

T. +49(0)202 439-2428 

E: Hans.J.Lietzmann@ 

uni-wuppertal.de 

Faculty of Economics – 

Schumpeter School of 

Business and Economics 

Prof. Dr. Paul J. J. Welfens 

Chair of Macroeconomics / 

Jean Monnet Chair of European 

Economic Integration 

E: welfens@uni-wuppertal.de

At_A_GLANCE 

New degree option 

in media design 

Winter semester 2009-2010 

saw the launch of a new option 

in media design and design 

technology as part of a 

combined bachelor of arts 

(BA) program that will develop 

creative abilities and cultivate 

advanced design and 

media competencies. Open 

to combination with a wide 

range of other subjects, the 

program is unique at university 

level in Germany. The 

six-semester degree will focus 

on the basics of design 

and typography, with special 

reference to conception, design 

and realization in digital 

media, as well as on the integration 

and application of 

programming knowledge in 

all areas of media communication. 

The new program 

provides students with an exciting 

opportunity to combine 

creative design with another 

degree subject. 

New MSc graduates for 

construction and real estate 

industries 

On Friday April 16, 2010 the 

graduates of UW’s sixth interdisciplinary 

master’s program 

in real estate and construction 

project management 

(REM+CPM) received their 

degree certificates in a formal 

ceremony at Wuppertal’s historic 

Civic Hall. The three best 

theses were awarded ‘agenda4‘ 

prizes. The ceremony 

was attended by benefactors 

and sponsors from the fields 

of politics, business and science, 

as well as by families 

and friends of the graduates. 

The eighth REM+CPM 

master’s program began in 

the same week. 

Political science – As from 

winter semester 2009-2010 

political science can be taken 

as part of a combined BA degree 

program at UW. Some 

50 first semester students 

and 26 transferring from other 

subjects got the program off 

to a good start. 

New business-sponsored 

professorship 

The globally operating chemicals 

specialist Cognis (Monheim) 

has set up a sponsored 

professorship in the ‘Communication 

and Management 

of Chemical Processes in 

Industry’ at UW. An initial 3 

year funding package aims 

to promote R&D, as well as 

teaching, in the field of sustainable 

chemistry, and to 

boost cooperation with the 

university. The financing of 

the professorship will then be 

taken over by the university. 

UW Rector Prof. Dr. Lambert 

T. Koch and Cognis director 

Dr. Hans-Helmut Heymann 

signed the sponsoring contract 

on June 18, 2009. 

Energy conservation 

UW’s energy scientists hosted 

some 100 specialists from 

around the globe at a conference 

at the Haspel Campus 

(October 4-10, 2009). Since 

autumn 2008 the International 

Energy Agency (IEA) 

project ‘Towards Net Zero 

Energy Solar Buildings’ has 

focused on the construction 

of houses that aim to neutralize 

energy consumption and 

CO2 emissions in the course 

of a year. UW’s Department 

of Constructional Physics 

and Technical Building Services 

under Prof. Dr.-Ing. Karsten 

Voss is the sole German 

member of this international 

project. Their research is funded 

within the framework of 

the Federal Ministry of Economics 

and Technology’s 

‘Energy-Optimized Buiding’ 

(EnOB) project. 

Political science 

As from winter semester 

2009-2010 political science 

can be taken as part of a combined 

BA degree program at 

UW. Some 50 first semester 

students and 26 transferring 

from other subjects got the 

program off to a good start. 

British-German Dialogue 

A ‘Bilingual Studies Abroad’ 

project launched by Prof. Dr. 

Bärbel Diehr of UW’s Department 

of English and American 

Studies enables future 

English teachers to prepare 

for their careers by experiencing 

everyday life in a British 

school. In 2008-2009 thirteen 

UW undergraduates taught 

for 3-4 months in the UK. 

43 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

44 

Bundled competence in teacher education: Prof. Dr. Casale’s seminar (School of Education) 

University of Wuppertal – 

pioneering teacher education 

Teacher education plays a major 

role at UW. Degree qualifications 

are offered for all German 

school types other than 

special needs schools, and 

currently some 45% of students 

are enrolled in programs 

that qualify for school teaching. 

The range of subjects has recently 

been further extended, 

with greater emphasis placed 

in their respective faculties on 

subjects such as Spanish or Latin, 

the fundamentals of natural 

science and engineering, or 

informatics and media design. 

The university’s mission statement 

also gives prominence 

to this area, with “education 

and knowledge in social and 

cultural contexts” as a declared 

focus of transdisciplinary 

teaching and research. 

The School of 

Education 

In the wake of NRW’s Teacher 

Education Act (2009), and in 

order to strengthen teacher 

education still further, UW 

founded the School of Education 

in 2010 on the model of 

its existing faculties – an innovation 

as yet uncommon in 

German-speaking universities. 

The School of Education pursues 

two closely allied aims: 

1. Coordination of teacher 

education in bachelor’s and 

master’s programs is conducted 

by the School of 

Education’s Joint Degree Program 

Committee (GSA), which 

represents and coordinates the 

interests of, and decides issues 

affecting all faculties concerned 

with teacher education 

– e.g. general regulations for 

teacher education programs. 

The Committee thus plays a 

key role in university policy. 

2. The Institute of Educational 

Research (IfB) is a research 

and teaching unit of UW’s educational 

sciences. Within the 

School of Education it has the 

rights and duties of a university 

faculty, from autonomous allocation 

of funds to the award 

of doctoral and postdoctoral 

degrees and the appointment 

of professors. The Institute is 

responsible for the educational 

science input of all teacher 

education programs and offers 

many of the courses in this 

area. 

With regard to research, organization 

and teaching, specialist 

subject didactics remains the 

responsibility of the individual 

departments and faculties. 

However, the School of Edu-

cation provides wide scope for 

cooperation and networking 

in this field, both among the 

departments concerned and 

with the educational sciences. 

Moreover, individual faculty 

members may be coopted into 

the Institute of Educational Research. 

The Graduate School 

of Education linked to the Institute 

has the declared goal of 

supporting empirical doctoral 

research in specialist subject 

didactics. 

The School of Education will 

receive €3.13 m in funding 

from the State of NRW for the 

period 2010-2014. 

The School of 

Education at the 

University of 


•concentrates responsibility 

and creates a focus of professional 

identification for students 

and staff 

•focuses resources and managerial 

competencies and 

cooperates closely with UW 

faculties 

•ensures close cooperation 

between the Joint Degree Pro- 

gram Committee and the Institute 

of Educational Research, 

facilitating integrated curriculum 

development across 

the three aspects of teacher 

education: specialist subject 

studies, specialist subject didactics, 

and educational sciences 

•emphasizes in the establishment 

of the Institute of Educational 

Research the importance 

to the university of high academic 

quality in its teacher education 

program, and provides a 

structure for empirical research 

cooperation with other UW disciplines, 

in particular specialist 

subject didactics 

•builds on and develops existing 

UW strengths, enhancing 

the newly established national 

profile of the university in educational 

research 

•provides – in the form of the 

Graduate School annexed to 

the Institute of Educational 

Research – an excellent basis 

for systematic networking with 

research in specialist subject 

didactics and for the support 

and promotion of young scholars 

in educational and didactic 

research. 

Prof. Roebken at work in the Institute of Educational Research at UW’s School of Education 

Prof. Dr. Cornelia Gräsel & 

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Heinen 

School of Education 

T: +49 (0)202 439-3132 

E: graesel@uni-wuppertal.de 

45 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

46 

Teachers wanted! Primary schoolchildren need more male role-models 

Career profile: teaching – 

a women’s preserve? 

Is teaching typically a woman’s 

job? The high proportion of women 

teachers, especially in primary 

schools, might lead one 

to think so. Women constitute 

more than 80% of all primary 

school and some 60% of lower 

secondary / middle school 

teachers; only in high / upper 

secondary school are they in a 

minority of 46%. 

It is often argued that women 

make better (especially primary 

school) teachers because they 

have greater gender-based 

sensitivity and understanding, 

most notably of younger children. 

Even if one accepts this 

cliché, it does not mean that 

these are the only qualities that 

determine a good teacher. 

An uneven gender mix in the 

staff-room does not match the 

situation in the classroom. And 

the gender argument works 

both ways, for its very importance 

makes the absence of 

male identification figures for 

both girls and boys – above all 

in primary school – all the more 

acute. 

Current research in education 

has highlighted the falsehood 

especially of male images of 

the teaching profession – e.g. 

with regard to its core activities 

or to earning capacity in the primary 

school. Men tend not to 

realize that teaching presents 

attractive career prospects for 

both sexes. 

Teaching offers not only high 

job satisfaction and varied 

work with children, who for 

the most part are curious and 

eager to learn. It is also an intellectually 

demanding activity 

covering a wide range of subjects 

and topics. The demands 

on a teacher are high, but they 

come with a great deal of freedom 

to shape the task individually. 

And especially primary 

school teaching enjoys high social 

esteem in Germany, as the 

Allensbach Professional Prestige 

Scale indicated in 2008. 

Training for the teaching profession 

starts with a university 

degree including major input 

from the educational sciences. 

That ‘feminine’ empathy is 

the most important quality for 

a teacher is after all a cliché, 

and one that should not deter 

young men from entering the 

profession. 

Dr. Michaela Schulte 

Information and Service for 

Teacher Education (ISL) 

T: +49 (0)202 439-3887 

E: lehrerbildung@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.isl.uni-wuppertal.de

Actively shaping your program – 

Central Student Advisory and 

Counseling Service (ZSB) 

“Can I teach at primary school 

without mathematics?” “I 

want to take Latin. Can I do that 

here?” “I’ve failed again – what 

shall I do now?” These are just 

three of the many questions 

the ZSB has to answer every 

day. UW’s Central Student Advisory 


explains degree and study program 

procedures and supports 

students who want to change 

subject or who have individual 

difficulties or problems during 

their studies. Specific support 

is also provided by the Careers 

Service during the final phase 

of a degree program and the 

transition to professional employment 

(see 50). 

Subject and program 

orientation/ 

psychological 

counseling 

The first port of call for students 

or school-leavers seeking 

information or guidance 

is the ZSB Information Center, 

where trained student assistants 

who know the university 

from A-Z can provide the 

Student Counseling Service’s 

own material and information 

on more than 70 degree programs, 

as well as answering 

many questions from firsthand 

experience. More complex 

issues are referred to one 

of the student counselors. 

Students must be able to find 

their own way and shape their 

own study program, and student 

counseling aims to empower 

them in this respect. A 

recurrent issue, for example, 

is ‘first semester shock’: a 

few weeks into their first term 

students suddenly realize that 

university is not like school and 

that they must plan their own 

program of studies and take responsibility 

for their own success. 

Other problems are connected 

with work organization, the 

order in which courses and 

modules should be taken (individual 

flow-plan), switching 

subjects, or psychological 

problems such as examination 

stress and anxiety. The 

Student Counseling Service 

offers professional psychological 

counseling for individual 

students who require support 

in difficult personal or studyrelated 

situations. 

Intercultural 

counseling 

In cooperation with UW’s International 

Office the Student 

Counseling Service runs intercultural 

counseling sessions 

where exchange students, 

whether coming to UW or going 

abroad, will receive useful 

tips and training for coping with 

new cultural experiences. 

Group training 

A regular feature of the Student 

Counseling program is 

seminars such as ‘Study and 

Work Techniques’, or ‘Coping 

with Examination Stress’. For 

those about to graduate, the 

transition to a professional career 

is eased by seminars on 

writing an application, time management, 

teamwork etc. 

Dr. Christine Hummel 

Central Student Advisory and 

Counseling Service (ZSB) 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2595 

E: zsb@uni-wuppertal.de 

Opening times: 

daily 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. except 

Fridays 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

k www.zsb.uni-wuppertal.de 

All you need to know about studying at university: UW’s Central Student Advisory and Counseling 

Service 

47 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

48 

Quality attack – 

Bologna check 2010 

The (at times heated) public 

discussion of the Bologna reforms 

that took place in Germany 

last year prompted the 

German University Rectors‘ 

Conference, together with the 

Federal Ministry of Education 

and Research and NRW’s Ministry 

of Innovation, Science, 

Research and Technology, to 

appeal to the universities to 

check conditions in the new 

bachelor’s and master’s programs 

introduced in conformity 

with the Bologna Process. 

Supported by the university’s 

Quality Network for Study and 

Teaching (QSL), UW students 

and staff are currently working 

on the development and improvement 

of bachelor’s degree 

programs. 

At the beginning of 2010 a 

comprehensive survey of 

bachelor’s programs at UW 

was launched with a view to 

determining opportunities for 

improvement and implementing 

them as soon as possible. 

Since fall 2008 the Rector’s 

Office has been working intensively 

in collaboration with the 

7 UW faculties to revise and 

renew the university’s quality 

control system. The result is 

a quality management model 

that is decentralized across the 

faculties, but whose targets 

are defined, their implementation 

monitored and effectiveness 

evaluated in cooperation 

with the central organizational 

unit QSL. To further ease the 

administrative burden on the 

faculties a network of quality 

moderators has been established 

throughout all university 

departments. Faculties may 

also call on centrally held student 

questionnaires and evaluation 

data. 

The newly established quality 

management model enabled 

UW to respond rapidly to pres- 

sure from political sources in 

the wake of last autumn’s nationwide 

student protests. In 

fact, only five weeks separated 

the memorandum of NRW’s 

University Rectors from the 

start of the Wuppertal Bologna 

check. 

All seven faculties, with their 

more than fifty bachelor’s 

programs, set up quality commissions 

comprising university 

teachers, students and 

representatives of the quality 

network to evaluate the situation 

in open dialogue and 

frank communication, and to 

propose and document measures 

for the development of 

the bachelor’s programs and 

improvements to the examination 

system. The Faculty 

Boards and Student Representative 

Committees were 

then called upon to comment. 

Finally, on ‘Study Day‘ in mid 

May, an open discussion of the 

recommendations took place, 

covering all subjects. In line 

with the proposals, concrete 

changes and improvements 

are due to be implemented in 

UW bachelor programs by the 

beginning of the coming winter 

semester. 

The Bologna check is a meaningful 

instrument of quality 

management that has a firm 

place in the Wuppertal university 

scene. Like the quality 

management model itself, it 

is characteristically decentralized 

and relies on consistent 

student participation. Specifically 

this means comprehensive 

course evaluations and 

surveys of student opinion 

(EVA-Quest), as well as ad hoc 

departmental and individual 

subject surveys; it also involves 

student representation on 

relevant commissions, with 

the right to comment on proceedings 

and participate, via 

the relevant student bodies, in 

their decisions; and it includes 

open public discussion of the 

recommendations on Study 

Day.

Study Day 2010 

A mere four months after starting 

the Bologna check the 

commissions present their 

results and embark on the implementation 

of recommendations. 

On May 19, 2010 the faculty 

and departmental commissions 

presented the various 

recommendations resulting 

from the Bologna check of UW 

bachelor’s programs. The main 

points of discussion between 

students and staff were the organization 

and timing of examinations, 

the quantity of course 

material and corresponding 

workload, the structure of modules 

and level of choice they 

allow, and the structure and ordering 

of the degree programs, 

as well as course attendance 

and internationalization. 

The question of course attendance 

was settled uniformly 

for all faculties at the very beginning 

of the Bologna check: 

attendance is only obligatory 

when it is necessary for acquisition 

of the competency concerned 

(e.g. lab practicals, excursions, 

projects and specific 

seminars). Students immediately 

profit from this ruling, as 

it gives them freedom to gain 

the required competencies in 

different, individually appropriate 

and adequate ways. Other 

improvements to be brought 

in by commission recommendations 

will create more room 

for the pursuit of individual interests 

in the subjects offered, 

and reduce the level of fragmentation 

in examinations. In 

all these respects UW is taking 

a clear stand against the frequently 

criticized school-type 

organization and teaching of 

C 

M 

Y 

CM 

MY 

CY 

CMY 

K 

bologna-check & balances.pdf 12.05.2010 15:05:36 

BOLOGNA - CHECK Steuerungsparadigma der 

VERANTWORTUNG 

BILDUNG 

FREIHEIT 

KULTUR 

B ERGISCHE 

UNIVERSITÄT 

WUPPERTAL 

Bologna-model bachelor’s degree 

programs. 

In line with the recommendations, 

UW aims to modify all 

bachelor’s degree examination 

regulations by the beginning of 

winter semester 2010-2011. 

Prof. Dr. Andreas Frommer 

Simon Görtz 

Sascha Soelau 

UNISERVICE Qualität in 

Studium und Lehre (QSL) 

T: +49 (0)202 439-3095 

E: evaluation@uniwuppertal.de 

k www.qsl.uni-wuppertal.de 

UNISERVICE 

QUALITÄT IN 

STUDIUM&LEHRE 

Sascha Soelau of UW’s Quality Network for Study and Teaching talks to Federal Minister of Education Annette Schavan at the 

National Bologna Conference in Berlin 

Qualitätsentwicklung 

Einbindung der Studierenden 

dezentrale Kompetenz 

zentrale Dienstleistung 

Befähigung zur Selbststeuerung 

Freiheit 

der Lehre 

der Forschung 

Hochschulautonomie 

Selbstverwaltung 

Verantwortung 

Management von Zeit & Ressourcen 

Verfahren 

Dokumentation 

Aktualität der Studienangebote 

Bildung 

Mündigkeit 

gesellschaftliche Teilhabe 

kompetenzorientierte Bildung 

berufsqualifizierende Bildung 

Kultur 

Kommunikation 

Partizipation 

Diskursivität 

Transparenz 

bis 3 

Februar /M 

bis 3 

bis 3 

bis 3 

Früh 

Im Netz: http://www.qsl.uni-wuppertal.de/aktuelle-projekte/bologna-check-2010.html 

Ansprechpartner: Prof. Dr. Andreas Frommer ( frommer@rektorat.uni-wuppertal.de ), Prorektor für S 

Simon Görtz ( goertz@uni-wuppertal.de ) & Sascha Soelau ( soelau@uni-wuppertal.de ), Mitarbeite 

Design: Hendrik Kretschmer, Student im Studiengang Mediendesign an der Bergischen Universität 

49 

02_UW_ACADEMICS 

11 

19 

ab 

14 

10 

26 

He

50 

Opening the door to a profession 

UW’s Careers Service brings students and 

employers together 

At the interface between the 

worlds of university and professional 

employment UW’s 

Careers Service – established 

five years ago as a branch of 

the Central Student Advisory 

and Counseling Service – 

brings students, graduates and 

employers together, providing 

information and advice as well 

as training in key job-oriented 

competencies. Recent years 

have seen increasing demand 

from local companies for both 

bachelor’s and master’s graduates, 

and many enterprises 

already seek to attract undergraduates 

via individual project 

contracts, internships, and degree 

or doctoral thesis opportunities. 

Student 

excursions 

Aiming at intensification of 

contacts between university 

and regional economy, UW signed 

a contract with the Wuppertal-Solingen-Remscheid 

Chamber of Industry and 

Commerce (IHK) in December 

2008 covering, among other 

things, student visits to local 

firms organized jointly by the 

Careers Service and the IHK. 

On ‘Mechanical Engineering 

Day’ 2009 the targets were 

the Wuppertal family company 

Sachsenröder – Industrial Fibers 

and Polymers, and Heinz 

Berger Grinding and Polishing 

Machines. The program is to 

continue in 2010 with visits to 

Wuppertal Municipal Utilities 

(WSW) and the electronic interface 

manufacturer Wiesemann 

& Theis. 

Internships 

in Ireland 

Under the heading ‘Compact 

Options Abroad’ the Careers 

Service, in collaboration with 

the German-Irish Chamber 

of Industry and Commerce in 

Dublin, organizes internships in 

Irish companies. 

Information 

presentations 

for industry 

In close cooperation with UW 

faculties, the Careers Service 

informs HR departments of 

local and regional business 

enterprises about the structure 

and quality of the university’s 

bachelor and master programs, 

and hence about the skills and 

competencies they can expect 

from UW graduates. 

Job and internship 

market 

The Careers Service Internet 

pages carry job and internship 

offers from local and regional 

industries looking for the ‘right’ 

student or graduate for their 

firm. 

Andrea Bauhus 

STUDENT SERVICES 

– Careers Service 

T.: +49 (0)202 439-3055 

E: bauhus@uni-wuppertal.de 


Planning your career: training key job-oriented competencies while you study

A powerful partner in 

environmental protection 

If you want to work on exciting 

projects that are important for 

the future of our society, get 

in touch with AWG Wuppertal 

(Wuppertal Waste Services). 

AWG is all about household 

and industrial waste, recyclable 

materials, and environmental 

protection. As well as waste 

management, this includes 

the collection and transport of 

garbage and environmentally 

friendly processing and disposal 

of waste products of every 

kind. Much of this waste material 

can be used – without recourse 

to primary energy – for 

generating electrical and thermal 

energy for the local population. 

AWG is also concerned 

with management systems 

and workplace safety (including 

explosion protection). The 

list of topics is long. 

AWG offers internships for UW 

students from a wide range of 

disciplines – e.g. safety engineering, 

environmental protection 

– that open up horizons 

in many directions. Part-time 

work in appropriate technical 

areas can also be a valuable 

way of testing your theoretical 

AWG Abfallwirtschaftsgesellschaft mbH 

Wuppertal Waste Services 

Korzert 15 | D-42349 Wuppertal 

02 02 / 40 42 - 0 

awg@awg.wuppertal.de 

www.awg.wuppertal.de 

knowledge in practice. 

As a partner to the university, 

AWG supports UW students 

with specialist know-how, not 

only offering project topics but 

also supporting and guiding 

students in the completion of 

their bachelor’s and master’s 

theses or diploma dissertations. 

51 

02_UW_ACADEMICS

03_ 

UW_RESEARCH 

53

54 

“Research at the boundaries of knowledge requires massive apparatus that can only be built once worldwide. But it is the work of the 

universities that fills these machines with life. UW scientists and researchers have done much in recent years to ensure that this happens: 

both scientifically and technically Wuppertal’s contribution has been world-class.” 

The origin of the world – 

Wuppertal’s particle- 

physics research at the LHC 

It’s the world’s biggest research 

project: 10,000 physicists 

from every continent are 

working together to shed light 

on the inmost structure of matter, 

creating conditions that parallel 

those immediately after 

the Big Bang. At the center of 

this research is the Large Hadron 

Collider (LHC) at the European 

Laboratory for Particle 

Physics (CERN) in Geneva. 

Here the ‘Who’s Who’ of the 

world’s universities is assembled, 

and Wuppertal is in on 

the act. 

The LHC seeks an answer to 

questions that have occupied 

the human mind for thousands 

of years. To do so it must go 

to the very edge of what is 

technologically possible. Forty 

million times a second hydrogen 

atoms collide in the LHC at 

99.9998 per cent of the speed 

of light, generating temperatures 

that for a very short time 

are a billion times greater than 

those inside the sun – tempe- 

ratures similar to those that 

prevailed a fraction of a second 

after the Big Bang. This supermicroscope 

enables scientists 

to investigate natural structures 

a ten-thousandth the size 

of a hydrogen nucleus. And it 

is precisely within such minute 

spatial dimensions that, immediately 

after the Big Bang, the 

events and processes occurred 

that led to the birth of the universe 

in which we now live. 

In order to capture images at 

this order of magnitude giant 

detector complexes have been 

constructed at LHC over the 

past ten years. One of these is 

ATLAS. As big as a five story 

house, almost 50 meters long, 

and every cubic millimeter packed 

with instruments that can

track the passage of a particle 

with the accuracy of a tenth of 

a hairsbreadth. The innermost 

layer of ATLAS, the pixel detector, 

was largely made in Wuppertal 

and then transported to 

CERN. It is a digital camera, 

1.7 sq m in size, able to take 40 

million pictures a second. 


was responsible for a considerable 

amount of the R&D work 

that went into the construction 

of the pixel detector. Innovative 

ultra-light suspension mountings 

made of composite carbon 

fiber were produced, an 

extensive system was developed 

to check (and if necessary 

correct) the functioning of the 

detector, and the optoelectronic 

data transmission system 

carrying the electronic signals 

generated inside ATLAS for 

processing outside was tested 

and assembled. 

The pixel detector has passed 

its baptism of fire. At the end 

of March 2010 the LHC set 

up a new energy record and 

started to break new ground 

in physics. Since then the particle 

stream collisions have not 

ceased, creating a volume of 

data amounting to some ten 

petabytes per year (1 petabyte 

= 1015 bytes) – enough 

to fill two million DVDs. In 

perhaps one ten-millionth of 

this data scientists might find 

the answer to the fundamental 

questions they are asking with 

the help of the LHC. New IT 

has been developed to cope 

with this flood of data, first 

and foremost a computing grid 

consisting of some 30 centers 

distributed across the world. 

This is another key element in 

Wuppertal’s input to the LHC 

experiments: UW is one such 

center, with c. 1000 computers 

constituting half a petabyte of 

data storage capacity. “We 

have become a major player 

in German grid computing, fulfilling 

a key function in the AT- 

LAS experiment” comments 

Prof. Peter Mättig. “One example 

is the vast data volumes 

processed in Wuppertal for the 

first ATLAS publications.” 

The LHC and ATLAS are taking 

us into uncharted scientific territory. 

The UW group has cho- 

sen to investigate the heaviest 

of all elementary particles, the 

top quark, which weighs as 

much as a gold atom yet lacks 

inner structure. One of the 

great puzzles of modern physics 

is how to explain the mass 

of this quark. It is clear that 

Einstein’s e=mc2, with which 

mass can in large part be explained, 

is no longer of help. A 

new basis must be found, and 

scientists are looking in this experiment 

for a way there. 

The LHC enables Wuppertal’s 

scientists to conduct research 

at the forefront of knowledge, 

supported in large measure by 

the German Federal Ministry of 

Education and Research. Companies 

in the Wuppertal region 

play a significant R&D role, too, 

and some 50 undergraduates 

and doctoral students have so 

far written theses on LHC topics. 

Cooperating closely with 

international colleagues, they 

have produced some outstanding 

research work. 

Another globally unique aspect 

of Wuppertal’s contribution is 

an interdisciplinary research 

group that brings together 

philosophers, historians of science, 

and physicists to discuss 

and shed light on LHC issues 

from various angles. Recently 

awarded financial support by 

the German Research Foundation 

(DFG), its work has already 

received international attention. 

“Wuppertal has gained national 

and international recog- 

nition for its role in this global 

project”, says Prof. Mättig, 

who is spokesperson for the 

Federal Ministry of Education 

and Research’s ‘101 ATLAS‘, 

which coordinates the work of 

all German institutes participating 

in ATLAS. These comprise 

13 universities, together with 

the Max Planck Institute for 

Physics in Munich and the large-scale 

DESY research facility 

in Hamburg. “We are entering 

an exceptionally exciting phase,” 

Mättig predicts. “The next 

few years will, we hope, bring 

a new and decisive step in our 

knowledge of how nature is 

structured at its core.” 

Prof. Dr. Peter Mättig 

Faculty of Mathematics and 

Natural Sciences 

Department of Experimental 

Elementary Particle Physics 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2761 

E: mattig@cern.ch 

On the track of the Big Bang: Prof. Mättig researches in Wuppertal and at CERN in 

Geneva 

55 

03_UW_RESEARCH

56 

HALO – a research laboratory 

above the clouds 

HALO – High Altitude Long 

Range Research Aircraft – is 

the name given by German 

atmospheric scientists to the 

new Gulfstream G550 airplane 

which, with a range of 

8000 km and peak altitude of 

15 km, can carry up to three 

tons of scientific equipment 

to regions (e.g. above the poles 

or oceans) that have so far 

been inaccessible to scientific 

research. The aircraft is fitted 

with 15 racks able to hold up 

to 150 kg of instruments each, 

and further measuring devices 

can be fixed beneath the wings 

and fuselage. 

Among these are many ‘basic’ 

instruments for measuring 

meteorological parameters 

and important trace gases like 

water vapor, ozone, and nitrogen 

oxides. These – like all the 

other scientific instruments 

and also the aircraft’s air inlet 

system – must be licensed by 

the Federal Aviation Authority. 

Delays on this account, and also 

because of late delivery of 

the plane, have already set the 

first mission back by some two 

years. 

But now everything is ready 

to go, and UW’s atmospheric 

physicists, led by Prof. Dr. Ralf 

Koppmann and Prof. Dr. Michael 

Volk, are currently preparing 

for the first technical test flight, 

scheduled for late summer 

2010, when the performance 

of all systems and instruments 

will be checked under real 

conditions. The first scientific 

mission – to investigate the 

self-cleansing properties of 

the Earth’s atmosphere in va- 

rious contaminated air masses 

– is planned for summer 2011. 

Among the instruments to be 

used on this mission is an air 

sample collector developed in 

UW’s Department of Atmospheric 

Physics, which allows 

large volume samples to be 

taken for laboratory analysis of 

trace gases in Wuppertal. 

The second mission in summer 

Testing the MIRAH air sample collector before installation in HALO

2012 plans to investigate the 

exchange of trace gases between 

the lowest atmospheric 

layer, the troposphere, and the 

stratosphere, which contains 

the ozone layer. Research will 

focus on the exchange processes 

that bring ozone-destroying 

gases into the stratosphere. 

The investigation will use a 

new high precision instrument 

developed in cooperation with 

the Jülich Research Center, the 

Max Planck Institute, Mainz, 

and the University of Frankfurt, 

that can detect trace gases in 

extremely low concentrations. 

A further project planned in 

cooperation with the German 

Aerospace Center (DLR) aims 

to release special trace gases 

into the atmosphere to ‘mark’ 

air masses, which can then 

be tracked with HALO’s instruments. 

The experiment 

will enhance understanding of 

transportation processes in the 

atmosphere and form the basis 

for improvements in the numerical 

modeling of the transportation 

of pollutants. UW scientists 

are currently constructing 

an instrument that will be able 

to detect the presence of these 

substances in concentrations 

as low as one molecule in 

1015 molecules of air. 

The HALO experiments will throw 

light on the basic chemical 

and physical processes of the 

atmosphere and their impact 

on climate change. Undergraduates 

as well as doctoral 

students will find ample opportunity 

to engage in stimulating 

and highly relevant research 

that will take them to all corners 

of the world. 

Investigating the atmospheric impact of climate change: research aircraft HALO 

Prof. Dr. Ralf Koppmann 

Prof. Dr. C. Michael Volk 

Faculty of Mathematics 


Department of Atmospheric 

Physics 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2605 / 

-2603 

E: koppmann@uniwuppertal.de 

E: M.Volk@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.atmos.physik. 


57 

03_UW_RESEARCH

58 

Soil ecology – 

impacts of climate change 

Climate change is currently 

the object of intense political 

and scientific attention. Of 

particular concern are the consequences 

of climatic change 

for the planet’s various ecosystems 

and how these will react. 

In this context the German 

government issued a paper in 

December 2008 with the title 

“Deutsche Anpassungsstrategie” 

(German Strategy for 

Adaptation to Climate Change 

– DAS). The goal of the strategy 

laid out in this paper is to reduce 

vulnerability to the results 

of climate change. This entails 

the preservation and enhancement 

of the abilities of natural, 

social and economic systems 

to adapt to such change. 

In this context the soil system 

is particularly significant as a 

carbon and water reservoir, 

animal and plant habitat, and 

BOKLIM soil research: understanding 

an essential eco-system for animals and 

plants, foodstuffs and forestry, carbon 

and water resources, ground and drinking 

water protection and purification 

environment for the production 

of foodstuffs. 

UW’s Department of Soil and 

Groundwater Resources Management 

has – along with 

partners from other research 

and industrial organizations – 

been commissioned by the Federal 

Environment Agency to 

work on the project ‘Impacts 

of Climate Change on the Soil’ 

(BOKLIM). The project’s goal 

is to determine and document 

the current state of knowledge 

about soil conditions in 

Germany, forecast potential 

changes and seek ways of 

meeting the impact of climate 

change on the basis of present 

knowledge. At the same time 

further avenues of research 

will be identified and pursued 

with a view to extending the 

German Adaptation Strategy. 

Prof. Dr. Jörg Rinklebe 

Carsten Schilli 

Department of Soil and 

Groundwater Resources 

Management 

Institute of Foundation, Waste 

and Water Engineering 

Faculty D: School of 

Civil Engineering 

T: +49 (0)202 439-4057 

E: rinklebe@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www .boden.uniwuppertal.de 

k www .boklim.de

Better air through photocatalysis road 

surfaces as catalytic converters 

Fine dust and nitrogen oxides 

are still the main cause of poor 

air quality. Despite widespread 

efforts and a constant lowering 

of emission thresholds, 

nitrogen dioxide values at many 

air pollution measurement 

stations are frequently in excess 

of legal norms. A new approach 

to improving air quality 

is photocatalysis. 

UW’s Department of Physical 

Chemistry is participating in a 

joint European research project 

examining the effectiveness of 

photocatalytic surfaces for the 

reduction of atmospheric pollutants, 

especially automobile 

exhaust gases. 

This involves adding an agent 

to road surfaces and tunnel 

roofs on roads carrying heavy 

traffic that chemically degrades 

harmful gases when exposed 

to sunlight or artificial 

ultraviolet light – in principle 

the same agent as that used 

in sunscreen, titanium oxide. 

Under ultraviolet light this acts 

as a catalyst speeding up chemical 

reactions, an effect that 

can be exploited to keep the air 

cleaner. 

The PhotoPaq (Demonstration 

of Photocatalytic Remediation 

Processes on Air Quality) project 

addresses the reduction 

of pollutants such as nitrogen 

dioxide, hydrocarbons (e.g. the 

carcinogenic substance benzol) 

and fine dust particulates. 

The first field test in a road 

tunnel in Brussels is scheduled 

for 2011. UW scientists are 

currently conducting laboratory 

tests on the cleansing properties 

– as well as possible 

harmful by-products – of the 

catalytic surfaces. 

The spectacular four-year project, 

funded within the framework 

of the EU’s LIFE+ program, 

has an overall budget of 

€4m. 

(khttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm). 

Prof. Wiesen explains the 

impact of titanium dioxide 

on air pollution under ultraviolet 

light 

Dr. Jörg Kleffmann 

Prof. Dr. Peter Wiesen 

FB C – Physikalische Chemie 

T: +49 (0)202 439-3534/ -2515 

E: kleffman@uni-wuppertal.de 

E: wiesen@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.physchem. 


Laboratory experiment: degradation of atmospheric pollutants with titanium dioxide 

in a small photoreactor 

59 

03_UW_RESEARCH

60 

Competent diagnosis and guidance is in high demand from players and non-players alike 

The human apparatus of movement – 

healthy activity without pain 

What do soccer clubs like 

Schalke 04, Hannover 96, 

Wuppertal SV and SG Essen- 

Schönebeck have in common? 

They work with UW’s Research 

Center for Sports Diagnostics 

and Training (FLT). But the 

Center’s work is not confined 

to Bundesliga (German league) 

men’s and women’s soccer 

teams. Other major sports 

teams, such as the Tennis Fed 

Cup Team, the national roller 

hockey and rugby teams, or SG 

Flensburg-Handewitt handball 

team rely on the training facilities 

and knowledge of the UW 

Research Center. Established 

in the Department of Sports 

Sciences in 2007, the Center 

has been in increasing demand 

– an indication of the need in 

today’s society for competent 

diagnostics and counseling, 

not only for sportspeople. 

The Research Center for 

Sports Diagnostics and Training 

has three major divisions: 

sports diagnostics and training, 

functional diagnostics, and prevention 

and rehabilitation. 

In the area of sports diagnostics 

and training a number 

of contracts have been signed 

with Bundesliga, national and 

club teams. The functional diagnostics 

unit serves sportsmen 

and women from across 

the globe. But the Center’s 

services are also available for 

‘normal citizens’ with musculoskeletal 

problems. A team of 

trainers and medical personnel 

seeks individual solutions 

for sportspeople and non- 

sportspeople alike. Comprehensive 

examination with the 

help of the Center’s laboratory 

and other facilities enables 

clear diagnoses to be made, 

and training and/or therapeutic 

programs to be adapted to personal 

needs. 

The Center’s work in prevention 

and rehabilitation focuses 

on the increasingly important 

field of orthopedics and traumatology, 

especially on functional 

impairments in both athletes 

and non-athletes. A major 

survey – the world’s biggest 

to date – of chronic back pain 

sufferers has recently been 

conducted in cooperation with 

the German health insurance 

company DAK and NOVO- 

TERGUM. The study, which 

has important consequences 

for future medical and social 

policy, has received international 

attention. The next major 

project – in cooperation with a 

specialist Wuppertal clinic – is 

already in preparation: a survey 

of the success rate of anterior 

cruciate ligament operations 

and the optimization of rehabilitation 

procedures. 

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Freiwald 

Forschungszentrum für 

Leistungsdiagnostik und 

Trainingsberatung (FLT) 

T: +49 (0)202 439-3226 

E: flt@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.flt.uni-wuppertal.de

Success against back pain with 

computer-assisted physiotherapy 

More than 80% of German citizens 

suffered last year from 

back pain, and thousands are 

operated every year. Diseases 

of the musculosketal system 

are the most common reason 

for absences from work – indeed 

back pain has become the 

nation’s number one illness in 

recent years. A newly developed 

concept in medical care, 

computer-assisted physiotherapy, 

promises help. 

The Mülheim medical services 

company NOVOTERGUM 

AG develops and implements 

innovative holistic therapies, 

especially for chronically sick 

patients. One of these is computer-assisted 

physiotherapy, 

which has been successfully 

used for more than 70,000 patients 

in 37 health centers nationwide 

since the company’s 

foundation. With 1000 physicians 

contracted to provide 

integrated medical care, NO- 

VOTERGUM possesses a vast 

database for the analysis of 

medical histories and the development 

of therapeutic concepts. 

A recent study commissioned 

by Deutsche Angestellten 

Krankenkasse (German Employees’ 

Health Insurance – DAK) 

and conducted by NOVOTER- 

GUM in collaboration with 

UW’s Research Center for 

Sports Diagnostics and Training 

Policy has confirmed the 

success of the new therapy. 

Tests were taken before, after 

three months’ and after twelve 

months’ therapy on more than 

1000 chronic back sufferers 

who had received 36 standard 

unit treatments over the course 

of a year. Evaluation used general 

and social health parameters 

as well as data on chronic 

suffering (Heidelberg Short 

Questionnaire, Oswestry Low 

Back Pain Questionnaire and 

Neck Disability Index). The mobility 

and maximum strength of 

patients was determined with 

the help of computer-assisted 

therapeutic equipment. 

For detailed results visit www.novotergum.de 

or request a copy of the report from k.witte@ 

novotergum.ag 

NOVOTERGUM AG 

Alexanderstr. 69 

45472 Mülheim 

kontakt@novotergum.ag 

www.novotergum.ag 

Testing cervical spine mobility 

with the cervical measurement 

system 

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Freiwald of the 

University of Wuppertal found 

pain intensity halved among 

patients undergoing therapy, 

and the number of patients 

who no longer needed painkillers 

had doubled. 

61 

03_UW_RESEARCH

62 

Terahertz radiation 

Principle of a 3x5 pixel terahertz image structure. 

Terahertz radiation has a frequency 

range of 0.3-10 terahertz 

(THz). The advantage in 

comparison with x-rays is its 

low energy, which makes it 

harmless to biological cells. 

And the promising qualities it 

demonstrates in new types of 

medical imaging can also be 

used in other contexts – e.g. 

radar applications in the automotive 

sector or high speed 

data communication in IT. 

But widespread use of terahertz 

radiation is only possible 

in the long term if it can be easily 

produced and demonstrably 

confirmed. Current research 

focuses on these aspects. UW 

is one of 14 project partners in 

the European DOTFIVE project 

working intensively on the silicon-based 

production and confirmation 

of terahertz radiation. 

The goal is to develop integrated 

circuits that can be operated 

at 500 GHz = 0.5 THz. 

Working on the development 

and testing of silicon-based integrated 

circuits, a University 

of Wuppertal high-frequency 

systems research group from 

the Department of Communication 

Technology, led by Prof. 

Dr. Ullrich Pfeiffer, has made a 

significant breakthrough in this 

area. At the International Solid-State 

Circuits Conference 

(ISSCC) in San Francisco from 

February 7-10, 2010, they presented 

the first 160 gigahertz 

transmitter-receiver module, 

as well as a 650 gigahertz receiver 

with integrated antenna. 

Prof. Dr. Ullrich Pfeiffer 

FB E – Hochfrequenztechnik 

und Kommunikationstechnologie 

T: +49 (0)202 439-1451 

E: ullrich.pfeiffer@ 


Terahertz image of a scalpel blade inserted into a block of plastic foam insulation. 

The lateral wires hold the assemblage on a table that is movable in 

x/y directions. Scanned by a 1 pixel terahertz camera, the object generates 

a flat image (see detail at lower right) showing surface structure and the 

concealed blade, as well as lesions to the material due to the insertion of 

the blade and wires (upper edge of picture).

Top class communications technology – 

made in Wuppertal 

Whether Formula 1 champion 

Jenson Button talks to his 

crew, or German TV personality 

Günther Jauch receives 

instructions from the program 

director over his headset, it’s 

Riedel Communications technology 

that makes sure the 

message gets through. 

The Wuppertal company develops 

and manufactures innovative 

intercom, optical fiber, 

audio, and wireless systems 

for broadcasting, theater, and 

events, as well as the automo- 

tive and other industries. In order 

to back its claim as a world 

leader in quality and technology, 

Riedel develops and manufactures 

its products, right up 

to ISO certification, in Wuppertal. 

Founded in 1987 the company 

is a pioneering developer 

of digital audio matrix systems, 

and world number one in optical 

fiber systems networks. 

Riedel Communications knowhow 

of is currently in the service 

of the EU ‘Active-Safety 

Car’ project, a cooperative 

Riedel know-how is also at 

work in the Active Safety Car 

project 

research venture with the University 

of Wuppertal, whose 

goal is to enhance road safety 

by developing interactive recognition 

and communication 

systems that enable vehicles 

to avoid accidents automatically. 

A key element in such 

systems is the communication 

between variously situated 

cameras and the vehicle’s onboard 

computer. 

Riedel Communications GmbH & Co. KG 

Uellendahler Straße 353 


Email: info@riedel.net 

Telefon: + 49 (0) 202 292 - 90 

Fax: + 49 (0) 202 292 - 99 99 

www.riedel.net 

63 

03_UW_RESEARCH

64 

At_A_GLANCE 

Wuppertal/Jülich houses 

world’s most energy-efficient 

supercomputer: 

During the international supercomputing 

conference 

in Portland, Oregon (USA), 

UW and Jülich Research 

Center’s QPACE (QCD Parallel 

Computing on the Cell) 

high-performance computer 

was rated number one on the 

Green500 List of the world’s 

most energy-efficient supercomputers. 

QPACE was 

developed by a consortium 

of universities and research 

centers in collaboration with 

IBM Germany’s R&D team 

at Böblingen. Besides UW, 

the consortium includes the 

Universities of Regensburg, 

Ferrara and Milano-Bicocca 

(Italy), the Jülich and DESY 

(German Electron Synchrotron, 

Hamburg) Research Centers, 

and the companies Eurotech, 

Knürr, Zollner and xilinx. 

Journal highlight: 

A paper detailing the results 

of a research project on fine 

dust undertaken by UW’s atmospheric 

physicists in collaboration 

with Jülich Research 

Center has been nominated 

a ‘journal highlight’ by the 

American Geophysical Union. 

John von Neumann Excellence 

Project 2009: 

A research project led by 

UW’s Prof. Dr. Zoltan Fodor 

has been selected by Jülich 

Research Center’s John von 

Neumann Institute of Computing 

as ‘John von Neumann 

Excellence Project 2009’. The 

Jülich Institute highlighted 

the quality of the preparatory 

work and methods, as well 

as the scientific importance 

of the expected results. Prof. 

Fodor will be working at Jülich 

on Germany’s fastest supercomputer, 

JUGENE, performing 

calculations that are 

set to provide new insights 

into the elementary building 

blocks of matter. 

New Fraunhofer office 

opens: 

The Fraunhofer Center for 

Central and Eastern Europe 

(MOEZ) opened a liaison 

office at UW on November 

4, 2009. The Center’s mission 

is to support and foster 

R&D projects in cooperation 

with companies and institutes 

in the growth markets 

of Central and Eastern Europe. 

The Wuppertal office 

aims to open the doors of 

Fraunhofer’s Leipzig Center 

– the strategic partner for 

networking and collaboration 

in industry, research, and 

politics – to companies in the 

Rhine-Ruhr industrial area. 

k www.moez.fraunhofer.de 

Climate change: 

Research Fellow Dr. Jens 

Oberheide from UW’s Department 

of Atmospheric 

Physics has been appointed 

committee working-group 

coordinator on the international 

climate research program 

CAWSES (Climate and 

Weather of the Sun-Earth 

System). The program investigates 

the impact of the sun 

on the terrestrial and space 

environment, in particular the 

atmospheric weather crucial 

for space shots, GPS and 

telecommunications. CAW- 

SES is a program of the Scientific 

Committee on Solar- 

Terrestrial Physics organized 

by the International Council 

for Science (ICSU) in Paris. 

The research links institutes 

from Germany, France, India, 

Japan, Taiwan, Australia, 

Brazil, Canada and the USA 

with scientists from many 

other countries. Led by Prof. 

Dr. Ralf Koppmann, UW’s 

Department of Atmospheric 

Physics thus plays a key role 

in a major project investigating 

climate change and its 

impacts.

Das Forschungsmagazin der 

Bergischen Universität Wuppertal 

...beleuchtet in der aktuellen Ausgabe technische, 

insbesondere sicherheitstechnische, 

ökologische, demografische und ökonomische 

Aspekte rund um die Themen Auto und Verkehr. 

kwww.buw-output.de 

… 

noch 

mehr 

Forschung: 

OUTPUT 

Nummer 3 

ist da 

65 

03_UW_RESEARCH

04_ 

UW_REGIONAL 

67

68 

North Rhine-Westphalia’s (NRW) 

Innovation Goal 2015 

UW as partner and pilot 

Fire safety innovation on show at Hanover Trade Fair 

Frank Jäger 

Forschungsförderung 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2179 

E: jaeger@verwaltung.uniwuppertal.de 

Dr. Peter Jonk 

Wissenschaftstransferstelle 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2857 

E: jonk@uni-wuppertal.de 

The small and medium-sized 

industries of the Bergisch Land 

(the area between Cologne and 

Wuppertal) are an important 

link in UW’s regional network. 

The university sees itself here 

as both partner and pilot – partner 

in joint projects, pilot in the 

process of applying to the right 

place in the right way for funds. 

Interdisciplinary 

research 

competence in 

many areas 

In contrast to so-called ‘special 

focus’ universities, where 

many different sciences are 

concentrated on a single field 

(e.g. the life sciences), the University 

of Wuppertal possesses 

a wide range of research 

specialties, which makes it 

an attractive partner for many 

different industries and fields, 

from architecture, chemistry 

and civil engineering, through 

economics, electrical engineering 

and IT, to industrial design, 

mechanical engineering, media 

and printing technology, psychology, 

and safety engineering. 

Many different forms of cooperation 

are conceivable, 

from one-off consultations, 

evaluations or references to 

the compilation of calculations 

and analyses, the arrangement 

of internships, and the joint 

development of processes, 

equipment and systems in the 

context of project papers and 

degree theses. 

Support in the 

quest for funding 

Who will help small and medium-sized 

companies shoulder 

the financial risks of developing 

innovative technologies? 

No single solution holds for all 

cases – indeed, ways of attracting 

funding are manifold. UW 

sees its role here as that of the 

pilot steering a ship through

North Rhine-Westphalia’s stand at Hanover Trade Fair 

the tricky waters of EU, federal 

and state funding sources until 

an appropriate berth is found. 

Two such sources are 

-the Central Innovation Program 

for Medium-Sized Industry 

under the aegis of the Federal 

Ministry of Economics and 

Technology 

-NRW’s Ziel 2 program, which 

serves as a channel for the European 

Regional Development 

Fund to upgrade competitiveness 

and secure employment. 

UW is currently a cooperation 

partner in some two dozen regional, 

state and national projects 

ranging from high-tech 

textiles to automotive components, 

and from new developments 

in highway construction 

to noise control panels that 

break down atmospheric pollutants. 

NRW Innovation- 

Alliance 

What if UW itself cannot help? 

To allow for that eventuality, 

the university joined NRW’s InnovationAlliance 

in June 2009 

– the largest association of 

universities and other HE and 

research institutions of its kind 

in Germany. Since its foundation 

in 2007, the Alliance has 

worked to ensure access to 

innovative potential throughout 

the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. 

Enquiries submitted 

to the Alliance generally lead 

within a few days to contact 

with interested scientists and 

engineers, and the success rate 

in terms of cooperative project 

launches is high. 

UW’s commitment to industrial 

cooperation and knowledge 

transfer, and its energetic pursuit 

of appropriate funding, 

are making a decisive contribution 

to the achievement of 

NRW’s goal – to establish itself 

as Germany’s leading state in 

technological innovation by 

2015. 

69

70 

Enhancing road safety: UW’s Active Safety Car 

Active safety car – automobile of the future 

Tomography enhances road safety 

Road safety is the crucial motive 

behind the active safety car 

currently under development 

in UW’s Faculty of Electrical, 

Information and Media Engineering. 

The automobile of the 

future will, if the scientists and 

engineers have their way, be 

equipped with an intelligent 

driver assistance system that 

gives early warning of danger 

and thus helps avoid accidents. 

Using cameras linked to stateof-the-art 

communications 

technology, both in other vehicles 

and at fixed points like 

street junctions outside, the 

system will ‘recognize’ pedestrians, 

obstacles and other 

vehicles, and provide details 

of their position and distance, 

as well as interpreting lane 

configurations, advising lane 

changes and issuing collision 

warnings. 

The tomographic recognition 

of pedestrians sounds decidedly 

futuristic. But it might 

soon become reality. Already 

widely encountered in medical 

applications, tomography 

is an imaging process that ascertains 

and depicts spatial 

structures by observation from 

different aspect angles. The 

system under development at 

UW combines cameras with 

innovative communications 

technology, using tomographic 

signal processing methods to 

generate 3D images of traffic 

scenarios. “The integration of 

tomography solves the depth 

resolution problem”, explains 

project leader Prof. Dr. Anton 

Kummert. “This enables us to 

place an obstacle in its spatial 

context and brings reliable, active, 

high-performance safety 

systems within reach.” 

The decisive innovation of 

UW’s active safety car project 

is that data are generated 

not just by a single vehicle but 

from several vehicles, as well 

as fixed installations on infrastructural 

elements like road 

signs or traffic lights, at the same 

time. And this information 

is passed on to every vehicle 

in the network. The result is 

a ‘communal’ picture of the 

scenario that reduces the likelihood 

of a potential danger 

being overlooked. 

Backed by the EU’s Regional

Development Fund through 

the State of North Rhine- 

Westphalia’s Ziel 2 program, 

the project is a joint venture 

in which UW is partnered by a 

consortium of regional companies 

led by Delphi Electronics & 

Safety and including, CETEQ, 

RIEDEL Communications, 

Wuppertal Mechanical Engineering 

Cooperative, and the 

Wuppertal Business Promotion 

Fund, together with Volkswagen 

Group Research. This 

guarantees not only a wide range 

of appropriate expertise but 

also a strong customer orientation 

that will prove indispensable 

if the planned medium term 

prototypes are eventually to 

lead to serial production. With 

this in mind, it is essential for 

an intelligent driver assistance 

system to keep a strict check 

on the size and cost of components 

like camera sensors and 

computer platforms. 

UW research on this project-ofthe-future 

involves not only the 

specialists of the engineering 

faculty but also its students, 

who are encouraged to join in 

the work and write up their results 

in degree or project theses. 

In this way they can learn 

to transform theory into practice 

and gain valuable first-hand 

experience of industrial issues 

and approaches. 

Prof. Dr. Anton Kummert 

FB E – Elektrotechnik - 

Automotive 

T: +49 (0)202 439-1961 

E: kummert@uni-wuppertal.de 

Innovative camera-based accident avoidance system using 3-way communication between vehicles and infrastructural installations 

71 

04_UW_REGIONAL

72 

View of the university from the Sparkasse Tower in Elberfeld 

Equal partners 

Decades of close cooperation 

between the University of 

Wuppertal and the city’s Sparkasse 

bank send a uniquely 

positive signal about the connection 

between learning and 

business and its impact on the 

economy of the city and its 

people. 

Fortunately we do not have to 

sail up to the nineteenth floor 

of the Sparkasse tower in 

downtown Elberfeld in order 

to meet the ‘university on the 

hill’ on equal terms. Not only 

UW management but also the 

university’s 7 faculties have 

shown themselves open to cooperation 

at many levels. 

Business start-ups, for in- 

stance, require the support of a 

whole network before they can 

take a confident leap into economic 

independence. Alongside 

the Chamber of Industry 

and Commerce, the university 

and Sparkasse are proven partners 

at this crucial stage in the 

development of a business. 

Stimulated by the thought that 

what’s good for the region is 

also good for them, UW and 

Sparkasse, in cooperation with 

Wuppertal Business Promotion, 

run a regular Entrepreneurs 

and Start-Ups Day, with practical 

talks in the glass foyer of 

the bank, and the opportunity 

to meet and learn from experienced 

industrial players from 

the city and region. 

Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups Day: a joint event of UW, Wuppertal Business Promotion, 

and Sparkasse 

A further Sparkasse service is 

the presentation of UW faculties, 

projects and organizational 

entities like the regional 

start-up initiative bizeps on 

Sparkasse premises, as well as 

displays of degree and diploma 

work that attract considerable 

notice in the city. 

As Sparkasse CEO Dr. h. c. Peter 

H. Vaupel puts it: “We have 

seen for years how deeply 

committed the University of 

Wuppertal is to the people and 

economy of our region, and are 

very happy to offer them a forum 

of communication for their 

work.” 

“Moreover,“ he continues, 

“the Sparkasse profits from 

degree theses, and from cooperation 

with the Schumpeter 

School of Business and Economics, 

as well as with other UW 

faculties. Students frequently 

bring a different perspective 

into our activities, and that 

keeps us from becoming stuck 

in our ways.” 

“It’s similar with the lighthouse 

project of the Junior University, 

which brings together not 

only experienced professors 

but also students from various 

semesters. The decisive point 

is not simply the different faculties 

that contribute, but the 

whole range of human resources 

that goes to make such a 

project successful.” – Peter

Vaupel is chairperson of the 

Association of Benefactors and 

Sponsors of the Junior University, 

which brings the concerns 

and ambience of the university 

to young people still at school. 

As market leader in its field, 

Wuppertal’s Sparkasse naturally 

ensures that the university 

and its students have an 

ATM at their disposal, as well 

as educational credits and an 

extensive online product offer 

specially tailored to student requirements. 

With 34 branch offices, almost 

100 ATMs spread across the 

city, and a large staff of specialists, 

the Sparkasse is a banking 

partner for whom proximity 

and accessibility to the university 

are a matter of choice, not 

chance. For the close relationship 

between the University 

of Wuppertal and the Bergisch 

region and its people and industries 

demonstrates that, far 

from being just the ‘university 

up on the hill’, UW is a place 

where science and business 

are united in a common purpose. 

And that purpose is good 

for both the city and region of 


The silhouette of the Sparkasse Tower with the Schwebebahn in the foreground: 

a familiar sight in downtown Wuppertal 

Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal 

Islandufer 15 


Tel.: 0202/488-1 

Fax: 0202/488-2666 

E-Mail: info@sparkasse-wuppertal.de 

www.sparkasse-wuppertal.de 

73

74 

Innovative 

Partnerschaften 

Wie erfolgreich Partnerschaften 

zwischen der Universität 

und der Wirtschaft laufen können, 

beweist die intensive Zusammenarbeit 

mit der Firma 

Sachsenröder. Bereits im Jahr 

2007 startete das Fachgebiet 

Sicherheitstechnik/ Umweltchemie 

mit einem ersten Projekt 

für das Unternehmen und 

untersuchte die Materialeffizienz 

bei der Herstellung der 

Vulkanfiber. 

Seit 2009 wird nun im Rahmen 

eines Forschungsprojekts 

gemeinsam an der Weiterentwicklung 

von Vulkanfiberprodukten 

gearbeitet. Gefördert 

wird dieses Projekt sowohl 

über das VerMat-Programm 

(Einzelbetriebliche Beratungen 

zur Verbesserung der Materialeffizienz) 

der Deutschen 

Materialeffizienzagentur als 

auch über das ZIM-Programm 

(Zentrales Innovationsprogramm 

Mittelstand). Die umfangreiche 

Antragstellung für 

Förderungen zu diesem Projekt 

wurde intensiv von der 

Effizienz-Agentur (NRW EFA) 

unterstützt und begleitet. 

Die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit 

bei einzelnen Projekten 

weckte den Wunsch, eine 

langfristige Forschungs- und 

Entwicklungseinrichtung für 

die Zusammenarbeit zwischen 

Universität und Wirtschaft zu 

schaffen. Im Jahr 2009 wurde 

diese bereits 2007 formulierte 

Anregung dann in die Wirklichkeit 

umgesetzt. Es wurde ein 

InnovationsLabor gegründet 

,in dem Universität und Wirtschaft 

gemeinsam forschen 

können. 

Die Effizienz- 

Agentur NRW 

The NRW Efficiency Agency 

(EFA) provides impulses 

for small and medium-sized 

enterprises across the State 

of North Rhine-Westphalia to 

enhance the efficient use of 

resources, and promotes the 

implementation of measures 

Business advice for Bergisch Land: EFA Regional Director Günter Machein (center) 

talking to regional managers 

that save the environment and 

reduce costs. Set up by the 

NRW Ministry of the Environment, 

the Agency has developed 

a toolbox that has been 

successfully used in some 750 

companies to determine energy-saving 

requirements and introduce 

appropriate solutions. 

The 20-strong EFA staff are 

also committed to the develop- 

NRW Efficiency Agency 

Solingen Regional Office 

Günter Machein 

E-Mail: solingen@efanrw.de 

www.efanrw.de 

ment of networks, especially in 

the area of knowledge transfer 

between industry, science and 

engineering. A current example 

is their intensive support of 

UW’s funding application for 

the Innovation Laboratory established 

in cooperation with 

the Wuppertal company Sachsenröder.

Industry meets science 

Bergisch Land InnovationLab – 

a platform for sustained 

cooperation 

The Bergisch Land Innovation- 

Lab was born of a suggestion 

by Sachsenröder GmbH & Co 

in the context of their successful 

cooperation (begun in 2007) 

with the University of Wuppertal 

– in most cases such project-based 

collaborations end 

when the particular task has 

been completed. 

The thinking behind the InnovationLab 

is rather different: to 

conduct R&D for various companies, 

in cooperation with the 

university, at a single central 

location. Contact between the 

companies is thought of as 

desirable, because it will stimulate 

the exchange of ideas 

and hence the innovative impact 

of the work. But at the same 

time confidential treatment 

of commissions and results is 

guaranteed. Cooperation between 

regional industry and the 

university is seen as good for 

both sides. New R&D partners 

will stimulate ideas for new 

products, and mutual interaction 

and support will create a 

platform for promising future 

networks with the ability to 

bring diverse industries together. 

UW itself could not provide 

suitable premises for such a 

venture, but another Wuppertal 

company, TTI, centrally located 

in Elberfeld and interested 

in joining the cooperation, 

offered the use not only of its 

laboratory but also of major 

technological facilities – optimum 

conditions for successful 

R&D. Other companies have 

followed, and by 2011 the InnovationLab 

will count a number 

of partners with publicly funded 

projects. 

Dirk Sachsenröder, joint founder with UW of Bergisch Land Innovation- 

Lab: Sachsenröder’s vulcanized fiber products stand for innovation, renewable 

resources, and environmentally friendly technology 

Sachsenröder GmbH & Co. KG 

Dirk Sachsenröder 

Friedrich-Engels-Allee 143 


Telefon: +49 (0)202 280 54-0 

E-Mail: info@sachsenroeder.com 

www.sachsenroeder.com 

75 

04_UW_REGIONAL

76 

‘Key’ regional think tank – 

UW’s Institute of Security Systems 

The University of Wuppertal’s 


focuses on basic technological 

and social issues connected 

with protecting people within 

their environment. As a scientific 

think-tank the Institute 

not only develops theories and 

models as a contribution to international 

research, but also 

applies its methodological and 

systems know-how to the solution 

of specific technological 

problems deriving from the regional 

lock-making and security 

industries. 

The Institute’s scientists and 

engineers form an interdisciplinary 

team committed to basic 

research, evaluation and development 

of innovative security 

systems and processes. This 

calls on such diverse fields as 

mechatronics, ICT, microsystems 

and safety engineering, 

and involves leading-edge 

technological developments in 

materials, optics and key design. 

Taking account of social frameworks, 

the Institute taps synergies 

in order to generate 

technological transfer and innovation 

within value-added 

chains, from initial idea to prototype. 

As a research partner 

it offers its customers the value 

enhancement that derives 

from excellent research and 

provides innovative impulses 

for industry, society and politics 

alike. 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai-Dietrich Wolf 

Talstr. 71 

42551 Velbert 

T: +49(0) 2051 93322-0 

E: wolf@iss.uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.iss.uni-wuppertal.de 

Opening UW’s new Institute of Security Systems in Velbert/Heiligenhaus (l. to r.): Dr. Jan Heinisch (Mayor of Heiligenhaus), Stefan 

Freitag (Mayor of Velbert), Dr. Jens Baganz (Secretary of State), Prof. Dr. -Ing. Kai-Dietrich Wolf (Institute Director), Prof. Dr. Lambert 

T. Koch (UW Rector) and Ulrich Hülsbeck (Chairperson Key Region Association)

Velbert and Heiligenhaus – 

the key region worldwide 

Bundling key competencies: 12 member companies of the lock-making industry, along with UW and the municipalities of Velbert 

und Heiligenhaus, found a think-tank to foster innovation and cooperation between industry and the university 

Neighboring Wuppertal to the 

north, the twin towns of Velbert 

and Heiligenhaus are the 

world’s leading producers of 

locks, keys and security systems. 

More than 70 companies 

employ some 7000 people in 

this ‘key’ industry. 

A 400 year tradition of lockmaking 

created a strong economic 

basis for the region, 

and the industry has remained 

open to change and innovation 

to the present day. In 2006 the 

municipal authorities of Velbert 

and Heiligenhaus got together 

with company heads to dis- 

cuss what they could do to 

strengthen the regional economy. 

The result was a network 

of security organizations, the 

Key Region Association, comprising 

some 75 companies 

and institutions dedicated in 

the first place to training and 

research. 

Cooperation with the University 

of Wuppertal began the following 

year, when 12 member 

companies of the Association 

along with the two municipalities 

approached the university 

with the idea of forming a 

think-tank: a research institute 

Die Schlüsselregion e.V. 

Dr. Thorsten Enge 

Talstraße 71 

42551 Velbert 

T: +49 (0)2051 607104 

E: t.enge@schluesselregion.de 

www.schluesselregion.de 

specializing in projects for the 

medium-sized enterprises of 

the re-gion. The idea came to 

fruition in 2009, when UW’s 


opened right next door to the 

Key Region Association’s offices 

on the new Velbert/Heiligenhaus 

campus. 

77 

04_UW_REGIONAL

78 

tracking emotions 

Psychophysiology is concerned 

with the measurable physical 

symptoms accompanying 

psychological processes. 

psyrecon applies the methods 

of modern psychophysiology 

to areas such as product testing, 

where it is a question of 

reliably measuring levels of 

emotional activity and response. 

The company founders, 

Prof. W. Boucsein and Dr. R. 

Stürmer, developed their method 

of objective emotional 

assessment in the framework 

of an externally funded project 

at the University of Wuppertal. 

In contrast with conventional 

methods of customer research, 

the process, based on 

an experimental double blind 

procedure, cannot be manipulated 

or falsified. It achieves an 

objective quantification of total 

consumer reactions that enables 

new product developments 

to be evaluated according to 

unimpeachable standards and 

compared with the market 

norm. 

psyrecon sees itself as a knowledge 

transfer enterprise conveying 

up-to-the-minute scientific 

know-how and results to 

industry and the health sector. 

Automotive research commissions 

are a current focus. But 

as well as direct research projects, 

psyrecon offers scientific 

advice and consulting for the 

planning, conduct and evaluation 

of industrial investigations. 

Further business areas are 

biological and neurological 

feedback treatment of sleep 

disorders and ADHD (attention 

deficit hyperactivity disorder), 

as well as a broad spectrum of 

continuing education and seminar 

offers on topics connected 

with stress management, salutogenesis, 

and social competence. 

psyrecon GmbH research & consulting 

Institute for Applied Psychophysiology 

Dr. Ralf Stürmer 

Geschäftsführer 

Alte Freiheit 1 


Tel.: 0202-3172106 

Mail: info@psyrecon.de 

www.psyrecon.de 

Product testing: terminal pads record 

physiological reactions for objective assessment 

of emotional response

Delta waves counter 

sleep disorders 

Infrasonics has been working 

on sleep therapy since 1998, 

seeking ways to detect and 

effectively remedy sleep disturbances, 

so that patients will 

recover the restorative function 

of sleep that they need. 

The company has developed a 

method based on the biophysical 

principle of binaural perception, 

in which a small phase 

shift in sound from two audio 

channels creates a gap in the 

region of 4 Hz. This is the region 

of deep relaxation called the 

delta phase. 

The research breakthrough 

came for Infrasonics in 2001, 

when they first succeeded in 

bringing delta waves into the 

brain. Since 2008 they have 

been investigating the suitability 

of audio sleep therapy for 

elderly patients with severe 

dementia. Current research 

focusing on high resolution 

procedures to enhance binaural 

perception has raised questions 

of bio-feedback that are 

being investigated by Dr. Ralf 

Stürmer of the University of 

Wuppertal. An initial study has 

already been completed. 

Infrasonics Audio Engineering 

could meet the 96 kHz requirements 

of the task, but the 

delta wave range is so small 

that no equipment could be 

found anywhere in the world 

suitable for relaying such high 

resolution sound. Again the 

company approached UW, and 

the university’s Knowledge 

Transfer Office contacted a 

group of graduates who were 

able to develop an entirely new 

sound generation system. Infrasonics 

has been testing the 

first three prototypes. Sound 

fidelity is exceptionally good 

– significantly better than current 

mp3 players or audio CDs. 

It is hoped that the improved 

equipment will bring new insights 

and solutions in the field 

of sleep and dementia therapy. 

Infrasonics GmbH 

Wißmannstraße 30 

50823 Köln 

Germany 

Telefon: +49 (0)221 1680424-0 

Telefax: +49 (0)221 1680424-9 

E-Mail: info@infrasonics.de 

www.infrasonics.de 

79 

04_UW_REGIONAL

80 

Heinz Schmersal – a portrait 

Global Player with 

regional roots 

Wherever humans meet machines, 

Schmersal products 

and systems solutions ensure 

that risks and dan-gers are 

minimized. Founded as a twoman 

business just after the Second 

World War, the Schmersal 

Group, with Head Office in 

Wuppertal, worked its way up 

to become the global market 

leader in switchgear and systems. 

The company now has 

five production facilities in Germany 

and abroad, and a worldwide 

sales network employing 

some 1150 people. Schmersal 

is a UW partner enterprise. 

Despite this global outreach, 

CEO Heinz Schmersal feels 

strong links to the city of Wuppertal 

and its univer-sity, where 

he studied engineering. He 

is active in the local community, 

sharing its social concerns, 

promot-ing local initiatives, and 

sponsoring communal organizations 

and sports clubs. He is 

also deeply committed to the 

economic and industrial life of 

the city and region, where he 

ardently supports the development 

of a network linking the 

economy with the university 

and licensing authorities. 

To back this process, Schmersal 

sits on the board of numerous 

organizations and 

institutions, among them the 

Supervisory Board of Wuppertal 

City Marketing and (as chairperson) 

the Advisory Board of 

UW’s Schumpeter School of 

Business and Economics (Faculty 

of Economics). 

Heinz Schmersal sets high 

store on real-life industrial experience 

for students and has 

lectured at the uni-versity on 

such varied topics as crisis management, 

the activities of his 

corporation in China and Brazil, 

and the development of an innovative 

non-invasive medical 

measuring device. Students 

visiting Schmersal HQ in Wuppertal 

can see how a global 

player operates, and trips to 

the BRIC countries (Brazil, 

Russia, India and China) organized 

by Prof. Dr. Koubek of the 

Schumpeter School have taken 

undergraduates and postgradu-ates 

to Schmersal plants in 

China (2008) and Brazil (2010). 

In return, the company profits 

from the training and motivation 

of young UW graduates, 

as well as from the series of 

degree and doctoral theses 

dealing with questions arising 

within the Schmersal Group. 

That is not all, however, nor 

does it go far enough for Heinz 

Schmersal. Referring to a strategic 

paper pub-lished in 1998 

by members of Wuppertal aktiv, 

an initiative for the promoti- 

on of local business and industry, 

he sees an indispensable 

need to bind the university into 

the development of the key 

industries pinpointed there: 

biotechnology, medical technology 

and chemistry, together 

with (more recently) electrical 

engineering. In view of the range 

of industries, technologies 

and key regional competencies 

identified in that paper, the 

university’s ability to conduct 

fundamental research would in 

certain cases be essential. 

A specific issue arising within 

this context is to set up regional 

offices of the various 

licensing authorities. Innovative 

developments and product 

launches are often very time 

consuming, and it would accelerate 

the process significantly 

if authorization could take place 

on the spot. Initial discussions 

with the bodies con-cerned indicated 

that they were willing 

to establish regional branches 

if the costs were borne by industry. 

“But the time was not 

yet ripe for that step”, Schmersal 

says. However, the idea 

should be taken up again now: 

“It would create a triangular 

network of industry, university, 

and licensing authorities that 

would be the envy of many 

other places”, and the name 

of Wuppertal would become

identified internationally as 

well as nationally with those 

key technologies. 

K. A. Schmersal Holding 

GmbH & Co., with Head Office 

in Wuppertal, is one of 

the biggest manufacturers of 

technological equipment in the 

world. Its more than 18,000 

products, ranging from microcircuits 

through sensors to safety 

switchgear, cover the entire 

range of control and safety 

systems for plant and machinery. 

The Group is still expanding, 

with plans to set up in India and 

Japan, as well as to extend production 

facilities in China and 

Brazil. Heinz Schmersal looks 

forward to a future marked by 

the active support of the University 

of Wuppertal, as well 

as of the licensing authorities, 

taking account of varying national 

conditions. 

K. A. Schmersal Holding GmbH & Co. KG 

Dipl.-Ing. Heinz Schmersal 

Möddinghofe 30 


Tel.: +49 (0)202 6474-0 

E-Mail: info@schmersal.com 

www.schmersal.com 

81 

04_UW_REGIONAL

82 

At_A_GLANCE 

Research Day: 

Highlighting UW’s regional 

roots, Research Day takes 

place annually in Wuppertal 

and every other year in 

Remscheid and Solingen, 

Wuppertal’s sister cities in 

the Bergisch Land. In August 

2009 the university’s physicists 

presented a fascinating 

panorama of their research 

activities in fields such as climate 

change, summer smog, 

and the observation of cosmic 

particles, along with a range 

of experiments in which onlookers 

in one of Elberfeld’s 

shopping malls were invited 

to participate. 

Solingen’s 2009 Research 

Day, organized in cooperation 

with the Bergisch Regional 

Institute of Product Development 

and Innovation Management 

and the city’s Young Entrepreneurs 

and Technology 

Center, presented state-ofthe-art 

exhibits exemplifying 

current research in safety 

engineering, environmental 

chemistry, mathematics, the 

natural sciences, art and the 

educational sciences. 

UW Young Entrepreneurs 

Program again wins 

award: 


holds its position in the German 

university landscape as 

providing top training conditions 

for future entrepreneurs. 

Awarded second place 

in the fifth ranking test (after 

2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007) 

the university once again landed 

in 2009 among the medal 

winners. 

Product development and 

innovation management: 

Professor Dr. Thomas Müller- 

Kirschbaum of Henkel AG & 

Co., Düsseldorf, is the new 

chairperson of the Association 

of Benefactors And 

Sponsors of the Bergisch 

Regional Institute of Product 

Development and Innovation 

Management, an associate 

institute of the University of 

Wuppertal whose mission is 

to promote and extend cooperation 

between industry 

and the university in the fields 

of design, ergonomics and 

engineering. 

Regional cooperation: 

The Federal Institute of Occupational 

Safety and Health 

in Dortmund and the University 

of Wuppertal signed 

a cooperation agreement in 

June 2009 that aims to raise 

the profile of the two cities as 

centers of scientific research 

and teaching in the area of 

workplace health and safety. 

A further aim of the cooperation 

partners is to integrate 

the R&D results of the Federal 

Institute immediately into 

the university’s degree programs, 

so that students will 

be conversant with the latest 

developments and strategies 

in occupational health and safety. 

Competence Center for 

Travel Medicine founded: 

With the support of the Remscheid 

Area Industrial Medicine 

Center and the City of 

Remscheid Specialist Medical 

Services, UW’s Department 

of Occupational Physiology, 

Occupational Medicine 

and Protection against Infection 

established a Bergisch 


for Travel Medicine in early 

2010. The Competence Center 

offers consultations and 

immunizations in weekly rotation 

at Remscheid’s Public 

Health Department offices, 


and the Remscheid Industrial 

Medicine Center. 

k www.reisemedizinwuppertal.de 

Apprentice training at UW: 

Nine new apprentices started 

their training at UW in August 

2009. They join the 21 already 

training at the university in 

a total of 13 different trades 

and professions. The five new 

men and four women will be 

trained in UW faculties and 

central organizational units 

in occupations ranging from 

industrial and tooling mechanics, 

through specialist IT, to 

media design, printing and 

joinery.

Design students develop new 

concept for Schwebebahn 

In a joint research project 

with Wuppertal’s municipal 

transportation provider, WSW 

mobil, UW industrial design 

students Dirk Hessenbruch, 

Renke Thye, Andrea Schöllgen 

and Philipp Goeder have developed 

an update suspension 

monorail car for the city’s historic 

Schwebebahn. Starting 

with a comparative analysis of 

transportation systems – from 

Düsseldorf Airport’s Skytrain 

and Berlin City Transport to 

the London and Paris subway 

systems – the team looked at 

stations and platforms, entrance 

and exit paths, use of space, 

air-conditioning, lighting and 

passenger information, as well 

as safety and the overall ‘feel’ 

of the system. 

The task was to design a 

Schwebebahn car for the time 

30 years hence when the current 

stock will have come to 

the end of its life. This involved 

such aspects as energy cost 

forecasts, climate change, future 

mobility patterns, and demographic 

change. 

The new concept car has 

larger windows, barrier free 

doorways, more room for 

wheelchairs and children’s 

pushchairs, and a different 

seating arrangement. Station 

information displays are more 

legible and include information 

about connections. 

User-friendliness was a prime 

consideration, and Schwebebahn 

users were invited to 

submit their comments and 

suggestions. Led by Prof. Gert 

Trauernicht and Prof. Dr. Brigitte 

Wolf, the project included a 

passenger survey and an Internet 

blog for feedback and discussion. 

User-friendly spatial design 

83

05_ 

UW_INTERNATIONAL 

85

86 

International relations – 

the wide world of knowledge and science 

Many challenges facing our 

societies can only be solved at 

the global level – one of the reasons 

why UW cultivates an international 

network with many 

different strands. Contacts and 

cooperations exist with more 

than 150 universities worldwide, 

from intensive research 

partnerships in atomic particle 

and atmospheric physics to 

numerous student exchange 

programs. 

Every year our international 

contacts bring hundreds of 

scholars and scientists, industrialists 

and administrators from 

many countries to Wuppertal 

for conferences, seminars and 

conventions ranging from international 

architectural symposia 

to summer schools on energyoptimized 

building, and from 

workshops on mathematics 

to meetings on transportation 

and traffic. Chinese engineers 

come to discuss the future of 

the construction industry and 

delegations from Brussels to 

regulate levels of fine dust in 

the atmosphere. 

Behind all these activities stand 

the many contacts of individual 

faculty members and departments 

with partners throughout 

Europe and overseas. 

And behind them also stands 

the International Office – the 

UW administration department 

directly responsible for international 

relations. The International 

Office fosters and manages 

international contacts, partnerships 

and exchanges at all levels 

of teaching, learning and 

research, and as such is UW’s 

open door to the world. 

The International Office provides 

information and advice for 

international students interested 

in studying in Wuppertal 

as well as for UW students 

seeking to study abroad. In 

cooperation with the university 

faculties it hosts visits from 

international academics and 

delegations, and provides sup- 

port for UW faculty members 

planning European or overseas 

visits. And for UW’s many international 

students the International 

Office organizes introductory 

programs and events, 

intercultural training, and seminars 

on German culture. 

Andrea Bieck 

International Office 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2181 

E: bieck@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.international.uniwuppertal.de

Need new friends? 

The International Students 

Team will help 

Strange country, strange culture, 

strange university (or for 

‘strange’ read ‘foreign’) – so 

that it doesn’t stay like that, 

there’s the International Students 

Team (IST). The IST is a 

UW student organization that 

aims to help our international 

students settle in smoothly 

and rapidly. We meet you at 

the station, accompany you to 

city offices for your residence 

permit etc, help you complete 

the necessary forms and formalities, 

and get you used to 

everyday life. Together with 

the International Office we organize 

a Welcome Week with 

guided tours of the university 

and city, communal events, 

and a taste of Wuppertal’s 

night life. 

k www.ist.uni-wuppertal.de 

87 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

88 

International 

University Partnerships 

(not including ERASMUS program*) 

STATE UNIVERSITY 

Egypt Ain Shams University, Kairo 

Helwan University, Kairo 

Minia University, Minia 

Algeria Ecole Nationale Polytechnique, Algier 

Université M´Hamed Bougara de Boumerdes, Boumerdes 

Argentina Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata (UNMP), Mar del Plata 

Australia Australian National University (ANU), Canberra 

Bond University, Gold Coast 

Bangladesh University of Dhaka, Dhaka 

Brasil Universidade Federal do Parana (UFPR), Curitiba 

Chile Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano, Santiago 

Universidad de Chile, Santiago 

France Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Saint-Etienne (ESCSE), Saint-Etienne 

Université Jean Monnet, Saint-Etienne 

Ghana Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi 

United Kingdom Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Manchester 

India Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Chennai 

Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon 

Indonesia Universitas Brawijaya, Malang 

Iran Isfahan University of Technology (IUT), Isfahan 

Shiraz University, Shiraz 

Israel Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 

Japan Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 

Osaka Institute of Technology, Osaka 

Shizuoka University, Shizuoka-shi 

Kanada Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC 

Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyz State National University Bishkek, Bishkek 

Korea Soonchunhyang University, Asan 

Cuba Instituto Superior de Diseno (ISDI), Havanna

STATE UNIVERSITY 

Morocco Université Mohamed V – Agdal, Rabat 

Mexico Universidad Autónoma de Quéretaro, Querétaro 

Universidad Tecnológica Fidel Velázquez, Nicolas Romero 

Peru Universidad de Lima, Lima 

Poland Wroclaw University of Technology, Breslau 

State School of Higher Professional Education, Liegnitz 

Russia Baltic Fishing Fleet State Academy, Kaliningrad 

Kaliningrad State University of Technology (KSTU), Kaliningrad 

Lomonosov Moscow State University 

Moscow State University of Printing 

Rostov State University of Civil Engineering 

St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance (FINEC), 

Sankt Petersburg 

Ural State University (USU), Jekaterinburg 

Switzerland Université de Lausanne (UNIL), Lausanne 

Züricher Hochschule der Angewandten Wissenschaften (ZHAW), Winterthur 

Singapore National University of Singapur (NUS), Singapur 

Slovakia Technical University of Kosiše (TUK), Košice 

Spain Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao 

South Africa University of Stellenbosch, Matieland 

Ukraine National Technical University of Ukraine (NTUU), Kiew 

Ukrainian Academy of Printing (UAP), Lviv 

USA University of Cincinnati (UC), Cincinnati, OH 

Uzbekistan Tashkent Institute of Textiles and Light Industry (TITLI), Taschkent 

PRC Beijing Institute of Graphic Communication (BIC), Beijing 

Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT), Beijing 

Central South University of Technology (CSU), Changsha 

China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT), xuzhou 

Graduate University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (GUCAS), Beijing 

Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan 

Hubei University of Technologie (HBUT), Wuhan 

Wuhan University (WHU), Wuhan 

Belarus Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radioelectronics (BSUIR), Minsk 

*ERASMUS is one of the main pillars of 

university education within the framework of 

the EU’s Lifelong Learning Program (LLP). 

In 2009-2010 UW had 130 ERASMUS partnerships 

with 99 European universities. 

For a complete list visit 

k www.internationales.uni-wuppertal.de/ 

outgoing/erasmus/partnerhochschulen/ 

89 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

90 

Partner universities 

Université 

Jean Monnet, 

St. Etienne 

The Université Jean Monnet, 

whose five faculties cater today 

for some 14,000 students, 

was founded in 1969. A longstanding 

partnership with 

UW has brought many young 

people from St. Etienne’s program 

of Langues Etrangères 

Appliquées (foreign languages 

and business studies) to complete 

courses and internships 

in Wuppertal, and taken an annual 

complement of UW students 

of French in the opposite 

direction for teaching practice. 

Over the years there have also 

been numerous group visits 

focusing on specific topics, as 

well as faculty contacts with 

joint colloquiums held in St. 

Etienne as well as Wuppertal. 

k www.univ-st-etienne.fr 

University of 

Birmingham 

With more than 26,000 students 

(among them almost 

5000 international students), 

Birmingham is one of the largest 

UK universities. Renowned 

in many fields, it comprises 

five colleges covering a 

wide spectrum of the humanities, 

natural sciences and social 

sciences, as well as medicine 

and law. A special focus lies on 

interdisciplinary teaching and 

research – e.g. in the life and 

environmental sciences. UW’s 

Faculty of Economics (Schumpeter 

School of Business and 

Economics) has a longstanding 

tradition of student exchanges 

and inter-faculty contact with 

Birmingham’s Department 

of Economics and Business 

School. 

k www.bham.ac.uk

National 

University of 

Singapore 

Founded in 1905, the National 

University of Singapore has 

14 faculties, a staff of around 

8000 and some 32,000 students 

from almost 100 countries. 

In the Times Higher Education 

Supplement’s annual 

rankings the NUS is regularly 

placed among the top 20 universities 

worldwide. UW’s Faculty 

of Electrical, Information 

and Media Engineering has 

enjoyed a formal cooperation 

with NUS since 1995. This has 

resulted in a regular exchange 

taking UW students to NUS 

for a semester abroad or for an 

internship in one of NUS’s associated 

institutes such as the 

Institute of Microelectronics. 

k www.nus.edu.sg 

TUKE - Technickáuniverzita 

v Košiciach 

The Technical University of 

Košice was founded in 1952, 

but its roots go back to the 

Universitas Cassoviensis, 

which was already established 

in the mid 17th century. Twinned 

with Wuppertal, Košice 

is the principal city of eastern 

Slovakia. Situated in the town, 

the university has 9 faculties 

covering a wide range of disciplines 

and more than 16,000 

students. Indeed it serves as 

a research and academic center 

for the entire country. The 

intensive partnership with the 

University of Wuppertal goes 

back almost 30 years, bringing 

a regular flow of Slovakian students 

to Wuppertal. A number 

of UW professors also hold regular 

lecture courses in Košice. 

k www.tuke.sk 

91 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

92 

A semester in Wrocław – 

studying abroad in Poland 

A report by Ines Dehof – student at the 

Schumpeter School of Business and Economics 

University of Wrocław (Breslau) 

Aula Leopoldina, Wrocław University 

The decision to spend a semester 

abroad in Poland is not 

all that common. My family 

and friends asked me “Why 

Poland?” But the reason for 

me was simple: to explore a 

country I didn’t yet know well. 

I read up about the Poland and 

Polish culture, but you don’t really 

get a picture of the country 

and its society until you have 

lived there for a longer period. 

With a population of 630,000, 

Wrocław (in German ‘Breslau’) 

is the fourth largest city in Poland 

and the capital of Lower 

Silesia. Founded in 1947, its 

University of Economics (full 

name ‚Akademia Ekonomiczna 

im. Oskara Langego’) consists 

of four faculties: Economics, 

Management, Informatics and 

Finance, and Business Engineering. 

The university has 

18,000 students and an academic 

staff of 784 including 142 

professors. The spectrum of 

teaching is extremely broad, 

with courses offered in virtually 

every specialty. ERASMUS 

students are looked after by 

the International Office. 

Finding somewhere to live in 

Wrocław is easy: every student 

who asks is allocated a 

place in the hall of residence, 

the ‘Slezak’, situated close to 

the university with easy access 

to the town center. 

My semester abroad was great: 

I learned a lot and enjoyed the 

months in Wrocław, People in 

Poland are kind, friendly and 

helpful. They always supported 

me, and I look back on my time 

there with pleasure. All my expectations 

were fulfilled. I not 

only got to know Poland and 

its culture, but broadened my 

experience in many ways and 

came back all the richer for it.

UW chemists in arctic: 

At_A_GLANCE 

Invited by the University of 

California, Davis (USA), UW 

atmospheric chemists are cooperating 

in the International 

Polar Year’s OASIS (Ocean 

Atmosphere Sea Ice Snowpack) 

research project – an 

investigation of physical and 

chemical processes on snow 

and ice surfaces in the polar 

atmosphere. The university’s 

Department of Physical Chemistry 

was invited to join the 

measurements team at Barrow, 

the northernmost point 

of Alaska, to determine the 

incidence of the important 

cleansing agent nitrous acid 

(HONO) in the lower atmosphere. 

Using an ultra-highsensitivity 

device developed 

in Wuppertal, the team has 

achieved results that have already 

met with international 

acclaim. 

Top quarks: 

An international team of scientists 

at Fermilab (Fermi 

National Accelerator Laboratory), 

the American Research 

Center for Particle Physics 

near Chicago, has observed 

the production of individual 

top quarks in particle collisions. 

The top quark, the 

most massive fundamental 

constituent of matter, has so 

far eluded demonstration in 

isolation because of its extremely 

short lifetime. Fourteen 

years after the quark’s discovery, 

the Fermilab experiments 

confirm important parameters 

of particle physics. 

UW physicists led by Prof. 

Dr. Wolfgang Wagner and Dr. 

Daniel Wicke contributed significantly 

to this experimental 

breakthrough. 

International summer 

school: 

Effluent treatment and the 

impact of fine dust particulates 

on plants were two of 

the topics discussed at the 

international summer school 

held for the second time by 

UW’s Schools of Biology, 

Chemistry, Physics and Safety 

Engineering in cooperation 

with the Jülich Research 

Center and Aqua System 

Wuppertal. The two-week 

summer school for Japanese 

and German students offered 

a range of fascinating lectures, 

experiments and visits 

focusing on environmental 

research and terrestrial as 

well as atmospheric oxidation 

processes. 

UW partnership with the 

Technical University of 

Kosice: 

UW Rector Prof. Dr. Lambert 

T. Koch and the Rector of the 

Technical University of Kosice, 

Prof. Dr. Anton Cismar, 

have signed an agreement to 

extend the 27 year-old partnership 

between the two institutions. 

Long rated a landmark 

in European university 

cooperation, the partnership 

involves numerous crossfaculty 

contacts, as well as 

ERASMUS exchanges bringing 

Slovakian students to 

Wuppertal. The future focus 

will be on economics and engineering, 

with a strong desire 

on the Slovakian side for 

cooperation also in IT. 

93 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

Untying tongues 

UW’s Language Center 

In today’s world foreign language 

competence has become 

an integral part of higher education 

and a presupposition 

for successful entry into the 

worlds of business, scholarship 

and scientific research. 

This lays an obligation on the 

universities to provide students 

and staff with adequate opportunities 

to qualify themselves 

at an appropriate level. UW’s 

Language Center fulfills this 

obligation, and does so with a 

proven record of success. The 

Center offers more than 70 

courses in nine foreign languages, 

together with six courses 

at different levels (A1 to C1b) in 

German as a foreign language. 

‘Come in’ – German 

courses 

for international 

students in 


Deutsch plus is the name of 

the program with which the 

Language Center prepares international 

students for their 

degree studies. Once they 

have reached European Language 

Reference Level B2, students 

take 20 hours German 

per week plus 8 hours preparation 

for their specific degree 

program. This latter module 

covers the special language 

and learning requirements of 

economics, the social sciences 

and the humanities on the one 

hand, and engineering and the 

natural sciences on the other 

(6 hours). Students choose 

their specific area, and the remaining 

2 hours are dedicated 

to academic methods and the 

infrastructure of the university. 

International students with little 

or no knowledge of German 

attend courses at levels A1 – 

B1, which provide them with 

the basic qualification to start 

a degree program at a German 

university. For 25 hours a week 

they concentrate fully on learning 

German. 

Undergraduates and postgra- 

duates who need to improve 

their command of German in 

their specialist field can take 

part in the Language Center’s 

special purpose language 

courses for economics, social 

sciences, the humanities, engineering 

and the natural sciences. 

International students taking 

degree programs taught in 

English can attend special 

German courses for 4 hours a 

week at levels A1 – B1. 

All German courses are naturally 

also open to UW’s many 

exchange students. 

‘Go out’ – foreign 

language courses 

for UW students 

and staff 

In a globalized world mobility 

and flexibility are of ever-increasing 

importance for students 

and staff alike in the various 

departments and units of the 

university. Whether it is a matter 

of studying abroad, entering 

a multinational company, or negotiating 

with international academic 

or business partners, a 

modern university offers many 

opportunities for international 

contact and a corresponding 

need for foreign language capabilities. 

Offering courses at 

different levels in nine languages, 

UW’s Language Center 

provides essential support 

for the university’s global outreach 

and creates the linguistic 

basis for understanding foreign 

countries and cultures with 

their different thought patterns 

and lifestyles. 

English, Spanish, French, Italian, 

Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, 

Chinese and Swedish are 

taught not only at a general but 

also at a specialist academic level 

for presentations and work 

with academic texts. 

Chinese and Swedish are currently 

very popular. Swedish 

was first offered as a compact 

course in March 2009; Chinese 

has been taught for more than 

two years both as a regular 

language course and as a tandem 

course in which German 

and Chinese learners with basic 

skills practice together to 

improve their communicative 

abilities. A cooperation agreement 

with Wuppertal schools 

has opened the Language 

Center’s Chinese courses to 

school students of class 9 and 

above. 

From summer 2010 Japanese 

will also be offered at (at least) 

four consecutive levels plus a 

tandem course. 

Dr. Agnes Bryan 

Language Center 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2878 

E: audio@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.sli.uni-wuppertal.de 

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Street scene in Havana Centro, close to Universidad de la Habana 

Havana – 

an intercultural experience 

A report by Prof. Dr. Brigitte Wolf 

Faculty of Art and Design 

Department of Design Theory 

Designers working in the international 

market must grasp at 

an early stage that people in 

other cultures live under quite 

different conditions from their 

own and shape their daily lives 

in very different ways. To give 

UW design students an opportunity 

to experience and understand 

what cultural otherness 

means, I organized, with 

my assistant Marcel Befort, a 

visit to the Cuban capital, Havana. 

Cuba is an island where 

everything is different, not just 

the political system and the climate. 

The people are poor, but 

enjoy an excellent education. 

The buildings are decaying, but 

fiestas are celebrated whenever 

and wherever possible. The 

Church does not exist as an 

institution, but evidence of the 

Santeria cult is ubiquitous. The 

heat slows movement down, 

the clocks tick to a different 

rhythm, but students work seriously 

and hand in their assignments 

on time. 

From July 6-20, 2009 seventeen 

students from UW’s 

Schools of Industrial and Communication 

Design took part in 

the design projects of the Instituto 

Superior de Diseño (ISDI) 

in Havana, where they got to 

know their Cuban counterparts 

and experienced something of 

their lifestyle and of their problems. 

A trip of this sort requires 

careful preparation, and the 

Wuppertal students attended a 

Spanish course and an intercultural 

training program, among 

other events, before they left. 

The preparatory phase culminated 

in a Cuba Open Day at 

the Protestant Student Community 

House, organized with 

the support of the university’s 

International Office: an event 

that attracted visitors from 

both town and university. 

In Havana teaching conditions 

are also different. The com-

puter labs, for instance, are 

adequately equipped, but without 

Internet access, and the 

equipment is rather slow. Here 

too it was a matter of coming 

to terms with ‘otherness’. 

The main focus of the industrial 

design team lay on urban 

agriculture – a crucial issue for 

Havana and one of increasing 

importance in industrialized 

countries. Cuba is a fertile 

country with good soil and 

sufficient rain. The urban agriculture 

problem is thus one of 

transport: how to get vegetables 

and fruit to consumers in 

tropical temperatures when no 

money is available for refrigerated 

trucks. The students’ solution 

took the form of a sales 

kiosk mounted on a bicycle: a 

cheap and energy-saving concept 

that would enable produce 

to be stored, brought to 

town and sold in a single step. 

The communication designers 

focused on energy, above 

all on water economy, an area 

fraught with problems in Havana 

due to the poor state of 

the water mains and the irregularity 

of summer rainfall. The 

result is that water simply runs 

down the streets from broken 

pipes. With money the system 

German-Cuban group work 

could be replaced, but without 

there is only one solution: to 

save water. Working together, 

the Cuban and German students 

thought up some bold 

and humorous ideas for water 

and energy saving campaigns. 

Our visit to ISDI ended with 

the signing of a cooperation 

agreement with the University 

of Wuppertal that has so far 

brought two Cuban industrial 

design students to Wuppertal, 

one in winter semester 

2009-10 and another in summer 

semester 2010. Their 

visit was made possible by the 

State of North Rhine-Westphalia’s 

Scholarship Program 

for Emerging and Developing 

Countries. 

Prof. Dr. Brigitte Wolf 

Faculty of Art and Design 

Department of Design Theory 

T: +49 (0)202 439-5735 

E: bwolf@uni-wuppertal.de 

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05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

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Earthquake-proof building 

an international project of UW civil engineering research 

A civil engineer looking at pictures 

of buildings hit by a severe 

earthquake in a developing 

country will often be horrified 

at the construction errors and 

omissions – defects that could 

have been avoided with better 

knowledge and a modest investment. 

Massive corruption 

and incompetence at all levels 

cause many deaths among 

those who have to live or work 

in these buildings. And one 

rarely hears that an engineer 

or construction company has 

been prosecuted for such failures. 

They are needed for the reconstruction 

work anyway. To 

put it in a nutshell, the decisive 

step in earthquake-proof building 

is to overcome corruption 

and incompetence. 

It is an attractive prospect, 

therefore, to work on the development 

of a housing solution 

that restricts the production of 

key safety elements to competent 

companies, and ensures 

that their on-site assem-bly 

is transparent and corruptionproof 

– a solution that may 

bring immeasurable benefit to 

many of the world’s poorest 

regions. And in Wuppertal, 

with its many charming timberframe 

houses, the solu-tion 

lies near to hand. 

The key to earthquake-proof 

building is the diagonal struts 

clearly visible in those old 

timber-frame houses, because 

earthquake tremors shake a 

building not just up and down, 

but to and fro, and con-ventional 

houses are simply not built 

for that. As a rule, the only horizontal 

forces to which they are 

subjected are relatively mild 

gusts of wind. So, as well as 

cross-beams and uprights, it 

is above all the diagonal members 

that enable a building to 

withstand an earthquake. Without 

them the supporting pillars 

will fall over like dominos 

and the floors collapse like a 

pile of pancakes (hence the 

term ‘pan-cake collapse’). Furthermore, 

the visibility of the 

frame itself works powerfully 

against corruption: the people 

who are to live in the house – 

and they are the ones whose 

safety is at stake – can see 

for themselves whether the 

frame-members are all present 

and properly fixed. 

So what does a UW professor 

do with a research idea of 

this sort? In my case he contacts 

the Ger-man Academic 

Exchange Service (DAAD) 

to help him collect a sizeable 

team of highly motivated doctoral 

students from the developing 

countries in question. 

With them he then researches 

the relevant engineering theory, 

and then moves on to the 

practical realization of the project, 

establishing an inno-vative 

construction company with 

his students in a developing 

country particularly at risk. 

This took us three years ago 

to Iran and the city of Isfahan. 

Today there are 40 hospitals, 

schools and sports halls cons- 

tructed there in this way. Especially 

the schools communicate 

clearly to the local people what 

an earthquake-proof building 

should look like. The principle 

is increasingly understood 

as a model for their own houses, 

and increasingly accepted 

when appropriate decorative 

patterns cre-ated by local artists 

are added to the frame 

elements. The ongoing project 

is practiced in annual sum-mer 

schools in Wuppertal, where 

up to 80 students from developing 

countries, working in 

three shifts, have put up a model 

earthquake-proof building 

on a university parking lot. 

Prof. Dr. Georg Pegels 

School of Civil Engineering 

Department of Construction 

Informatics 

E: pegels@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.bauinformatik. 


Iranian students learn earthquake-proof building technology at UW summer 

school 

Steel-frame buildings: diagonal strut construction is earthquake and corruption 

proof

Go west, young man! 

Phoenix, Arizona was the 

destination for Sean Patrick 

Sassmannshausen and Stefan 

Gladbach when they left 

Wuppertal to teach and study 

at one of the world’s top business 

schools, the Thunderbird 

School of Global Mangement 

– rated by the Financial Times 

number one in international 

management. Their welcome 

in Arizona was warm in every 

sense, with a 45° C wind blowing 

from the Grand Canyon 

desert. 

Sean Patrick Sassmannshausen 

went to Thunderbird as 

a visiting professor, where 

he gained valuable teaching 

experience and found at the 

research level that the Americans 

were as eager to learn 

from him as he from them. 

The success story of German 

medium-sized companies on 

the one hand, and the secret of 

big listed family enterprises like 

Henkel, Bosch and Porsche on 

the other, seemed interesting 

role models for American companies 

at the onset of the global 

economic crisis. By the time 

Sassmannshausen left, the 

word mittelstand had even established 

itself as a loan-word 

like kindergarden, rucksack, 

schatzi, or autobahn. 

Stefan Gladbach attended the 

master’s international business 

program and gained the 

Certificate of Global Studies. 

Like Sassmannshausen he experienced 

an entirely different 

system of education: “In the 

USA”, Sassmannshausen explains, 

“research and teaching, 

especially the executive education 

program, are very highly respected 

and receive powerful 

financial support not just from 

industry but also from private 

persons.” For example, the 

Walker Center of Global Entrepreneurship, 

where he taught, 

booked a ten million dollar plus 

foundation during his stay. Led 

by the internationally known 

Prof. Robert Hisrich, the Center 

employs six professors, as 

well as a program director and 

a number of associate and assistant 

professors. 

The two UW economists 

agree, however, that funding 

is not everything. Their 

UW home, the Schumpeter 

School, recently demonstrated 

the truth of this principle at 

the Global Sustainable Innovation 

Summit, where a team of 

four UW students under the 

direction of Sassmannshausen 

and Gladbach beat 140 

Studying abroad at one of the world’s leading business schools 

other teams from 47 business 

schools worldwide to enter the 

final round in Phoenix, where 

the ten best global concepts 

meet in competition. 

Sean Patrick Sassmannshausen 

has been Managing Director 

of UW’s Institute of Entrepreneurship 


Research since 2005. 

Stefan Gladbach studies economics 

at UW’s Schumpeter 

School of Business and Economics. 

99

100 

A week in the life of a Professor of 

Transportation Engineering 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Gerlach 

School of Civil Engineering, 

Center for Traffic 

and Transportation 

A big hole must have been 

worn in the UW purse at the 

Higher Education Fair Einstieg 

Abi in Cologne on March 6, 

2010, when 800 or so hightech 

orange ballpoint pens 

passed into the hands of prospective 

young transport engineers. 

Equipped with boxfuls 

of wonder-pens and flyers for 

UW’s new ‘Business Engineering 

– Transportation’ program, 

I stood beneath a placard announcing: 

“The ultimate ballpoint. 

Use it to sign on for UW’s 

new degree program – gateway 

to a six-figure salary.” Turnover 

in ballpoints was brisk, 

but one visitor to the stand left 

me with a trail of work – the 

University Marketing cajoled 

me into writing a diary about 

my forthcoming visit to a road 

safety improvement workshop 

in Egypt. I’m not sure that my 

luggage was that much lighter 

when I left in the evening 

without the ballpoint pens … 

Sunday, March 

7, 2010 

Flight from Düsseldorf 

to Cairo 

via Istanbul 

For the sixth time within a 

year I’m on my way to Cairo, 

this time with Turkish Airlines, 

which allows me a three hour 

stop in Istanbul. I persuade a 

taxi driver to show me the city. 

An impressive 6-lane highway, 

class VS III (i.e. with two 

central peakflow lanes that 

can be used in either direction 

according to need) leads into 

town from the airport. And the 

speed tolerance of an Istanbul 

taxi and its human cargo is impressive, 

too. In comparison, 

Hagia Sophia and the Blue 

Mosque are no more than a 

blur in the memory. 

But I was soon to discover that 

Egyptian drivers go one better. 

The hotel offers a shuttle service 

from the airport, but it had 

apparently just broken down 

– Arabic for it never seriously 

meant to come anyway. So I 

climb into a Cairo taxi that feels 

at least 150 years old and pray. 

It works! We arrive safely at 

the hotel after half an hour that 

exponentially tops the dangers 

of the preceding day. And that 

brings me more or less to the 

point of my story. 

Balance-sheet for the day: 

From -3 to +37° C in 13 hours. 

Monday, March 

8, 2010 

Egyptian Road 

Standards 

workshop 

Enhancing Road Safety in Egypt 

is the title of an ambitious EU 

‘twinning’ project between the 

German, Austrian and Egyptian 

Ministries of Transport, the latter 

represented by the General 

Authority for Roads, Bridges 

and Land Transport (GARBLT). 

Some 30 delegates are bent on 

improving traffic laws, administra-tive 

and accident reporting 

structures, traffic offense 

prosecution procedures, road 

inspection, and the planning 

and auditing of new highways. 

Sent by the Federal Ministry in 

Berlin as R&D director as well 

as lecturer, and equipped with 

the twofold title of team leader 

and “senior road safety audit 

and inspection expert and trainer”, 

I mount the rostrum. 

The North African mind pre-

sents challenges that a German-trained 

engineer finds 

difficult to grasp, let alone 

overcome. Accidents are generally 

considered a matter of 

fate. Traffic is close to chaos. 

A driving license can be bought 

without having to pass a test. 

Vehicles are not subject to 

technical checks. Traffic offenders 

are neither pursued 

nor charged. Yet the Highway 

Code and the technical regulations 

for vehi-cles are comparable 

with those in Europe. 

And penalties for traffic violations 

are also clearly defined. 

But none of this is enforced. 

Street markings, traffic lights 

and other rules are, it seems, 

simply ignored. 

Our task is to change all this. 

We are talking about road safety. 

So we set out to seek solutions 

together and strengthen 

the competencies of Egyptian 

road safety managers. But 

there are a few problems. National 

highways and autobahnlike 

motorways are built on the 

American model of up to eight 

lanes. Not bad, you might think, 

until you realize that they carry 

traffic ranging from fast longdistance 

trucks to slow local 

vehicles, bicycles, camel-carts, 

donkey-carts and pedestrians. 

National accident statistics bear 

little relation to reality – accident 

reporting is intermittent at 

best, so detecting black-spots 

is a matter more of feeling than 

science – and the official figure 

of 4000 deaths per year must 

be multiplied by a factor of 3 or 

4 in a country of 78 m people. 

By comparison Germany (population 

c.82 m) had 4150 road 

deaths in 2009. 

In this environment the most 

endangered species is the 

pedestrian. Pavements scarcely 

exist, and even at clearly 

marked pedestrian crossings 

traffic speed can only be reduced 

by drastic measures 

like mas-sive asphalt speed 

bumps. But these are invisible 

to night-time drivers, who usually 

drive without lights anyway. 

Road signs and steel safety 

barriers are regularly stolen, 

road markings vanish under 

the desert sand. Concrete safety 

barriers will not contain a 

direct hit from a fast-moving 

vehicle; in fact they represent 

an additional safety risk. So 

there’s plenty to do. Let’s get 

going. 

And that brings me to the topic 

of today’s workshop. Given 

that safety shortfalls are a 

product of Egyptian road standards, 

we know where to begin. 

Three of us are giving the 

presentation: Hans, two-anda-half 

years in Egypt, is the 

heart and soul of the project; 

Lutz has worked on similar 

assignments in the Bal-kans, 

Romania, Vietnam and Korea. 

We set out to compare selected 

standards from the Egyptian 

road traffic regulations with 

the US American, German and 

Austrian equivalents, and to list 

a few variants that seem to us 

especially applicable to Egypt. 


50 workshop participants 

convinced of German quality 

standards. 

Tuesday, March 

9, 2010 

Enhancing Egyptian 

road safety 

Today’s task is to put 

yesterday’s results on paper 

and develop some of its concepts. 

We start with 100 pages 

or so of suggestions for 

changing the Egyptian guidelines. 

We had already selected 

a few individ-ual solutions at 

the ‘mission’ stage; now it’s a 

matter of making drawings and 

determining specifications. 

The idea of translating German 

regulations first into English 

and then into Arabic was rejected 

– the envi-ronment is 

simply too different. If traffic 

lights and road markings are 

ignored, solutions must be 

found that have a chance of 

actually working. What we put 

on paper would make any German 

road planner’s hair stand 

on end. But for Egyptian road 

conditions, and in view of the 

very restricted budget, the solutions 

are, at least as a temporary 

measure, appropriate. 


Developed guidelines for a 

motorway zebra crossing. 

101 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

102 

Wednesday, 

March 10, 2010 

Flight from Cairo 

to Düsseldorf 

via Istanbul 

Read Sunday’s entry in reverse 

order, adding a morning meeting 

at GARBLT to agree onward 

plans, plus an additional 

hour for the flight. That was 

Wednesday. 

The additional hour was thanks 

to the pilot – or the people 

on the ground – because the 

plane pushed back off blocks 

before one of the blocks had 

been removed, which resulted 

in a resounding bump. What 

followed was a series of hectic 

checks on the apron that did 

nothing to soothe passengers’ 

nerves about the forthcoming 

flight. 

Balance-sheet for the day: 2 

liters of mango juice safely 

transported home. 

Thursday, March 

11, 2010 

Frankfurt: Seminar 

on residential 

street design 

The day begins standing in the 

corridor of an ICE train. Deutsche 

Bahn is again only running 

a single train unit although the 

seat reservation clearly stated 

a double train. Okay, it’s still a 

relatively safe way of get-ting 

from A to B. 

Leading the seminar is something 

of a contrast with Cairo. 

All 40 participants are punctual, 

listen atten-tively, and stay 

to the end. The subject: safe, 

high quality residential street 

design in conformity with laws 

regulations, and good urban planning 

practice. 


Enjoyed life to the full. 

Friday, March 

12, 2010 

Berlin: City Traffic 

and Transport 

Development Plan 

The Berlin Senate Administration 

is currently busy with the 

city development plan, which 

will set traffic and transportation 

priorities for the next 15- 

20 years. As a member of the 

scientific advisory board my 

task is to scrutinize the suggested 

measures and ensure 

that they are well-founded and 

appropriate; this will substantially 

facilitate their implementation. 

Today it’s a question 

of the justification for specific 

measures, and we discuss methods 

of forecasting the extent 

to which personal mobility will 

shift to the bicycle and walking. 

A second, connected issue 

is the impact of demographic 

development on Berlin’s 

transport sys-tem. We discuss 

the pros and cons of restricting 

inner city parking, and finally 

the inevitable question of the 

financial framework, which in 

Berlin is modest, to say the 

least. Nevertheless there is definite 

opti-mism, accompanied 

by the will to play role-model 

for urban transportation development 

in Germany – for example 

in electro-mobility and 

the creation of traffic-calmed 

streets in residential districts. 

A second date in Berlin with 

the German Insurers Association 

is concerned with the

special problems of so-called 

weaker traffic participants at 

trouble spots (street junctions 

etc.). Called on to suggest active 

solutions, we have assembled 

a massive database comprising 

some 1.8 m accidents 

with detailed infor-mation on 

how they happened – no easy 

matter when each state has its 

own method of reporting and 

filing accidents. Nevertheless, 

we have some preliminary results. 

It is clear that elderly motorists 

incur most accidents at 

road junctions when they turn 

left and collide with oncoming 

traffic; children have most accidents 

coming from the left 

on the cycle track at junctions 

with side roads. We agree to 

focus on de-tailed analysis of 

some prototypically accidentprone 

street junctions. 


Contributed to the emission 

of 280 kg CO2. 

Epilogue 

Nothing has been said so far 

about the week’s secondary 

activities. Seeing so many famous 

sites, for instance – it’s 

worth going to Egypt just to 

see the Pyramids, and in my 

eight working weeks in Cairo 

I have seen them three times. 

But Cairo has other sides to it 

as well: it is a megacity with 

20 m inhabitants, noisy, dusty 

and with little scope for leisure 

activities – Cairo is not big on 

leisure anyway. The day is generally 

filled with office-work, 

meetings, hotel and restaurant, 

with everything else done on 

the side. This week ‘everything 

else’ included writing part of a 

research report, reading a doctoral 

thesis abstract, editing 

some legal guidelines, preparing 

a presentation, writing an 

essay, reading reviews, putting 

the final touches to another 

paper, coordinating lecture 

courses, deciding questions 

forwarded by assistants, and 

answering around 120 e-mails. 

It’s a good thing there’s WLAN 

everywhere! 

I was asked on Friday in Berlin 

if we were going to be able 

to do anything useful in Egypt. 

Quite honestly I don’t know. 

What we saw was that we’d 

set something in motion: that 

the Egyptian engineers had 

become more aware of danger 

points and would in future certainly 

take more care to avoid 

potentially dangerous solutions. 

There’s much that simply 

cannot be put into practice there, 

but we have sown a seed 

and – who knows? Maybe our 

grandchildren will travel more 

safely in Egypt. 

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. 

Jürgen Gerlach 

has since 1999 been head of 

the Department of Road Traffic 

and Transportation Planning 

and Engineering at UW’s Center 

for Traffic and Transportation. 

His teaching and research 

focuses on the design and dimensioning 

of road transportation 

systems, road safety, and 

environmental compatibility. 

Prof. Gerlach plays a leading role 

in PIARC World Road Association, 

the EU’s COST Research 

Activities (strategic environmental 

monitoring, pedestrian 

traffic), the German Association 

of Transport Sciences, and 

the Road and Transportation 

Research Association. On behalf 

of the Federal Ministry of 

Transport, Building and Urban 

Development he has evaluated 

numerous research projects, 

and he is actively involved in 

drawing up European and German 

traffic and transportation 

standards and regulations. In 

2000 he was honored by the 

Feuchtinger-Wehner Foundation 

for outstanding achievements 

in the planning, design 

and operation of urban and rural 

road networks, and in 2006 

he was awarded a prize for excellent 

teaching by the University 

of Wuppertal. He is widely 

known as a trainer of safety auditors, 

and is a member of the 

academic advisory board of the 

journal Strassenverkehrstechnik 

(Road Traffic and Transportation 

Engineering). Since 

2009 he has been editor of the 

Zeitschrift für Verkehrssicherheit 

(Traffic and Transportation 

Safety Journal). 

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Gerlach 

FB D – Straßenverkehrsplanung 

und Straßenverkehrstechnik 

T: +49 (0)202 439-4088 

E: svpt@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.svpt.de 

103 

05_UW_INTERNATIONAL

104

06_ 

UW_CAMPUS 

105

106 

University Sports Center: more than 60 sports, plus BergWerk FitnessCenter, support faculty and student health 

Work-health balance – 

university sports from exercise 

for everyman to top competition 

Fitness, health and well-being 

through movement are the 

chief concerns of university 

sports in Wuppertal. Students 

and staff are largely people 

whose working life is spent 

sitting at a desk or in a lecture 

hall. But the body needs 

change and movement, which 

is where the university sports 

facilities come in. 

There’s a wide range of sports 

on offer: more than 60 different 

programs from aikido and 

aerobics through Capoeira, 

circuit training, fencing and inline-hockey, 

to rugby, (Nordic) 

walking and yoga. It includes 

classical activities like running 

and cycling, team sports like 

soccer, handball and volleyball, 

and health and relaxation 

activities like back-training 

and Pilates – as well as yoga. 

There’s something there for 

everyone, whether you are into 

martial arts or simply want 

the latest activity. You can prove 

your mastery and fitness in 

any number of competitions 

including the annual University 

Sports Fest or the NRW Dragon 

Boat Cup. 

BergWerk is the name of the 

university’s own fitness center, 

where you can body-build 

on state-of-the-art equipment 

or boost your blood circulation 

on cycling, running, stepping 

and rowing machines. The 

BergWerk staff will advise you 

on use of equipment and create 

your own personal training 

plan. 

Fit for work in 

15 minutes – the 

University Sports 

Center’s ‘Express 

Break’ 

That regular movement is good 

for health is universally known 

and scientifically proven. Nor 

does it take long to build up 

your physical and emotional 

resources. That’s where the 

University Sports Center’s ‘Express 

Break’ comes in. 

Our personal training team will 

come to you at your university 

desk, so you don’t need to 

leave your workplace or even 

change into sports clothes. 

With others from your own or 

neighboring offices you will be 

offered a short individual relaxation, 

movement and fitness 

program: an active midday 

break with flexibar, TheraBand 

and body-tube, as well as a mini-massage 

of shoulders, back 

and neck muscles with a por- 

cupine massage ball – a mobile 

boost in every sense for deskworkers. 

Top competition 

sports agreement 

Based on a cooperation agreement 

between the German 

University Sports Federation, 

NRW’s Olympic Training Centers, 


and the Hochschulsozialwerk 

(University Social 

Services), UW has been a ‘top 

sports partner university’ since 

February 2006. This means 

it takes a positive attitude to 

combining sports training and 

performance with university 

studies, arranging deadlines 

flexibly and seeking to achieve 

a successful balance between 

the demands of the academic 

and sports programs. 

Student members of an Olympic 

or similar training squad can 

apply for a waiver of university 

tuition fees for four semesters, 

and for a semester’s leave of 

absence to prepare for important 

competitions. In return 

they agree to plan their degree 

programs with special care.

Top athletes at UW 

Maren Brinker, 

member of the national 

volleyball team: 

“I am a member of the national 

volleyball team and play 

in the first division of the German 

league. At the same time 

I’m taking a teacher training 

degree at UW with the aim 

of becoming a primary school 

teacher. I have met with great 

understanding for my sports 

requirements and a willingness 

to find alternative solutions in 

the degree program. I owe my 

continuing participation in major 

competitions, like the World 

Volleyball Championships in 

Japan this year, to the support 

and cooperation of UW faculty 

and staff.” 

Maren Brinker studies sports, 

mathematics and German at 

UW. 

University Sports Center 

University of Wuppertal 

Fuhlrott Str. 10 


www.hochschulsport.uniwuppertal.de 

BergWerk FitnessCenter 

Fuhlrott Str. 10 


Tel. +49-202 439-2953 

Top Sports Coordinator 

Prof. Dr. theol. Michael Böhnke 

Department of Catholic Theology 

Tel. +49-202 439-2353 

Fax: +49-202 439-3131 

mboehnke@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.hochschulsport. 


Lars Birger Hense, 

German 400 m hurdles 

champion in 2008: 

“Top athletes can study and 

take their degree at UW without 

any problem. You can 

make personal arrangements 

with your professors, and the 

knowledge that UW is a ‘top 

sports partner university’ and 

stands behind you means you 

need not worry about completing 

all your courses and exams 

successfully.” 

Lars Birger Hense studies 

sports and economics at UW. 

German 400 m hurdles champion 

in 2008, he has successfully 

represented the university 

in many national and international 

Student Games. 

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06_UW_CAMPUS

108 

A family-friendly university 

UW sees itself as a university 

where parents can not only 

study happily, but where the 

compatibility of higher education 

with family responsibilities 

is an important strategic and 

social goal. The university offers 

a number of facilities and 

supportive measures for both 

children and parents with the 

specific purpose of enabling 

parents to pursue a program 

of studies, academic career or 

profession at the university. 

The main UW campus has two 

separate childcare facilities: the 

University Kindergarten with a 

total of 50 places, 16 of which 

are for very young children, and 

the Uni-Zwerge (Tiny Tots), established 

by a group of student 

parents for children between 8 

months and 4 years. The university 

naturally also provides 

flexible childcare geared to the 

requirements of its continuing 

and advanced education programs. 

Since 1996 the Free Time for 

Kids program has provided facilities 

at the university for the 

children of students and staff 

during school vacations. The 

project was awarded recognition 

as a best practice model by 

the Ministry of Family Affairs 

in 1998 and won an innovation 

prize in Wuppertal’s competition 

for the most family-friendly 

enterprise in 2005. Since then 

UW has been a member of the 

Wuppertal Network for Families. 

The handbook ‘Studying with 

a Child’ provides comprehensive 

information for parents and 

parents-to-be about studying 

at UW with a young dependent 

family. The university’s Equal 

Opportunities Coordinator also 

offers regular consultations in 

this whole area. 

Parents bringing up a child in 

their own household are exempt 

from university tuition 

fees for up to four semesters. 

Free Time for Kids: a success model for UW families since 1996 

The university offers two well 

equipped baby changing and 

nursing rooms, and the dining 

hall has plenty of high chairs 

for its youngest patrons. 

UW plans to extend its familyfriendly 

facilities in the near 

future with a family service 

office, as well as a parent-andchild 

learning room in the library. 

Dr. Christel Hornstein 

Equal Opportunities Office 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2308 

E: gleichstellung@ 

uni-wuppertal.de

Eva Gregová with Emilia 

University nursery group – 

a statement by Eva Gregová 

“As an international student in 

Wuppertal I was immensely 

grateful when my daughter 

was given a place in the Uni- 

Zwerge (Tiny Tots) group at the 

university. Only when I knew 

she was in safe hands could I 

allow my role as mother to slip 

from me and concentrate fully 

on my studies. During those 

months I spent most of my 

time working in the university 

library, and although the time 

there time was limited, I was 

able to finish my master’s thesis 

and prepare for my final examinations. 

My daughter was 

two-and-a-half when I took my 

degree. It’s clear to me that my 

success was due in large measure 

to the Uni-Zwerge.” 

Eva 

Gregová 

was awarded a 

distinction in her 

master’s degree 

in German studies, 

linguistics and 

economics in November 

2009. 

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06_UW_CAMPUS

110

Living space with environmental bonus – 

UW’s student halls of residence 

Wuppertal’s student residence 

halls (or dormitories) are not 

only architectural highlights, 

they are also energy-optimized 

buildings. That saves money, 

as well as the environment. 

For example the Neue Burse. 

Formerly a typical 1970s prefabricated 

structure, it is now a 

much-quoted example of modern 

architecture: a low-energy 

building in attractive green 

surroundings that has won four 

major prizes for innovative modernization. 

The reconstruction 

was undertaken and managed 

by the Hochschul-Sozialwerk 

(University Social Services) in 


Good design: 

user-friendly 

and aesthetic 

Long corridors, impersonal 

communal kitchens, cold and 

uncomfortable showers and 

bathrooms – you won’t find any 

of that here. With maximum 

commitment and minimum 

funding UW’s Social Services 

completely modernized the old 

Burse student halls in 2000- 

2002, creating a total of 629 

living units. All those aspects 

that give halls of this sort a bad 

name were abolished, and in 

their place high quality student 

apartments were created with 

parquet floors and French windows 

throughout, providing 

not only fantastic views of the 

city but also a wonderful sense 

of space. And a specially designed 

interior color scheme gives 

each apartment its own friendly 

atmosphere. 

Active environmentalism 

= 

energy 

optimization 

The two buildings renovated in 

the first reconstruction phase 

of the Neue Burse have been 

classified as ‘low energy’, and 

the two second phase buildings 

as ‘passive’ units, with 

a modern air exchange system 

that keeps all the rooms pleasantly 

warm virtually without 

added heating. That saves money 

for the students and carbon 

dioxide for the climate. 

The complete reconstruction 

of the buildings enabled energy 

consumption for heating to 

be reduced to less than 10%, 

with the passive unit saving 

680 tons of CO2 emissions per 

year. A comparison will make 

this clearer: CO2 emissions 

from the old Burse were equivalent 

to those of 162 family 

homes, those from the Neue 

Burse to the emissions of 12 

homes. So Germany’s biggest 

passive dwelling-house saves 

the atmosphere the equivalent 

of 150 households worth of 

CO2 emissions per year, whilst 

maintaining the highest living 

and energy standards. 

Outlook 

The University Social Services 

are also active in bringing 

other close-to-campus halls 

of residence up to the highest 

standards of modern, userfriendly, 

ecological architecture 

and equipment. That includes 

attractive design, parquet 

flooring and large double windows, 

as well as low or passive 

energy standards. Super-highspeed 

connection to the University 

Computing Center and 

WorldWideWeb makes these 

up-to-date student apartments 

the perfect place for living and 

working. 

Want better living space? 

Apply online 

kwww.hsw.uni-wuppertal.de 

kwww. .hsw.uni-wuppertal. 

de>Online-Bewerbung 

k 

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112 

Perfect frame for 

successful studying 

If you’ve ever framed a picture, 

you’ll know how important the 

frame is for the whole effect. 

And what the frame does for 

the picture, the social framework 

does for the university 

student. Except that it must be 

there from the first semester 

on, so that you can concentrate 

successfully on your studies. 

At UW it’s the University Social 

Services that makes sure 

the framework’s right. This begins 

with a thorough financial 

consultation that takes in the 

availability of BAFöG (Federal 

Education Assistance), student 

loans and other funding sources, 

so that you can study without 

worrying too much about 

money. Then there’s the question 

of where to live. We provide 

more than 1000 attractive 

apartments whose modern 

architecture and technology 

match the green environment, 

and whose user-friendly equipment 

offers all you need for 

living and studying. Close to 

campus, our accommodation 

provides ready access to the 

University Library with its 1.2 

m books, to at least one of the 

7 dining halls and cafeterias, 

and to the university pub. Because 

a balanced diet of fresh, 

healthy food is important for 

people who need to concentrate 

on their work. UW campus 

eating places are tops for quality 

and price, for having a coffee 

with your friends, or simply 

for sitting in the sun (when it 

shines) on one of the many terraces 

with their fantastic views 

across town. 

A non-profit-making body, 

Wuppertal Student Social Services 

only receives some 15% 

funding from the state of North 

Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). The 

remaining 85% of its services 

must pay for themselves. 

Campus life 

Like its attractive student accommodation, 

the varied and 

interesting gastronomy of 

UW’s campuses, ranging from 

à la carte menus to salad and 

pasta bars and ‘live cooking’ 

counters, is a model for the 

whole of NRW. In our cooking 

and the preparation of food, as 

in our architecture, we are very 

conscious of the environment. 

For example, amongst many 

other foodstuffs, the coffee 

we serve is for the most part 

a fair trade product and biologically 

cultivated. 

But UW’s Student Social Services 

are not just there for everyday: 

we also provide places 

where you can relax from your 

work or meet your professors 

for an informal exchange of 

views. Whether you’re philosophizing 

in the pub, surfing in 

the Internet café, or enjoying a 

game of billiards or table soccer, 

you’ll be using one of our 

services. And we offer facilities 

for celebratory occasions, 

from degrees to doctorates, for 

public viewings of major sports 

events, for concerts, and for 

parties that turn night into day. 

Student finance 

The comprehensive financial 

information and advice provided 

by the University Social 

Services ensures that nobody 

need be prevented from studying 

by lack of money – a service 

inspired by our straightforward 

sociopolitical commitment. 

Our trained staff will guide you 

through the jungle of funding 

sources from BAFöG, student 

loans, and various foundations 

to loans from NRW Bank, KfW 

(Bank for Reconstruction) or 

some other financial institute. 

We do our best to find the right 

solution for you. 

Partner in 

university life 

University Social Services supports 

cultural activities, provides 

advice and guidance for 

international students, and has 

many tips on how to go about 

daily life in Wuppertal. Our brochures 

Studieren in Wuppertal 

(Studying in Wuppertal) and 

Bare Münze (Sterling Value) tell 

you all you need to know about 

our services including financial 

advice. And our homepage 

www.hsw.uni-wuppertal.de 

contains everything from accommodation 

to campus gastronomy 

and (again) student 

finance – in 8 languages, so 

that our many international students 

will feel at home here in 


kwww.hsw.uni-wuppertal.de

113

114 

Battlling with fallen leaves and steep banks: Hans-Joachim Burczinski, 

one of UW Facility Management’s 100 or so employees, keeps 

the campus running 

Campus at work – 

a glance behind the scenes 

An area the size of 32 football 

fields, 48 large buildings, 3 

multi-story car parks and a total 

of almost 7000 rooms – that’s 


too. 

There’s a lot to be done if 

14,000 people are to study and 

research every day. At UW it’s 

the administrative Department 

of Facility, Safety and Environmental 

Management that 

takes care of all this. Its staff 

ensure that the buildings are 

maintained in good condition, 

that lighting and electricity, water 

supply and waste disposal 

function as they should, and 

that lecture halls and laboratories 

are fully and appropriately 

air-conditioned. They look after 

thousands of rooms including 

39 lecture halls and 98 seminar 

rooms, and keep the entire 

campus clean, safe and secure. 

With 122,000 sq m of grounds 

spread across a steep Wup- 

pertal hillside with height differentials 

of up to 35 m, it is not 

always an easy matter to keep 

the many paths and flights of 

steps free either from leaves 

or – as winter 2009-2010 abundantly 

demonstrated – snow. 

The activities of the facility 

management staff take place 

in the background, sometimes 

even underground, when pipes 

and electric cables have to 

be serviced. The department 

plans the university’s new buildings, 

extensions and conversions, 

completes the repairs, 

refurbishment and decoration, 

and manages removals and 

transport when everything is 

ready. 

That’s all in a day’s work. A 

university must function 24/7 

– which is also true, for example, 

of the new cooling system 

planned by the Department 

and installed (within a year) in 

2009 to improve air quality in 

the lecture theaters. That the 

innovative system significantly 

reduces CO2 emissions and 

has endowed UW’s technical 

facility management with role 

model status in environmental 

protection rankings is due to 

the excellent cooperation with 

NRW’s Construction and Property 

Department.

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UNIKOLLEKTION_2010

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07_ 

UW_CULTURE 

117

118 

Remscheid-Solingen 

evergreen 

media cooperation 

for more than 20 

years 

“Good to know it”, “Good to 

be neighbors” – for more than 

20 years UW professors have 

been lecturing in Wuppertal’s 

sister cities of Remscheid and 

Solingen at the invitation of the 

daily newspapers Remscheid’s 

General-Anzeiger (General Advertiser) 

and Solingen’s Tageblatt 

(Daily News). 

Mooted in 1985 by Dr. Wolfgang 

Pütz, publisher of the 

Remscheid General-Anzeiger, 

the joint program took concrete 

form the following year with 

an opening lecture by food chemist 

Prof. Dr. Ernst H. Reimerdes 

(later of Meggle Dairy 

Products) asking “Can we still 

feed ourselves healthily?” Not 

to be outdone Solingen’s Tageblatt 

publisher Bernhard Boll 

launched a parallel series in his 

city in 1989. 

Since then more than 120 UW 

professors have lectured in 

Remscheid and almost as many 

in Solingen. In both towns 

the venue adds to the attraction 

of the series: the historic 

Friary Church in Remscheid- 

Lennep, and Solingen’s stateof-the-art 

Business Start-Up 

and Technology Center. Both 

series have long since established 

themselves in the minds 

of the citizens, people who 

come whatever the topic and 

whoever the speaker – school 

and university students, practicing 

professionals and pensioners, 

specialists and laypeople. 

In 2001 Dr. Wolfgang Pütz and 

Bernhard Boll were elected honorary 

citizens of the University 

of Wuppertal in recognition 

of their lasting commitment 

to the academic interface between 

the region’s citizens and 

their university. 

Michael Kroemer 

Pressereferent 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2221/ -2405 

E: presse@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.termine. 


k www.solinger-tageblatt.de 

k www.rga-online.de 

Shakespeare live! 

A ‘visions for 

generations’ project 

Shakespeare Live! is an association 

that aims to bring culture, 

especially theater culture, to all 

generations and to give them 

the opportunity to develop and 

form that culture for themselves. 

In 2009 the association staged 

a two-series run of Romeo 

and Juliet and A Midsummer 

Night’s Dream together with 

more than 400 school students. 

Academic back-up was 

provided by UW students, who 

prepared and evaluated their 

involvement in regular seminars. 

The successful cooperation 

climaxed in two workshop 

festivals attended by more 

than 1500 participants. 

Shakespeare Live’s 2009 project: a new theater experience for more than 400 

students from Wuppertal, Solingen and Remscheid schools, and a chance to apply 

didactic concepts for some 40 UW students

On September 28-29, 2010 

Shakespeare Live! is organizing 

a Bergisch Culture Festival 

in which UW’s Department of 

Music and School of Art will be 

presenting interpretations of 

the Dream. 

For 2011, Shakespeare Live! is 

launching a European project, 

Hamlet Cube, with an Internet 

platform MyShakespeare.eu, 

in which five UW faculties currently 

plan to participate. The 

project will stage Hamlet, the 

most frequently played work 

in the world, in a number of 

different ways developed by 

student teams from across 

Europe, who are to meet four 

times a year to develop their 

views of the play in international 

symposia. The results will 

tour Europe, playing in all the 

project partner countries. 

Mathias Pfeiffer 

Rainer Haußmann 

Shakespeare live! e. V. 

Treppenstrasse 17 


T: +49 (0)202 4796949 

E: pfeiffer@shakespearelive.de 

k www.shakespearelive.de 

Theater director Rainer Haussmann brings stage culture to all generations: 

scenes from his 2009 schools production of Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer 

Night’s Dream 

119 

07_UW_CULTURE

120 

The university ball 

let’s keep in touch 

UW wants its students to 

feel that they are in the right 

place – from first semester to 

graduation and on into a successful 

career – and does all 

it can to create an appropriate 

and supportive environment 

throughout. The trend is not 

new. Already in 2004 the Faculty 

of Economics founded 

an association for its former 

students, WTALumni, which 

kept them in touch with each 

other and with the university 

after graduation. The idea was 

to establish an information and 

communication network linking 

personal, professional and 

social interests. The question 

was how to do it. 

It was soon realized that the 

final phase of life at UW, with 

its emotional ups and downs 

– examinations, thesis, and finally 

the award of the long hoped-for 

certificate – had a las- 

ting impact but lacked a fitting 

framework to reflect the sense 

of community behind it. You 

stood, waiting confidently before 

the door of the Examinations 

Office in the knowledge 

that the reward of your work 

lay only steps away; for the last 

time you opened a door you 

had opened nervously enough 

in recent weeks; and with a 

smile and a few words of congratulation 

the Examinations 

Officer handed you a sheet 

of paper that ended your time 

at university. That was it! No 

wonder a sense of anticlimax 

soon set in. After all, these 

walls had been home and office, 

library and meeting place 

for several important years of 

your life. So, when you finally 

packed your bags and set off to 

start a new career, an element 

of unreleased nostalgia would 

often be there, however genuine 

your happiness. 

That can’t go on, the found- 

ers of the alumni association 

decided. Success must be 

celebrated, and in 2004 they 

organized the first UW Graduation 

Day in Wuppertal’s historic 

Civic Hall. Initially confined 

to the Faculties of Economics, 

Mathematics and Natural Sciences, 

Electrical Engineering, 

and Educational and Social Sciences, 

the celebration was so 

popular that it quickly developed 

into the University Ball as 

we now know it: a full-dress, 

university-wide occasion for 

graduates, families and friends 

alike. The Rector opens the 

proceedings, the Deans of 

Faculty hand over the degree 

certificates, a photographer 

records the moment for future 

memory (or amusement), and 

the evening is then devoted 

to fast and furious celebration 

in which the whole university, 

students, graduates and faculty 

join. The annual University 

Ball has also become a fitting 

occasion on which to thank our

many friends and benefactors 

for their support and commitment. 

And if a ball conjures up images 

of gentlemen in stiff collars 

and formal manners, you 

should come and see for yourself. 

The UW Ball is a great party 

where the formality of bygone 

days has long given way to 

a cool and stylish elegance, 

with music for all tastes from 

live bands to top-class jazz and 

classic ballroom, and roulette 

and poker tables for those who 

dare to risk their luck (or skill) 

for a good cause. 

You can take your pick: on that 

evening the sumptuous rooms 

of the Civic Hall are home to 

a party, a ball, a casino, or all 

three together. And for many 

it is an occasion to meet old 

friends again and relive one’s 

student years. Success must 

after all be celebrated, lifelong. 

Jutta Hilgenberg 

UNISERVICE | Marketing 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2819 

E: uniball@uni-wuppertal.de 

k www.uniball-wuppertal.de 

121 

07_UW_CULTURE

122 

25 years of 

university 

concerts 

or why a 

pianist sometimes 

sits on 

the piano 

In 1984 UW Rector Prof. Dr. 

Josef M. Häussling started 

the UNIKONZERT (University 

Concert) tradition. Initially 

focused predominantly on 

classical music, concerts took 

place in the main lecture hall 

and music room of the university. 

Soloists, choirs and 

quartets, jazz groups and chansonniers 

brought programs of 

unique composition and quality. 

In 1997 the Pauluskirche 

(St. Paul’s Church) became 

a second major venue, and a 

highpoint of the 1990s was a 

performance there by the Robert 

Jackson Singers, a gospel 

choir that was, needless to 

say, sold out. 

2001 was European Languages 

Year, and the concert series 

brought the unique London 

Cantabile Quartet on a 

first-ever visit to Wuppertal’s 

Rex Theater, as well as providing 

the perfect setting for 

such well-known artists as 

Katja Ebstein, Judy Winter, 

Helen Schneider, Romy Haag 

or Olivia Molina. Dominique 

Horwitz’s Jaques Brel program 

earned a veritable storm of applause. 

Smaller, specialist performances 

– frequently with unusual 

musical perspectives – were 

also a regular feature of the 

program. They included an 

evening with Michael Gees, 

where the audience entered 

the darkened hall armed only 

with flashlights, to be greeted 

by the pianist lying on the 

Steinway in his pajamas. Or 

the Mongolian musician Epi, 

with the fascinating overtones 

(and undertones) of the Morin 

khuur – the so-called ‘horsehead’ 

violin. Or Cologne’s Klassik 

Ensemble, whose rendering 

of the famous adagio from 

Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto 

de Aranjuez’ for classical guitar 

inspired a truly unforgettable 

atmosphere. 

Nor is that all. University concerts 

offer entertainment from 

salsa with Tumba’o in the music 

room to flamenco with 

Terra Nueva, from jazz in the 

university pub with Lühning to 

a Latin American xmas with 

Inkamerica, not to mention bewitching 

Irish folk groups like 

Cara in the Pauluskirche. The 

concert series has many facets 

and is always good for a surprise. 

Sponsored by the Society of 

Friends and Benefactors of the 

University of Wuppertal, the 

university concert series celebrated 

its 25th anniversary in 

2009. And the story continues 

with a new sub-series starting 

in 2010: ‘Legends’, launched by 

Gilla Cremer in the Rex Theater 

with a homage to Hildegard 

Knef, will include as a further 

highlight the celebrated Frank 

Sinatra show from Berlin. 

Uwe Blass 

UNISERVICE | Veranstaltungen 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2346 

E: blass@uni-wuppertal.de 


uni-wuppertal.de

Loriot, black holes 

and the banking 

crisis 

UniTal – a lecture 

series with cult status 

Down from the hill into the 

center of city life. Launched 

four years ago by the Society 

of Friends and Benefactors of 

the University of Wuppertal in 

cooperation with the regional 

newspaper Westdeutsche 

Zeitung (WZ), the UniTal lecture 

series brings UW professors 

from every discipline to a 

wider public in Elberfeld’s City 

Church. Complex, relevant and 

exciting, the university’s wideranging 

research projects are 

presented in easily understood 

terms. From fine dust in the atmosphere 

to the comedian Loriot, 

from Pisa school tests to 

Theodor Fontane, from black 

holes to the banking crisis, 

the talks have become a brand 

name – even something of a 

cult – for university, city and 

church alike. 

Financially supported by the 

two founding bodies, the series 

regularly draws some 

150-200 citizens to a church 

whose doors, under the administration 

of pastor Sylvia Engels 

are open daily to the public. 

Free of charge, the lectures 

fit admirably into the church’s 

events program. And, with the 

regional newspaper behind 

them, they receive good coverage. 

Andreas Lukesch, Deputy 

Local Editor, is responsible for 

detailed write-ups both before 

and after the lectures, which 

are introduced and moderated 

by Professor Dr. Johannes Köbberling, 

Chairperson of the 

Society of Friends and Benefactors 

of the University. 

Why UniTal? UW’s Society of 

Friends and Benefactors and 

the regional newspaper share a 

concern to strengthen the ties 

between university and town. 

Moreover, the lecture series 

answers an increasing public 

interest in scholarship and science, 

demonstrated in its abil- 

Prof. Dr. Johannes Busmann (Applied Design Studies / Media 

Design) lecturing on “Berlin’s Schloss and Wuppertal’s 

Döppersberg – What Holds the Inner City Together?” 

ity to fill the City Church in all 

weathers, even in competition 

with a popular football match 

or the like on prime-time TV. 

As a force bringing university 

and city together, the series 

makes a significant contribution 

to Wuppertal’s growing 

self-awareness as a university 

city. 

Andreas Lukesch & 

Johannes Köbberling 

Society of Friends and Benefactors of the 

University of Wuppertal 

c/o GÖRG Rechtsanwälte / 

Insolvenzverwalter GbR 

Frau Verena Heine 

Laurentiusstr. 21 


Tel.: +49 (0)202 479329-112 

www.gfbu.uni-wuppertal.de 

Westdeutsche Zeitung Wuppertal 

Verlag W. Girardet KG 

Otto-Hausmann-Ring 185 


Tel.: +49 (0)202 717-0 

www.wz-newsline.de 

123 

07_UW_CULTURE

124 

At_A_GLANCE 

…yes, they can read! 

Titled …yes, they can read! 

an exhibition in the foyer of 

the University Library from 

March to April 2010 presented 

a photographic portrait 

of men and boys of all ages 

engaged in the activity of reading. 

The exhibits displayed 

and commented on their subjects’ 

favorite texts. 

ThoughtLeaps – the history 

of university sports: 

In a joint exhibition UW 

Sports Sciences and the University 

Library hosted a traveling 

exhibition of the German 

Sports and Olympic Museum 

commissioned by the State 

of NRW Conference for University 

Sports. Attractive exhibits 

invited the viewer on 

a journey through 600 years 

of university sports and gymnastics, 

illustrating historical 

contexts, especially the development 

of sports in NRW 

universities, on colorful banners. 

50 Years of the 50s: 

In an exhibition and accompanying 

lecture series, Jennifer 

Abels, Dr. Christine Hummel 

and Julia Meer, along with 

other UW faculty and staff, 

took a close look at local and 

everyday cultural history of 

the 1950s from a viewpoint 

50 years on. 

kwww.50jahrefuenfziger. 

de

Film festival 

‘Unicut 2009’ 

special focus on 

sports films 

On July 8, 2009 an audience 

of some 250 people at UW’s 

‘Unicut’ film festival watched 

films made by students from 

the Department of Audio-Visual 

Media and Film (School of 

Communications Design). This 

occasion, the fourth of its sort, 

also witnessed a UW premiere 

in the form of a sports-film project 

run jointly with UW Sports 

Sciences under the direction 

of Anna Silvia Bins and Torsten 

Kleine. 

The project analyzed sports 

films from filmic as well as 

sociological angles and discussed 

specific media images 

of sport. Films in this category 

shown at the festival covered 

topics ranging from competitive 

sport through sport for the 

disabled to trendy leisure-andmovement 

activities, and from 

image films for professional organizations 

through documentaries 

to filmic approaches to 

lifestyle and movement. 

But the festival also showed a 

selection of more general films 

made by the communications 

designers, among them an artistic 

study of a relationship, an 

essayistic account of personal 

experiences, a documentary 

about conflict (in)capability, 

and a humorous study of memory 

gaps and shortfalls. 

“Films belong in the cinema”, 

says Bins. “The audience’s 

applause is the reward for 

good work, and making a film 

is harder work than it seems. 

As well as a good idea and the 

know-how to back it, you need 

organization, discipline and 

endurance. It’s like sports, in 

fact.” 

For further information on ‘Unicut 

2009’ contact Anna Silvia 

Bins (Communications Design) 

or Torsten Kleine (Sports Sciences). 

Anna Silvia Bins 

Torsten Kleine 

Filmprojekt Unicut 

FB F + G: Design und Kunst + 

Sportwissenschaft 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2007 

E: tkleine@uni-wuppertal.de 

125 

07_UW_CULTURE

126

08_ 

UW_FOR SCHOOLS 

127

128 

Dr. Christine Hummel, Head of UW’s 

Central Student Advisory and Counseling 

Service

Seeing your way ahead 

student counseling at UW 

Abitur – then what? 

Before taking their Abitur (German 

higher school-leaving 

certificate), upper school students 

can sample university 

air and try out what degree 

program would suit them best. 

In close cooperation with the 

university’s seven faculties, 

UW’s Central Student Advisory 


(ZSB) provides a wide range of 

guidance and advice, and many 

departments offer events and 

practical experience opportunities 

to help school leavers see 

their way ahead and make clear 

and appropriate choices of subject 

and degree program. 

Information days for schools 

When late January comes, it’s 

time for UW’s School Information 

Days, when teachers and 

professors, together with the 

Student Counseling Service, 

show upper school students 

round the university and present 

its many degree and study 

programs 

Course sampling 

UW’s online course program 

Wusel lists all lectures and 

seminars to which school students 

are admitted. 

k www.wusel.uniwuppertal.de 

k Course program 

kCourse sampling 

for school students 

Choosing your university 

degree program and profession 

In our group decision training 

sessions experienced UW pro- 

fessors and counselors provide 

school leavers with advice and 

support in choosing an individually 

appropriate degree program 

or profession. 

Late night student 

counseling 

Every July all NRW’s Student 

Counseling Services – including 

the Wuppertal ZSB – are 

open one evening until 10 p.m. 

for information and consultation 

with school leavers. 

School service 

We come direct to you in 

school and inform you about 

UW’s range of subjects and 

degree and study programs – 

or with a concentrated focus 

on a single program. 

Twin-track degree sampling 

A week-long practical sampling 

of UW’s combined degree and 

professional training programs. 

Individual guidance for school 

leavers: our doors are open 

Mon-Thur 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Fri 9 

a.m.–2 p.m. 

For a comprehensive overview 

of our offers for school 

students visit 

k www.schule.uni-wuppertal.de 

MEET US AT 

Central Student Advisory 


Campus Grifflenberg 

Building B, Floor 05/06 

Gaußstraße 20 


Quick information 

Mon-Thur 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 

Tues 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 

Fri 9 a.m.–2 p.m. 

Advice and guidance 

(no appointment necessary) 

Mon 1–4 p.m. 

Tues 10 a.m.– 12 noon and 

1–5 p.m. 

Wed 1–3 p.m. 

Thur 10 a.m.– 12 noon and 

1–4 p.m. 

+ first Tuesday in month (for 

working people) 5.30–8 p.m. 

CALL US ON 

T: +49 (0)202 439-2595 

Quick information 

Mon-Thur 10 a.m.–12 noon 

and 1–4 p.m. 

Fri 10 a.m.–12 noon and 1–2 

p.m. 

Advice and guidance 

Mon & Wed 1–3 p.m. 

Fri 1–2 p.m. 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

AND CONTACT 

E: zsb@uni-wuppertal.de 


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08_UW_FOR SCHOOLS

130 

A university for schools: 

At_A_GLANCE 

To help school-leavers decide 

what to study at university, a 

new clearly styled website, 

www.schule.uni-wuppertal. 

de, informs school students, 

parents and teachers about 

UW’s range of offers for 

schools. These include sample 

days at the university, 

when upper school students 

can attend lectures and seminars 

and participate in scientific 

experiments, as well 

as visits by UW professors to 

schools for special lectures 

and events. 

Recycling garbage: 

39 twelfth grade students 

from Haspel Vocational-Technical 

College were organized 

into classroom firms for a 

7-week Bergisch Schools 

Science and Technology Program 

to develop a working 

model for a computer-aided 

garbage sorting plant. In 

March 2009 the successful 

students were awarded a certificate 

by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd 

Tibken, Dean of the Faculty 

of Electrical, Information and 

Media Engineering. The certificate 

bore the signatures of 

NRW’s Minister of Innovation, 

Science, Research and 

Technology, Prof. Dr. Andreas 

Pinkwart, and the Mayors of 

the Cities of Remscheid, Solingen 

and Wuppertal. 

Exciting Easter vacation 

experiments: 

Professors and lecturers from 

UW’s Faculty of Mathematics 

and Natural Sciences presented 

a classroom and laboratory 

afternoon for 8 year-old 

and upward children and their 

parents. Some 150 participants 

were introduced to fascinating 

aspects of physics, 

mathematics and informatics 

and witnessed some impressive 

chemical experiments. 

Summer University: 

From June 22-26, 2009 

UW opened its doors to the 

twelfth Summer University, 

which offered stimulating insights 

into a range of science 

and engineering subjects to 

more than 200 upper school 

students from across Germany. 

Numerous departments 

and central organizational 

units were involved in the 

presentation of over 70 different 

program items. 

School cooperation: 

In January 2009 UW signed a 

cooperation agreement with 

Wuppertal’s Haspel Vocational-Technical 

College to foster 

school students’ interest 

in studying engineering at the 

university. 

Exchange of information 

with school principals: 

In winter 2009-2010 UW 

Rector Prof. Dr. Lambert T. 

Koch invited the principals 


Wuppertal high schools, comprehensive 

schools and vocational-technical 

colleges to a 

series of discussions and mutual 

exchanges of information. 

The meetings in the University 

Guest House focused on 

closer cooperation between 

the university and the secondary 

schools of the region. 

A concrete issue was how to 

prepare for the double entry of 

school-leavers to university in 

2013, when NRW school classes 

12 and 13 will take the university 

entrance examination 

together.

Futuristic projects, valuable advice and useful information at Cologne’s EINSTIEG Abi Education Fair 

ABITUR – THEN WHAT? 

Futuristic projects, 

information and 

advice at EIN- 

STIEG Abi education 

fair 

UW put on a new face for 

Cologne’s EINSTIEG Abi high 

school leavers’ fair in March 

2010. Alongside topics concerned 

with nature, the environment 

and technology, an 

‘action corner’ featuring UW’s 

innovative active safety car 

attracted lively interest. The 

vehicle, equipped with an intelligent 

driver assistance system 

for accident avoidance, was 

presented by UW engineers at 

Germany’s biggest education 

and training fair (see also UW 

Regional page ……) 

More than 70 UW staff members 

were available during the 

fair to answer school leavers’ 

questions and advise on choice 

of degree and study programs. 


school leavers at 

Cologne fair 

To support them in their choice 

of university and subject, UW 

took some 40 upper school 

students to the Cologne EIN- 

STIEG Abi fair – winners of 

a postcard competition run 

by the university at the city’s 

high schools, comprehensive 

schools, and vocational-technical 

colleges. 

Other education & 

training fairs 

UW’s wide subject spectrum 

was presented for the third 

time at Berlin’s EINSTIEG Abi 

fair in September 2009, which 

was attended by 22,000 prospective 

university students and 

their families. 

A second date in September 

2009 was Bochum’s two-day 

education fair WAS GEHT? 

(What’s going?), which attrac- 

ted some 14,000 school leavers 

from all secondary school 

forms to the RuhrCongress 

Center to learn about professional 

training and higher education 

openings and career prospects. 

In October 2009 UW took part 

along with some 130 companies, 

chambers of industry and 

other institutions in Solingen’s 

career and professions fair 

FORUM:BERUF. Some 3500 

school leavers attended the 

fair in the city’s concert hall 

and theater. 

Bonn’s University Fair in January 

2010 featured a UW information 

stand. 

For information and dates 

about our education fair activities 

visit the UW events calendar 

at 



131

Understanding how the world works: School Lab provides 

fascinating science experiments 

132 

SCHOOL LAB 

Fascinated by 

particle physics 

– school pupils 

as researchers 

More than 6000 schoolchildren 

worldwide attended their 

local university from mid February 

to early March 2010 and 

spent a day as researchers in 

the sixth hands-on particle 

physics masterclasses of the 

International School Students 

in Research project. 48 young 

scholars from the three cities 


Wuppertal were invited by UW 

particle physicists on February 

17, 2010 to analyze data from 

collisions recorded at CERN’s 

particle accelerator in Geneva, 

the largest in the world. In line 

with good practice they compared 

their results in a video 

conference with school groups 

from Italy and Slovakia. 

kwww.masterclass. 


Exciting experiments 

for 

schools – School- 

POOL physics 

UW has set up a central pool 

of particularly interesting physics 

experiments for schools. 

The experiments are ready to 

use and can be transported to 

regional schools on request. 

Teachers should book their 

experiment via Internet a few 

days in advance. Some 25 

schools are currently using the 

project. 

kwww.schulpool.uniwuppertal.de 

Chemistry for 

schools – UW’s 

LabLibrary 

UW chemists have also set up 

special experiments for school 

classes, e.g. on photochemical 

processes or electrochemistry 

– ideal for upper school science 

courses. 

kwww.chemiedidaktik.uniwuppertal.de 

Schülerlabor 

Astronomie am 

Carl-Fuhlrott- 

Gymnasium 


Das Schülerlabor Astronomie 

vermittelt Schüler/innen die 

Faszination, die Erkenntnisse 

und die Methoden der Astronomie 

und Astrophysik. An 

sechs Teleskopen können sie 

unseren Sternenhimmel entdecken 

und erforschen. 

kwww.schulpool.uniwuppertal.de

BeST for UW! 

“Higher school-leaving exam, 

and then study something – 

but what and where?” Many 

school leavers are in the dark. 

The Bergisch Schools Science 

and Technology Program 

(BeST) offers them, from grade 

9 upward, the chance to 

experience the fascination of 

science and technology in a 

university setting. 

A BeST certificate course on 

biological signals, for example, 

approaches the problems 

of measuring bio-electric signals 

and their application to 

the human-machine interface. 

Hands-on teaching involves 

each student in constructing 

his or her own ECG device for 

measuring pulse rates. 

Another cross-departmental 

activity of BeST is the Bergisch 

Science Labs, where school 

students can attend experimental 

courses demonstrating 

interdisciplinary relations in 

UW’s biology, chemistry, physics 

and electrical engineering 

laboratories. 

Roberta Center 

opens at UW 

The first of 20 Roberta Centers 

opened at UW in September 

2009. Launched by BeST, the 

centers introduce girls in particular 

(but not exclusively) to 

the topics of robotics and programming. 

Roberta courses appeal to the 

playful dimension of robots to 

convey the fascination of science, 

technology and informatics 

in an exciting and practical 

way to school students from 

the age of 10 upward. 

And BeST of all! You not only 

get to know what you really 

want to study, you also earn a 

valuable certificate for your future 

UW application folder. 

Bergisch Schools 


Program 

awarded 2010 

Seal of Quality 

At a ceremony attended by 

some 500 representatives of 

education, science and industry 

NRW Secretary of State Dr. 

Michael Stückradt awarded the 

Bergisch Schools Science and 

Technology Program (BeST) 

the 2010 Seal of Quality in the 

name of all successful centers 

of the NRW project ‘Future 

through Innovation’. BeST is 

an initiative of the University of 


Dr.-Ing. Peter Wiebe 

Bergisch Schools Science and 

Technology Program (BeST) 

Rainer-Gruenter-Str. 21 


T: +49 (0)202 439-1826 

E: info@nrw-best.de 

BeST is free of charge for 

school students. For further 

information and registration 

visit 

kwww.nrw-best.de 

133 

08_UW_FOR SCHOOLS

134

09_ 

UW_PEOPLE 

135

136 

At_A_GLANCE 

Prof. Dr. Peter Grünberg 

of the Jülich Research Center, 

2007 Nobel Physics Prize 

laureate, held a specialist lecture 

at the UW physics colloquium 

in January 2009. 

Dr. Shailendra Vyakarnam, 

Director of the Centre for 

Entrepreneurial Learning 

(CfEL) at the University of 

Cambridge’s Judge Business 

School spoke at UW in early 

February 2009 to an audience 

of professors, students and 

business managers on the significance 

of social capital in 

entrepreneurship. 

Gutenberg-Preis 2009 

Der Kommunikationsdesigner 

Prof. Uwe Loesch erhielt den 

Gutenberg-Preis 2009 der 

Stadt Leipzig. Loesch war bis 

zum Eintritt in den Ruhestand 

2008 Professor im Studiengang 

Kommunikationsdesign 

der Bergischen Universität. 

Frances Fox Piven, 

Professor of Sociology and 

Politics at the City University 

of New York and a wellknown 

critic of poverty in the 

USA, held a lecture in June 

2009 on “Poverty Politics in 

Times of Crisis: the Transformation 

of the Social State and 

Counter-Perspectives of Social 

Movements in the USA”. 

Prof. Dr. Adel Mahran 

of Helwan University, Cairo, 

stayed at UW for four weeks 

in spring 2010. Together with 

UW technology educationalist 

Prof. Dr. Ralph Dreher he 

worked on a concept for the 

binational training of vocational-technical 

school teachers 

adapted to Egyptian conditions. 

The two professors intend 

to continue their cooperation 

in the implementation 

of the training plan. 

Some 400 specialists 

attended a double event in 

March 209 at UW’s Center 

for Traffic and Transportation. 

Meeting in Wuppertal’s historic 

Civic Hall, they discussed 

transportation networks and 

planning. The conference 

was organized and led by 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Gerlach 

of the School of Civil Engineering 

(Faculty of Architecture, 

Civil Engineering, Mechanical 

Engineering and Safety Engineering). 

BraunPreis 2009 

Industrial Designerin Johanna 

Schoemaker, Absolventin der 

Bergischen Universität, ist 

Gewinnerin des mit 12.000 

Euro dotierten BraunPreises 

2009. 

In winter semester 2009- 

2010 UW’s Department 

of Theoretical Chemistry 

hosted ten exchange students 

from Ochanomizu 

Women’s University in Tokyo. 

On the initiative of Prof. 

Per Jensen PhD., the Japanese 

students took courses in 

chemistry, physics and computer 

simulation in science. 

The visit, financed by the 

Japan Society for the Promotion 

of Science, was part of 

a 5-year internationalization 

program at Ochanomizu University. 

Druck und Medien Award 

2009 

In der Kategorie „Student 

des Jahres“ gewann Timo 

Raabe (29), Masterstudent 

der Druck- und Medientechnologie 

an der Bergischen 

Universität. 

Preis des VDI 

Jan Stötzel wurde vom Verein 

Deutscher Ingenieure für die 

„beste Diplomarbeit Physik“ 

ausgezeichnet. 

DAM -Architek turbuchpreis 

2009 

Das von der Wuppertaler 

Kunsthistorikerin Prof. Dr. 

Gerda Breuer herausgegebene 

Buch „Hans Schwippert. 

Bonner Bundeshaus 1949“ 

ist vom Deutschen Architekturmuseum 

mit dem DAM- 

Architekturbuchpreis 2009 

ausgezeichnet worden.

Hans-Joachim 

von Buchka – 

a tribute 

As Chancellor (head of administration) 

of the University of 

Wuppertal, Hans-Joachim von 

Buchka was at the helm of UW 

affairs for eight years before 

taking his well-earned retirement 

in fall 2009. The university 

takes the opportunity here 

to thank him once again for 

his personal commitment and 

for the many achievements of 

his chancellorship, and to wish 

him a long and enjoyable retirement. 

The chapter UW PEOPLE 

would not be complete without 

a few words of personal 

recognition, and who could be 

more suited to express these 

than von Buchka’s longstanding 

colleague Gerhard Möller, 

Chancellor of the University of 

Bochum and spokesperson of 

the North Rhine-Westphalian 

University Chancellors Group: 

Hans-Joachim von Buchka 

has been a highly esteemed 

colleague of mine in various 

functions for more than 30 years 

– whether as head of department 

in the administration 

of the University (at that time 

not yet formally the ‘Technical 

University’) of Dortmund, or later 

as Chancellor of Dortmund 

Fachhochschule (University 

of Applied Science), and most 

recently as Chancellor of the 

University of Wuppertal. 

He was my immediate superior 

when I began my career in 

university administration a year 

after he had himself started 

in the University Legal Office 

Hans-Joachim von Buchka, Chancellor of the University of Wuppertal 2001-2009 

in Dortmund. In that role H. J. 

(Jochen) von Buchka taught 

me how to correctly compose 

a minute and guided me 

through the procedural niceties 

of representation and decision 

making and the complex logical 

and logistical apparatus 

of well-ordered administrative 

communication. 

The mood was one of change 

and new beginnings. The 

young North Rhine-Westphalian 

universities of the 60s and 

70s were still expanding and 

extending, albeit more slowly, 

and the old Colleges of Education 

had been integrated with 

them – the biggest of all with 

the University of Dortmund. It 

was a time to remember, when 

budget negotiations would include 

items on new positions 

and increased funding allocations 

– a far cry from the years 

of cutback and blocked appointments 

that were to follow. 

H. J. von Buchka contributed 

greatly to the improvement of 

cooperation, communication 

and coordination between university 

administrative departments 

– aspects that could not 

be taken for granted in classical 

administrations. His calm, wise, 

reflective manner was exemplary, 

and utterly free from 

vanity. 

The professionalism gained in 

more than ten years and a number 

of different positions and 

areas of university administration 

gained him his appointment 

to the Chancellorship of the 

Fachhochschule Dortmund in 

1988 and in 2001 to that of the 

University of Wuppertal. 

In the first of these positions 

he was for many years spokesperson 

of the NRW University 

of Applied Science Chancellors 

Group, and his later work for 

the NRW University Chancellors 

Group was equally invaluable. 

He sat on various working 

groups of university chancellors 

at both state and national 

level, especially in the field of 

data processing. Special mention 

must be made here of his 

energetic commitment as a 

member of the board of trustees 

of University Information 

Systems, and of the advisory 

board of the ICT Coordination 

Unit, as well as in NRW’s interuniversity 

steering committee 

on continuing education, and 

in the German university chancellors’ 

working group on data 

processing, which he most recently 

headed. 

Hans-Joachim von Buchka 

has earned the high esteem 

of his colleagues not only for 

his knowledge and wealth of 

experience, and for his invariably 

level-headed and objective 

approach to the tasks of university 

administration, but also 

for his openness and loyalty 

toward his colleagues and his 

overriding commitment to the 

good of the university. 

Gerhard Möller 

137 

09_UW_PEOPLE

138 

In Wuppertal’s Historic Civic Hall (l. to r.): Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch (UW Rector), Dr.-Ing. h.c. Ranga 

Yogeshwar, Peter Jung (Mayor of Wuppertal), Prof. Dr. Peter Grünberg (Nobel laureate), Prof. 

Dr. Joachim Treusch (President of the University of Bremen), Monika Piel (Director West German 

Broadcasting) and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Tibken (Dean of the Faculty of Electrical, Information and 

Media Engineering) 

Honorary doctorate for 

Ranga Yogeshwar 

Ranga Yogeshwar, physicist, 

science journalist and program 

presenter on WDR West German 

TV has received an honorary 

doctorate (Dr.-Ing. h.c.) 

from UW’s Faculty of Electrical, 

Information and Media Engineering. 

The award pays tribute to 

Yogeshwar’s outstanding 

achievement in the communication 

of scientific and technological 

issues to a wider public, 

and in thus stimulating interest 

especially in young people in 

studying science and engineering 

at university. 

Referees in the award procedure 

were physics Nobel laureate 

Prof. Dr. Peter Grünberg, 

and Prof. Dr. Joachim Treusch, 

Chairperson of the German 

Physical Society. 

The popular WDR science program 

‘Quarks & Co’, and the 

ARD (German Channel 1) pro- 

gram ‘Knowledge before 8’, 

where he explains everyday 

phenomena in 145 seconds, 

have made Ranga Yogeshwar 

one of the best known personalities 

on German television 

at both regional and national 

level. He has presented more 

than 1000 TV broadcasts and 

numerous radio programs. 

He writes (or co-writes) four 

columns as well as specialist 

articles, and has edited a number 

of books. In addition, he 

is active in a range of national 

and international projects and 

serves in an advisory capacity 

on scientific and science policy 

bodies.

Preise & Ehrungen 

Academic honors 

Böhnke, Univ.-Prof., Dr. theol., . was awarded the Shield of 

Honor of the German Athletics Association. 

Diehr, Bärbel, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., was elected to the Klett 

Academy. 

Hundeloh, Heinz, Dr. h.c., was awarded an honorary doctorate 

by the Faculty of Educational and Social Sciences (Sports 

Sciences). 

Koppmann, Ralf, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., was appointed 

an external member of Jülich Research Center’s Scientific 

Advisory Board. 

Yogeshwar, Ranga, Dipl.-Phys., Dr.-Ing. E.h., was awarded an 

honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Electrical, Information 

and Media Engineering, 

Vieweger, Dieter, Prof. Dr. theol. habil. Dr. phil., Dr. h.c., was 

awarded an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Humanities 

Barmenia Mathematics Prize 

Wagner, Martin, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

(First prize) 

Krämer, Lukas, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

(First prize) 

Pawlaschyk, Thomas, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural 

Sciences (Third prize) 

Keune, Jens, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

(Third prize) 

Pleuger, Leona, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

(Young Scholar‘s prize) 

La Torre, Mario, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

(Young Scholar‘s prize) 

139 

09_UW_PEOPLE

140 

Society of Friends and Benefactors of the University of Wuppertal Awards 2009 (l. to r.): (seated) Eva Gregová, Jan-Moritz 

Koenen, Dr. Ralf Schiewek, Paul Czarnecki; (standing) Thi-Min-Thuy Vu, Julian Hanebeck, Daniel Dolfen, Prof. Dr. med. Johannes 

Köbberling (Chairperson UW Society of Friends and Benefactors), Dipl. -Ing. Rüdiger Theis, Dr. Dietrich Fudickar, Prof. Dr. Michael 

Scheffel (Pro-Rector for Research, External Funding and Advanced Scientific Training), Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch (UW Rector), 

and Dr. Asuka Suehisa 

Prizes of the Society of Friends and Benefactors 

of the University of Wuppertal 2009 

Doctoral Thesis Prize 

Peters, Yvonne, Dr., Measurements and searches with top 

quarks 

Suehisa, Asuka, Dr., The mood of Japan. A cultural comparison 

with Europe based on Heidegger’s phenomenology of mood. 

Schiewek, Ralf, Dr., Development of a multi-purpose ion source 

for AP-MS and design and application of APLI ionization 

labels. 

Diploma Prize 

Dolfen, Daniel, New six-fold substituted naphthalene monomers 

for synthesizing soluble poly-peri-naphthalenes. 

Master’s Thesis Prize 

Hanebeck, Julian, ‘Impossible Narration’: Metalepsis and the 

Hermeneutical Experience in Tristram Shandy. 

Vu, Thi-Minh-Thuy, Spoken utterance: from ontology to ethics. 

Phenomenology, philosophy of language and ethics in the 

late work of Emmanuel Levinas.

Serendipity Prize 

Koenen, Jan-Moritz, Experiments on oxidative ring closure 

reactions in starlike oligothiophenes. 

Fudickar Prize 

Czarnecki, Paul, The employees’ voice in European joint stock 

companies from the German perspective. 

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) 

Prize 

Gregova, Eva, Memory and narrative. The literary depiction of 

dynamic identity in Saša Stanišić’s How the Soldier Repairs 

the Gramophone. 

Other honors 

Prof. Oliver Grabes, was appointed Chief Designer at Braun as 

from September 1, 2009. UW’s School of Industrial Design 

retains Prof. Grabes as a temporary professor despite his 

move to Kronberg (near Frankfurt). 

Markus Sonntag, , a final year student in UW’s Department 

of Communications Design was awarded a Certificate of 

Typographic Excellence by the New York Type Directors Club 

for his diploma thesis on “Communication Concepts for 

Chewing-Gum Strategy”. In addition, he received a monetary 

award for his book documenting chewing gum pollution on 

the streets. 

Fabian Junge, a final year student of printing and media technology 

was awarded the Young Scientist prize of the Printing 

and Paper Technology Foundation (German Machinery and 

Plant Manufacturing Association). 

Holger Spahn was singled out by the American Geophysical 

Union for the publication of a ‘journal highlight’ paper on the 

formation of secondary organic aerosols. 

141 

09_UW_PEOPLE

142 

Jens Oberheide Oberheide, Jens, was singled out by the 

American Geophysical Union for the publication of a ‘journal 

highlight’ paper on the evaluation of satellite results on the 

temperature of the upper atmosphere – a joint project of the 

University of Colorado (USA) and the French Centre National 

d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES) 

Persönliche Auszeichnungen 

Prof. Per Jensen hat die tschechisch-slowakische „Ioannes 

Marcus Marci Medaille“ erhalten. 

Prof. Siegfried Maser, Rektor der Bergischen Universität von 

1987-1991, ist mit dem „Orden des Lächelns“ (Polen) ausgezeichnet 

worden. 

Prof. Gerrit Walther ist zum Mitglied der Historischen Kommission 

der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften berufen 

worden. 

Prof. Frank R. Werner, Architekturhistoriker an der Bergischen 

Universität, ist zum neuen Mitglied der Akademie der Wissenschaften 

und der Künste Nordrhein-Westfalen berufen 

worden. 

Berufungen zu ehrenvollen Aufgaben in der 

Scientific Community 

Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Kampert, was elected Chairperson of the 

Scientific Advisory Board of the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy 

Ion Research in Darmstadt, and thereby automatically became a 

member of the Supervisory Board of the Helmholtz Center.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Koppmann, has been appointed an external mem- 

ber of Jülich Research Center’s Scientific Advisory Board. 

Prof. Peter Mättig wurde als Sprecher der deutschen Elemen- 

tarteilchenphysiker (KET) am Cern bestätigt. 

Prof. Christian Zeitnitz wurde wissenschaftlicher Manager der 

Helmholtz-Allianz „Physik an der Teraskala“. 

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Freiwald a sports and movement specialist 

at UW’s School of Sports Sciences, has been elected to the 

Honorary Advisory Board of the German Orthopedic Sports 

Trauma Association. Prof. Freiwald’s publication on “Performance 

and Function Diagnosis in Top Soccer” was singled 

out by the association AGM as 2008’s paper of highest public 

interest in the area of sports orthopedics and trauma. 

Prof. Michael Petz wurde zum Mitglied der Kommission für 

pharmakoligisch wirksame Stoffe und Tierarzneimittel beim 

BfR berufen. 

Auszeichnung von Forschungsvorhaben 

Forschungsvorhaben von Prof. Zoltan Fodor (Physik) als „John 

von Neumann Exzellenz-Projekt 2009“ ausgezeichnet. 

Auszeichnung der Arbeitsgruppe Atmosphärenphysik durch 

die American Geophysical Union. 

143 

09_UW_PEOPLE

144 

Personalia 

New professors 

Casale, Rita, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., General Educational 

Science / Theory of Education, Faculty of Educational and 


Crasselt, Nils, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. oec., Business Economics 

/ Controlling, Faculty of Economics – Schumpeter School 

of Business and Economics 

Dreher, Ralph, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Technological Education, 

Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical 

Engineering and Safety Engineering 

Endreß, Martin, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., General Sociology and 

Social Theory, Faculty of Educational and Social Sciences 

Freund, Stefan, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Classical Philology / 

Latin, Faculty of Humanities 

Gust, Peter, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Construction and Engineering 

Design, Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, 

Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering 

Hilberg, Thomas, Univ.-Prof., Dr. med., Dr. phil., Sports 

Medicine, Faculty of Educational and Social Sciences 

Jung, Ulrich, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Printing Processes, Faculty 

of Electrical, Information and Media Engineering 

Lohaus, Gertrud, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Molecular Plant 

Research / Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Mathematics 


Rathert, Monika, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., German Studies / 

Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities 

Röbken, Heinke, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. pol., Educational Organization 

and Management, Faculty of Educational and 


Schmitz, Oliver, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Analytical Chemistry, 

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

Schulze, Ralf, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Methodology and 

Diagnostic Psychology, Faculty of Educational and Social 

Sciences

Tutsch, Dietmar, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Automation / Informatics, 

Faculty of Electrical, Information and Media Engineering 

Volk, Claus Michael, Univ.-Prof., Ph.D.,Experimental Physics 

/ Global Atmospheric Research, Faculty of Mathematics 


Wolf, Kai-Dietrich, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Experimental Physics 

/ Global Atmospheric Research, Faculty of Mathematics 


New extraordinary professors 

Fischedick, Manfred, apl. Prof., Dr.-Ing., Faculty of Economics 

– Schumpeter School of Business and Economics 

Grothe, Ewald, apl. Prof., Dr. phil., History, Faculty of Humanities 

Pieper, Ralf, apl. Prof., Dr. rer. pol., Safety Engineering, 

Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical 

Engineering and Safety Engineering 

New honorary professors 

Decker, Andreas, Hon.-Prof., Dipl.-Ing., Architecture, Faculty 

of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering 

and Safety Engineering 

Reutter, Oscar, Hon.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Civil Engineering, Faculty 

of Architecture, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering 

and Safety Engineering 

New junior professors 

Wagner, Wolfgang, Jun.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Experimental 

Particle Physics / High Energy Accelerators, Faculty of 

Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

Bolten, Matthias, Jun.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Applied Mathematics 

/ Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural 

Sciences 

Krajewski, Jarek, Jun.-Prof., Dr. phil., Methods of Business 

Psychology, Faculty of Economics – Schumpeter School of 


New visiting professors and lecturers 

Rossiter, John R., Prof., Dr., Business Economics / Marketing, 

Faculty of Economics – Schumpeter School of 


Takahashi, Minoru, Prof., Dr., Physics, Faculty of Mathematics 


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Temporary professors 

Bode, Ingo, PD Dr. sc. pol., Sociology / Sociology of Organization 

and Work, Faculty of Educational and Social Sciences 

Bonsen, Martin, PD Dr. phil., Empirical Educational Research, 

Faculty of Educational and Social Sciences 

Brachmann, Jens, PD Dr. phil., General Educational Science 

/ Theory of Education, Faculty of Educational and Social 

Sciences 

Crasselt, Nils, Dr. rer. oec., Business Economics / Controlling, 

Faculty of Economics – Schumpeter School of 


Folz, Hans-Peter, PD Dr. jur., Public Law, Faculty of Economics 


Grothues, Silke, Dr. phil., German Medieval Studies in a 

European Context, Faculty of Humanities 

Hartung, Gerald, PD Dr. phil., Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities 

Häusler, Axel, Dipl.-Ing., Urban Planning, Faculty of Architecture, 

Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Safety 

Engineering 

Hotze, Gerhard, PD Dr. theol., Catholic Theology / Biblical 

Theology, Faculty of Humanities 

Kocher, Ursula, Prof. Dr. phil.,General and Comparative 

Literature / German Studies / Medieval Studies, Faculty of 

Humanities 

Konermann-Dall, Georg, Dipl.-Ing., Building Conservation, 

Maintenance and Renovation, Faculty of Architecture, Civil 

Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering 

Kuster, Friederike, PD Dr. phil., Philosophy / Practical Philosophy, 


Larranaga, Maria Pilar, Dr. phil., Romance Studies / Spanish 

and French / Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities 

Leeser, Jörg, Dipl.-Ing., Building Conservation, Maintenance 

and Renovation, Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, 

Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering 

Lengning, Anke, Prof. Dr. phil., Developmental Psychology, 


Manns, Martina, PD Dr. rer. nat., General and Biological Psychology, 


Meinunger, Andre, PD Dr. phil., German Studies / Linguistics, 


Meyer, Michael, Dr. päd., Didactics of Mathematics, Faculty 

of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

Molzberger, Gabriele, Dr. phil., Educational Science / Occupational 

Education, Faculty of Educational and Social 

Sciences 

Neumaier, Maria, Dr. rer. oec., Business Economics / Trade, 

Service Management and Electronic Markets, Faculty of 

Economics – Schumpeter School of Business and Economics 

Öhl, Peter, Dr. phil., German Studies / Linguistics, Faculty of 

Humanities

Pabst, Heinz-Joachim, PD Dr. jur., Public Law / European 

and International Law, Faculty of Economics – Schumpeter 

School of Business and Economics 

Rollett, Wolfram, Dr. phil., Empirical Educational Research, 


Schulze, Ralf, PD Dr. phil., Methodology and Diagnostic Psychology, 


Soter, Stefan, Dr.-Ing., Electrical Machines and Drives, Faculty 

of Electrical, Information and Media Engineering 

Strasen, Sven, PD Dr. phil., English and American Studies / 

Literary Studies, Faculty of Humanities 

Temme, Dirk, PD Dr. rer. pol., Business Economics / Trade, 

Service Management and Electronic Markets, Faculty of 


Trawny, Peter, PD Dr. phil., Esthetics / Cultural Philosophy, 


Uzik, Martin, Dr. rer. oec., Business Economics / Corporate 

Finance and Banks, Faculty of Economics – Schumpeter 


van Ophuysen, Stefanie, Dr. phil., Educational Diagnostics, 


Volkmann, Christine, Prof. Dr. rer. pol., Economics / Business 

Start-Ups and Economic Development, Faculty of 


Wengeler, Martin, apl. Prof. Dr. phil., German Studies / 

Didactics of German Language and Literature, Faculty of 

Humanities 

Berufungen und Rufe an andere Hochschulen 

Böhm-Kasper, Jun.-Prof., Fachbereich Bildungs- und Sozialwissenschaften, 

Ernennung zum Universitätsprofessor an 

der Universität Bielefeld 

Endreß, Martin, Univ.-Prof., Fachbereich Bildungs- und 

Sozialwissenschaften, Ruf erhalten an die Universität Trier, 

Ernennung zum Universitätsprofessor an der Universität 

Trier zum 01.04.2010 

Grabes, Oliver, Univ.-Prof., Fachbereich Design, Kunst, Ruf 

nach Bleibeverhandlung in die Industrie abgelehnt 

Hennigfeld, Ursula, Akad. Rätin a. Z., Fachbereich Geistes- 

und Kulturwissenschaften, Ernennung zur Juniorprofessorin 

an die Universität Freiburg 

Kennel, Ralph, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Fachbereich Elektrotechnik, 

Informationstechnik, Medientechnik, Ruf erhalten an 

die TU München, Ernennung zum Universitätsprofessor an 

der TU München am 01.10.2008 

Lippert, Thomas, Univ.-Prof., Fachbereich Mathematik und 

Naturwissenschaften, Ruf nach Bleibeverhandlung an die 

RWTH Aachen abgelehnt 

Reineke, Markus, Univ.-Prof., Fachbereich Mathematik und 

Naturwissenschaften, Ruf nach Bleibeverhandlung an die 

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Universität Bielefeld abgelehnt 

Söding, Thomas, Univ.-Prof., Dr. theol., Fachbereich Geistes- 

und Kulturwissenschaften, Ruf erhalten an die Universität 

Bochum, Ernennung zum Universitätsprofessor an 

der Universität Bochum am 01.10.2008 

Steinle, Friedrich, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Fachbereich 

Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften, Ruf erhalten an die TU 

Berlin, Ernennung zum Universitätsprofessor an der TU 

Berlin am 01.10.2009 

Tophinke, Doris, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Fachbereich Geistes- 

und Kulturwissenschaften, Ruf erhalten an die Universität 

Paderborn, Ernennung zum Universitätsprofessor an der 

Universität Paderborn am 01.10.2008 

Emeriti, retired, and left 

Blankenagel, Jürgen, apl. Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Senior Lecturer, 


Böhle, Martin, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Faculty of Architecture, 


Engineering, 

Boucsein, Wolfram, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of Educational 

and Social Sciences 

Brings, Viktor, Faculty of Art and Design 

Engemann, Jürgen, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Faculty of Electrical, 

Information and Media Engineering 

Gebhardt-Benischke, Margot, Dr. jur., Senior Lecturer, Faculty 

of Economics – Schumpeter 


Hansen, Volkert, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Faculty of Electrical, 

Information and Media Engineering, 

Hennigfeld, Ursula, Dr. phil., Temporary Senior Lecturer, 


Höhle, Ulrich, Akad. Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Mathematics 


Imhof, Rüdiger, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Faculty of Humanities 

Katz, Sandor, Akad. Rat a. Z., Ph.D., Temporary Senior Lecturer, 


Böhm-Kasper, Oliver, Juniorprofessor, Dr. phil., Faculty of 

Educational and Social Sciences 

Laubenheimer, Mathias, Senior Librarian, University Library 

Maack, Annegret, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Faculty of Humanities 

Mendel, Manfred, Akad. Oberrat, Dr. rer. nat., Senior Lecturer, 


Michel, Reinhard, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of Mathematics 


Nelles, Michael, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. pol., Faculty of Economics 


Nießen, Hans Joachim, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. pol., Faculty of Economics 


Ossa, Erich, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of Mathematics 

and Natural Sciences

Pegels, Georg, Univ.-Prof., Dr.-Ing., Faculty of Architecture, 


Engineering, 

Piepersberg, Wolfgang, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of 


Röhrs, Hans-Joachim, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Faculty of Educational 


Rott, Gerhart, Akad. Direktor, Dr. phil., Central Student 

Advisory and Counseling Service 

Schlosser-Haupt, Silke, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of 


Schmalt, Heinz-Dieter, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., Faculty of Educational 


Thomann, Walter, Akad. Direktor, Dipl.-Päd., Faculty of 

Educational and Social Sciences 

Vogt, Dietmar, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of Mathematics 


Wachtler, Günther, Univ.-Prof., Dr. rer. pol., Faculty of Economics 


Wahlen, Helmut, Akad. Oberrat, Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of 


Wick, Rainer, Univ.-Prof., Dr. phil., School of Design, Faculty 

of Art and Design 

Wicke, Daniel, Wiss. Assistent, Dr. rer. nat., Research Assistant, 


Wigger, Arndt, Akad. Oberrat, Dr. phil., Senior Lecturer, 


Other new appointments 

Barisonzi, Marcello, Temporary Senior Lecturer, Faculty of 


Baumann, Antje, Instructor, Faculty of Humanities 

Blankenagel, Karsten, Studienrat i. HS-Dienst, Dr. rer. nat., 

Instructor, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences 

Brunk, Markus, Akad. Rat a. Z., Dr. rer. nat., Temporary 

Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural 

Sciences 

Gießler, Ralf, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Humanities 

Laupenmühlen, Janine, Instructor, Faculty of Humanities 

Lopez Lopez-Pielow, Fatima,Temporary Senior Lecturer, 


Petry, Ilka, Librarian, University Library 

Schwebinghaus, Ulrich,Senior Instructor, Faculty of Mathematics 


Waldmann, Kirsten,Instructor, Faculty of Art and Design 

Habilitationen im Fachbereich B – Wirtschaftswissenschaft 

– Schumpeter School of Business and 

Economics 

Uzik, Martin, Dr. rer. oec., Immaterielles Kapital – Werttreiberfunktion 

und Bewertung. 

Radic, Dubravko, Dr. rer. pol., Empirical Analysis of Services 

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Fees. 

Habilitationen im Fachbereich C – Fachbereich 

Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften 

Müller, Rolf, Dr. rer. nat., Tracer-Tracer relations as a tool for 

research on polar ozone loss. 

Risse, Markus, Dr. rer. nat., Search for photon at ultra-high 

energy. 

Habilitationen im Fachbereich D – Architektur, 

Bauingenieurwesen, Maschinenbau, Sicherheitstechnik 

Nünighoff, Kay, Dr.-Ing., Sicherheitstechnik im Wandel nuklearer 

Systeme/Strahlenschutz bei Spallationsneutronenquellen 

und Transmutationsanlagen. 

Habilitationen im Fachbereich G – Bildungs- 

und Sozialwissenschaften 

Büker, Petra, Dr. phil., Qualitativorientierte Unterrichtsforschung 

zum interkulturellen Lernen und Lehren in der 

Grundschule. 

Promotionen im Fachbereich A – Geistes- und 

Kulturwissenschaften 

Arencibia Guerra, Lastenia, Sprachdominanz bei bilingualen 

Kindern mit Deutsch und Französisch, Italienisch oder Spanisch 

als Erstsprache. 

Born, Markus Andreas, Nietzsches Philosophie der Geschichte. 

Perspektivische Interpretation und nihilistische 

Genealogie. 

Corredera González, Maria, La guerra civil espãnola: silencio 

y diálogo entre generaciones. 

Hassan, Quasim, Kontaktbewegter Wortstellungswandel 

vom Hocharabischen/ Modernstandardarabischen (HA/ 

MSA) zum Irakischarabischen (IA)? 

Kuhlmann, Hanna Helene, Internetgestützte Unionsbürgerschaft 

in Europa – Vorschläge der Vermittlung. 

López López Pielow, Fátima, Mito y discurso en Pedro Calderón 

de la Barca y Oviedo. 

Petrillo, Natalia Carolina, Die immanente Selbstüberschreitung 

der Egologie in der Phänomenologie Edmund 

Husserls. 

Szameitat, Martin, Konrad Heresbach – ein niederrheinischer 

Humanist zwischen Politik und Gelehrsamkeit. 

Sznyter, Aleksandra, Polnische Zuwanderer in der Bundesrepublik 

Deutschland – eine empirische Analyse der gegenwärtigen 

Lage. 

von Dehn, Rüdiger, Shalom Uncle Sam, Facetten eines ungeklärten 

Bündnisses 1967-1973. 

Wannagat, Ulrich, Bilingualer Geschichtsunterricht – Eine

vergleichende Studie der Unterrichtspraxis in Deutschland 

und Hongkong. 

Zhou, Jianwen, Makrokosmos im Mikrokosmos – eine 

Phänomenologie des Ur-Ethos im Ausgang von Martin 

Heidegger. 

Promotionen im Fachbereich B – Wirtschaftswissenschaft 

– Schumpeter School of Business 

and Economics 

Brink, Siegrun, Der Legitimierungsprozess junger VC-finanzierter 

Unternehmen: Eine empirische Studie zur organisationalen 

Reputation. 

Czarnecki, Thomas, Challenges and Strategies for the 

Service Industry: An Empirical Analysis of Risk-Reducing 

Signals- The Example of the Hotel Industry. 

Dennin, Torsten Gerd, Besicherte Rohstoffterminkontrakte 

im Asset Management – die Möglichkeiten einer dynamischen 

vs. statischen Allokation auf der Grundlage von 

Mean Reversion Preiseigenschaften. 

Epstein, Holger, Bewusstseins- und Organisationsentwicklung 

– Rationale und nichtrationale Grundlagen, Konzepte 

und Realitäten. 

Holfort, Thomas, Einfluss von Saisonalität auf den Momentumeffekt: 

Eine Analyse des deutschen Aktienmarktes. 

Keim, Martin, Finanzmarktintegration in Europa: Implikationen 

für Stabilität und Wachstum in Sozialen Marktwirtschaften. 

Klose, Rainer, Emotionen im Change Management. Eine 

Analyse emotionalen Verhaltens im organisatorischen 

Wandel. 

Kutlina-Dimitrova, Zornitsa, Finanzmarktentwicklung und 

Wirtschaftswachstum in den mittel- und osteuropäischen 

EU-Mitgliedsstaaten. 

Mahagaonkar, Prashanth, Money and Ideas: Four studies on 

Finance, Innovation, and Corruption. 

Noppenberger, Martin, Kostenminimierung in Speichernetzwerken. 

Spitzer, Sarah, The Diffusion of New Book Titles – Process, 

Factors of Influence and Managerial Implications. 

Stelzer, Franziska, Zu den Effekten von Legitimierungsstrategien 

junger Unternehmen: Ergebnisse zweier experimenteller 

Studien. 

Vogelsang, Michael, Digitalization in Open Economies: Theory 

and Policy Implications. 

Voth, Andreas, Universitäre Entrepreneurship Education in 

Russland und Deutschland. 

Promotionen im Fachbereich C – Mathematik 

und Naturwissenschaften 

Andree, Ulrike, Beitrag zur Biosensoranalytik von Tetracyclinrückständen 

in Lebensmitteln mittels Oberflächenplas- 

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monresonanz. 

Bergmann, Maik, Entwicklung und Anwendung neuartiger 

Messverfahren zur Charakterisierung partikelförmiger 

Emissionen moderner Kraftfahrzeuge. 

Blankenagel, Martin, Das Zerfallen kurzer exakter Sequenzen 

von Frécheträumen unter Betrachtung der Stetigkeitscharakteristiken. 

Clotz, Ulf Leonard, Untersuchungen einiger topologischer 

Sachverhalte und Konstruktionen in HST. 

Culpo, Massimiliano, Numerical Algorithms for System Level 

Electro-Thermal Simulation. 

Feck, Thomas, Wasserstoff-Emissionen und ihre Auswirkungen 

auf den arktischen Ozonverlust – Risikoanalyse einer 

globalen Wasserstoffwirtschaft. 

Frank, Guido, On minimal disjoint degenerations with preprojective 

and preinjective direct summands over tame path 

algebras. 

Hasenclever, Nils Peter, Untersuchung statischer Korrelationen 

anisotroper Heisenberg-Spinketten. 

Henß, Tobias, Entwurf und Implementation eines Expertensystems 

für das Detektorkontrollsystem des ATLAS- 

Pixeldetektors. 

Hofmann, Franziska, Influence of the supersymmetric bottom 

sector on Higgs production and decay. 

Hohaus, Thorsten, Development of a new online method for 

compound specific measurements of organic aerosols. 

Krieg, Stefan, Towards the confirmation of QCD on the 

Lattice. 

Laubrich, Thomas, Statistical Analysis and Stochastic Modelling 

of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Wind. 

Mandt, Christian, Biosynthesen von Aminoglycosidantibiotika: 

Glycosyltransferasen und Deacetylasen. 

Mönnikes, Reneé Nikolas, Kopplung einer MPLI-Quelle an 

ein Flugzeitmassenspektrometer und Entwicklung von 

Ionisationslabeln für die GC-Anwendung. 

Münstedt, Thorsten, Medikationsstudie zur Untersuchung 

von Stabilität und Analytik von Tetracyclinen in Honig nach 

der Anwendung bei Honigbienen. 

Peters, Yvonne, Measurements and searches with top 

quarks. 

Pommrich, Robert, Chemie und Transport in der Tropopausenregion: 

ClaMS-Simulationen im Vergleich mit Insitu- 

und Satellitenmessungen. 

Rangaswamy, Geethalakshmi K., Investigation of Biologically 

Active Vanadium-Containing Complexes using DFTcomputed 

NMR parameters. 

Schiewek, Ralf, Entwicklung einer Multi-Purpose Ionenquelle 

für die AP-MS sowie Design und Anwendung von APLI- 

Ionisationslabeln. 

Tappe, Kai, Ordinary and Levy Copulas in Finance Models, 

Methods and Tools for Risk Management and Option 

Pricing. 

Tepe, Andreas, Hardware Integration of the AMANDA into

IceCube Neutrino Telescope and Search for Supersymmetric 

Particles with the IceCube Neutrino Telescope. 

Thiemann, Markus, Modifizierung und Anwendung einer 

kapillarelektrophoretischen Methode zur Bestimmung des 

genomweiten Methylierungsgrades. 

Weigel, Katja, Infrared limb-emission observations of the 

upper troposhere, lower stratosphere with high spatial 

resulution. 

Weist, Thorsten, Lokalisierung in Köchermodulräumen. 

Wolters, Isabel, Über Deformationen der direkten Summe 

eines regulären und eines anderen unzerlegbaren Moduls 

über einer zahmen Köcheralgebra. 

Promotionen im Fachbereich D – 

Architektur, Bauingenieurwesen, 

Maschinenbau, Sicherheitstechnik 

Althaus, Dirk, Ein praxisorientierter empirischer Ansatz zur 

Bestimmung des Ausfallverhaltens konventioneller Bremssysteme 

in Personenkraftwagen. 

Bung, Daniel, Zur selbstbelüfteten Gerinneströmung aus 

Kaskaden mit gemäßigter Neigung. 

Dietl, Clemens, Konzept einer zuverlässigkeitsadaptiven 

Werkzeugwechselstrategie zur Erhöhung der Verfügbarkeit 

von Transferlinien am Beispiel von Bohrern. 

El-Waraki, Mahmoud Sami, Methodik zur Ermittlung von 

Emissionsfaktoren und Minderungsmaßnahmen bei 

aufgewirbelten Feinstaubpartikeln auf befestigten Fahrbahnen. 

Eser, Bernd, Entscheidungsmodell für die Planungsoptimierung 

zur Erziehung nachhaltig hoher Büro-Immobilienwerte. 

Beitrag zum Value Management Bau. 

Hildenbrand, Jutta, Ökologisch-ökonomischer Vergleich 

von Produktionsprozessen als Grundlage für betriebliche 

Umstellungen. 

Junghans, Antje, Bewertung und Steigerung der Energieeffizienz 

kommunaler Bestandsgebäude. 

Klenk, Ulrich, Entwicklung eines Verfahrens zur Lokalisierung 

von Feinstaubquellen am Beispiel eines Braunkohlentagebaus. 

Klußmann, André, Ermittlung und Bewertung von Ansatzpunkten 

zur Prävention von Kniegelenksarthrosen im 

Arbeitsleben. 

Liu, Jinxiang, Investigation of Low Cycle Fatigue in Shot 

Peened Components. 

Mihajlov, Viktor, Numerical model for spatial steel and 

composite frame-structures exposed to fire and elevated 

temperatures. 

Müller, Jens, Zukunft der Feuerwehr – Feuerwehr der 

Zukunft im ländlichen Raum. Systematische Beurteilung 

der Auswirkungen von Individualisierung, Globalisierung 

und Technisierung auf ländliche Freiwillige Feuerwehren 

– Notwendigkeiten und Lösungsansätze für den Erhalt 

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der Leistungs- und die Stärkung der Zukunftsfähigkeit des 

bestehenden Feuerwehrsystems. 

Neumann, Martin, Untersuchung des Verhaltens stoßdämpfender 

Bauteile von Transportbehältern für radioaktive 

Stoffe in Bauartprüfung und Risikoanalyse. 

Nitschke, Dirk, Wiederaufwirbelung von auf Oberflächen abgelagerten 

Partikelschichten – Neue Ansätze zur Beschreibung 

in Modell und Experiment. 

Ott, Stefan, Konzept zur methodischen System-Modellierung 

in der anforderungsgerechten Produktentwicklung. 

Pölzl, Alfred, Modernes Management historischer Bauten 

– Der Umgang mit widersprüchlichen Anforderungen 

seitens des Denkmal- und des Brandschutzes. 

Samsamshariat, Mohammad, Product Development of 

Earthquake-Sate Houses and Schools. 

Weltschev, Margit, Vergleich der Materialkennwerte von 

Formstoffen aus Polyethylen hoher Dichte mit dem Baumusterverhalten 

von Gefahrgutverpackungen. 

Xu, Yangjian, Computational Analysis of Fretting Fatugue. 

Promotionen im Fachbereich E – 

Elektrotechnik, Informationstechnik, 

Medientechnik 

Al-Awaad, Ahmad-Rami, Beitrag von Windenergieanlagen 

zu den Systemdienstleistungen in Hoch- und Höchstspannungsnetzen. 

Dilaver, Kamil Fatih, Analyse der asymptotischen Stabilität 

nichtlinearer Systeme mit Hilfe des Satzes von Ehlich und 

Zeller. 

Dudek, Damian, Gleichstromgetriebene Gleichgewichtsferne 

Atmosphärendruck-Plasma-Quellen Modellierung-Diagnostik-Anwendung. 

El Quardi, Abdessamad, Neuartige Expositionsanlagen zur 

Untersuchung möglicher Effekte von Mobilfunksignalen 

auf biologische Systeme. 

Kaptue Kamga, Alain Franck, Regelzonenübergreifendes 

Netzengpassmanagement mit optimalen Topologiemaßnahmen. 

Krämer, Heike, Implementierung technischer Innovationen- 

Gestaltung kompetenzfördernder Arbeitssysteme in kleinen 

und mittleren Unternehmen der Druck- und Medienwirtschaft 

am Beispiel der Einführung von PDF/x-3. 

Kytzia, Sebastian, Analyse, Optimierung und Entwicklung 

von Mikrowellen angeregten Plasmaquellen mittels numerischer 

Simulation. 

Leu, George-Felix, Experimentelle Untersuchung und Modellierung 

der Volumenprozesse in einem mikrowellenangeregtenHexamethyldisiloxan/Sauerstoff/Argon-Beschichtungsplasma. 

Ma, Guanglin, Real Time Vision Based Pedestrian Detection. 

Reinhardt, Tina, Einfluss von Material- und Modellparametern 

auf spezifische Absorptionsrate (SAR) und die Tempe-

aturverteilung in Nagern. 

Schmidt, Guido, Differenzierte Schädigungs- und Alterungsdiagnose 

als Grundlage für ein zielgerichtetes Asset- 

Management im polymerisolierten Mittelspannungskabelnetz. 

Schmitt, Günter, Ansteuerung von Hochvolt-IGBTs über 

optimierte Gatestromprofile. 

Teschke, Markus, Piezoelektrisch betriebene Niederspannungs-Atmosphärendruck-Plasmaquellen. 

Promotionen im Fachbereich G – 

Bildungs- und Sozialwissenschaften 

Freyth, Claidia, Prolongierte Reizkonfrontation bei Akuter 

Belastungsstörung: Therapieeffekte und Prädiktoren des 

Behandlungserfolges. 

Gramelt, Katja, Der Anti-Bias-Ansatz. Eine explorative Studie 

zu Konzept und Praxis einer Pädagogik für den Umgang 

mit (kultureller) Vielfalt. 

Heinecke, Michaela, Kompetenzmeinung, Kontrollverhalten 

und Erfolg in der beruflichen Entwicklung. 

Henrichwark, Claudia, Der bildungsbezogene mediale Habitus 

von Grundschulkindern – Eine empirische Studie zur 

Reproduktion sozialer Ungleichheit in Schule und Familie. 

Heuwinkel, Ludwig, Umgang mit der Zeit in der Beschleunigungsgesellschaft. 

Ursachen und Folgen der Beschleunigungsgesellschaft 

sowie Handlungsalternativen in der 

marktorientierten Gesellschaft (kumulative Dissertation). 

Laßleben, Alexander, Trendsport im Schulsport – Eine fachdidaktische 

Studie. 

Mraz, Rolf-Dieter, Motivdispositionen und die Teilaufgaben 

der Handlungssteuerung – Ein Alternativ-Modell zum 

Rubikon-Modell der Handlungsphasen. 

Neumann-Opitz, Nicola, Radfahren in der ersten und zweiten 

Klasse. Eine empirische Studie. 

Peters, Inga, Auswirkungen von sozialer Zurückweisung 

unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der interpersonellen 

Sensitivität – Drei empirische Studien in Schulen. 

Schellenbach-Zell, Judith, Motivation und Volition von Lehrkräften 

in Schulinnovationsprojekten. 

Schierz, Sascha Thorsten, Wri(o)te: Graffiti, Cultural Criminology 

und Transgression in der Kontrollgesellschaft. 

Schroeder, Christian, Bitte schön lügen. Die Konstruktion 

eines respektablen Ichs durch Stigma-Management im 

Interview. 

Seo, Bo-Kyung, Ereignis- und bewegungskorrelierte evozierte 

Potentiale und kognitive Leistung bei der Aufmerksamkeits-/ 

Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) im Erwachsenenalter. 

Wagner, Maren, Die politische Talkshow – ein Medium politischer 

Bildung? 

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in memoriam 

Albert, Karl, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Humanities 

Aretz, Gerd, Professor, Faculty of Art and Design 

Bartmann, Ingrid, , Administrative Officer in the Department of 

Finance, Procurement, Research and External Funding 

Guth, Helmut, Professor, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural 

Sciences 

Hoffmann, Hellmut, Honorary Professor, Faculty of Mathematics 


Jendritzko, Guido, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Art and 

Design 

Krause, Rolf, Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Civil Engineering, 

Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, 

Monse, Kurt, Honorary Professor, Faculty of Economics – 

Schumpeter School of Business and Economics 

Schoofs, Rudolf, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Art and Design 

Walz, Bernhard, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Architecture, 

Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering 

Weber, Dietrich, Professor, Faculty of Humanities 

Zöllner, Petra, Graphic Designer, Knowledge Transfer Office 

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10_ 

UW_FACTS 

159

160 

UW History//Milestones 

1972 Foundation of the University of Wuppertal (UW) as one of 

five new Gesamthochschulen (practically oriented ‘comprehensive’ 

universities) in NRW (State of North Rhine-Westphalia). Existing 

Wuppertal higher education institutes such as the Schools of 

Engineering and Industrial Art, as well as the Wuppertal branch 

of the Rhineland College of Education, are integrated into the new 

university structure and expanded. 

1980 DUW is the first Gesamthochschule to gain funding from 

the German Research Foundation (DFG) for a collaborative research 

project: the School of Chemistry’s “Quantum Theoretical 

and Experimental Investigation of the Energy State of Simple Molecules”. 

The official title of UW is now “Universität – Gesamthochschule”. 

1983 UW mathematician Professor Dr. Gerd Faltings, at 28 

Germany’s youngest mathematics professor, receives the Fields 

Medal, an honor on a par with a Nobel Prize. 

The official title of UW is now “Bergische Universität – Gesamthochschule 

Wuppertal“. 

1987 Spiegel editor Rudolf Augstein is awarded an honorary doctorate. 

1989 The university launches its biggest research project to date: 

investigation of the Earth’s upper atmosphere. The project (1989- 

2000) attracts external funding totaling almost DM 55m. 

1990 October 17: UW physicists and mathematicians start up 

their new parallel computer – a machine with more than 8000 

processors – in the University Computing Center. 

1994 UW’s space probe CRISTA is launched in November on 

NASA’s ‘Atlantis’ space shuttle. The probe will measure trace gases 

in the shuttle’s orbit. 

1995 The university is growing: work starts on the new Freudenberg 

Campus just up the hill from the main Grifflenberg Campus. 

1999 Europe’s Ministers of Education agree in Bologna to develop 

new consecutive degree programs on the Anglo-American 

BA/MA model.

2000 First bachelor’s and master’s programs start at UW. 

2001 In his function as mediator, Prof. Dr. Hans Weiler develops a 

concept for the enhancement of the university’s profile. 

2002 UW Rector Volker Ronge and Prof. Dr. Hans Weiler submit 

the final ‘mediation report’ to the North Rhine-Westphalian Minister 

of Science and Research, Gabriele Behler. Reduction of the 

number of faculties from 13 to 7 will concentrate the university’s 

strengths and form the basis for a clear up-to-date profile. 

2003 The term Gesamthochschule is abolished and UW’s official 

title is now „Bergische Universität Wuppertal”. 

UW launches the first university continuing education program in 

Real Estate and Construction Project Management 

2004 Installation of the supercomputer AliCEnext – at the time 

the most powerful in any German university. 

Opening of the first three Interdisciplinary Research Centers: 

Applied Informatics and Scientific Computing, Technical Process 

Management, and Polymer Technology. 

First graduates of UW bachelor’s degree programs receive their 

degrees. 

2005 A new Higher Education Act gives the universities greater 

power to authorize and discontinue degree programs, appoint of 

professors etc. 

2006 June 14: UW Senate resolves to introduce tuition fees. 

2007 NRW Academic Freedom Act comes into force on January 

1, granting the uiniversities greater autonomy and responsibility. 

On the basis of the new Act, UW and the State of NRW conclude 

the third Target Agreement, which determines among other 

things that subjects in great demand be enlarged and extended. 

Members of UW’s first Supervisory Board are appointed by the 

Minister of Science and Research. 

Wuppertal astrophysicists take part in the world’s biggest experiment: 

the 3000 sq km Pierre Auger Observatory in Argentina, dedicated 

to the investigation of black holes and allied phenomena. 

2008 Prof. Dr. Lambert T. Koch is installed as sixth Rector in the 

36-year history of UW, succeeding Prof. Dr. h. c. Volker Ronge 

(1999-2008), Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Erich Hödl (1991-1999), Professor 

Dr. Dr. h. c. Siegfried Maser (1987-1991), Prof. Dr. Josef M. Häussling 

(1983-1987) and the Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. 

Rainer Gruenter (1972-1983). 

The Faculty of Economics takes the additional name „Schumpeter 

School of Business and Economics“. 

The German Research Foundation (DFG) sets up a joint collaborative 

research project on “Hadron Physics from Lattice QCD” at 

UW and the University of Regensburg. 

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2009 The grid computer network for data evaluation in experimental 

particle physics comes on stream on January 28 – a powerfully 

linked system incorporating some 1000 computers with a 

total 750 terabytes of storage capacity, three thousand times that 

of a normal PC. 

April 29: UW Senate adopts a Mission Statement outlining six 

transdisciplinary profiles for the university 

The EUROCHAMP 2 research project into atmospheric pollution 

is to continue with funding of €5m for the next four years. Prof. 

Dr. Wiesen (Department of Physical Chemistry) will continue to 

coordinate the project, which he has led since 2004. 

A nationwide strike of university students in June draws attention 

to the need to reform the consecutive degree program model of 

the Bologna Process. UW Rector’s Office launches a comprehensive 

survey of student opinion as the first step in a thorough 

‘Bologna Check’ that is to include revision of examination regulations 

etc. 

June 23: science journalist Ranga Yogeshwar receives an honorary 

doctorate from the Faculty of Electrical, Information and Media 

Engineering. 

All bachelor’s degree programs leading to teacher training are, by 

the beginning of the winter semester, in conformity with NRW’s 

Teacher Training Act, passed on May 12, 2009. 

15 new degree programs start at the beginning of the winter semester. 

These include 3 more twin-track (combined bachelor’s 

degree and Chamber of Commerce) programs in printing and media, 

electrical, and mechanical engineering; 4 more business engineering 

programs (electrical engineering, transport and traffic 

engineering, media design and technology, and color, space and 

surface design and technology); and an MA program in European 

studies. 

August 20: opening of the Institute of Security Systems in nearby 

Velbert, center of the German locksmith industry. 

A cooperation agreement with Folkwang University of the Arts 

in Essen, signed on September 24, provides for the transfer of 

seven professors from UW’s Communications Design program 

to Folkwang. Their workplace will remain for the next five years 

at UW’s School of Design. UW’s BA program in Communications 

Design will be discontinued as from July 14, 2009, but existing 

students can complete their degrees in Wuppertal.

October 1: Dr. Roland Kischkel takes over from UW Chancellor 

(Head of Administration) Hans-Joachim von Buchka. 

The generosity of 39 companies, institutions, groups and private 

individuals from the region enables an NRW Scholarship Program 

for 60 UW students to be launched on October 1. Scholarships 

will be granted for high achievement independent of income. 

The CHE (Center for Higher Education Development) Excellence 

Ranking 2009, published on October 28, places UW in the Excellence 

Group of 70 (out of a total of more than 4000) European 

universities providing outstanding international research-oriented 

master’s and doctorate programs in economics. 

2010 The German University Rectors‘ Conference praises UW’s 

Bologna Check as a model response. A five point memorandum 

on optimization of the Bologna Process issued in December 2009 

laid down guidelines for revising UW degree programs. 

March 24: NRW’s Ministry of Science and Research confirms 

that UW’s external funding increased by 28% in 2008, compared 

with an average increase of 10% throughout the state. 

2721 students begin their degree and study programs (including 

German for international students) in winter semester 2009-2010 

– an increase of 21% on the previous year. The total student body 

now numbers 13,903 – also an increase on last year. 

March 30: with 20% professorial posts held by women, UW has 

NRW’s highest growth rate in this respect. 

For further information on UW history visit www.archiv.uni-wuppertal.de 

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Student admissions 

Student admissions 

2009: SS 09 + WS 09/10 

(summer semester 

2009 & following winter 

semester – discounting 

German language 

course students) 

Student numbers WS 09/10 

(discounting German language 

course students) as at Nov. 

24, 2009 

Total 

3.237 

State 

examination 

Staats- 

2510 

examen 

2.510 

8.183 

Master’s Magister 

(old 246 model) 

246 

Diploma 

Diplom 

1991 

1.991 

2009 

Sonstige Sonstige Other 

369 369 361 

Student numbers 

WS 09/10 

1.991 

246 

Bachelor’s/ 

Studierendenzahlen Bachelor/ Bachelor/ WS Master’s 09/10, Stand: 24.11.2009 

Kopfzahlen, ohen Master Master Teilnehmer 2876 am Deutschkurs 

2.876 2.876 

879 

2.510 

Summe 

Sonstiges 

Other 

879 

879 

13.809 

1 Bachelor’s 1 / combined bachelor’s / 

master’s (incl. MEd) 

2 Other 2 (diploma, doctorate, exchange 

students etc.) 

Bachelor/Master Bachelor’s / combined (incl. bachelor’s Master of / 

Education) master’s (incl. MEd) 

Diplom, Diploma u.ä. and similar 

Magister Master’s (old model) 

Lehramt State examination 

Sonstiges Other (doctorate, (immatrikulierte exchange 

Promotionsstudierende, 

students etc.) 

Austauschstudierende, etc.) 

Bachelor/ Bachelor’s / 

combined 

Kombi- 

Bachelor/ bachelor’s / 

Master 

master’s 

8.183 

8183 

Total 

13.809

Development of 

admissions 

Development of 

student numbers 

Student admissions per year 

(SS + following WS) by degree 

program since 1995 (discounting 

German language course 

students) 

Bachelor’s / master’s 

Diploma and similar 

Master’s (old model) 

Teaching degrees 

Other (doctorate etc.) 

Total 

Student numbers per year 

by degree program since 

WS 94/95 (discounting 


students) 

Bachelor’s / master’s 

Diploma and similar 

Master’s (old model) 

Teaching degrees 

Other (doctorate etc.) 

Total 

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Student numbers by 

faculty 

WS 09/10 (as at 

November 24, 2009) 

Art and Design 

E 

1.014 

Electrical, 

Information and 

Media Engineering 

F 

699 

D 

2.064 

Architecture, Civil Engineering, 

Mechanical 


Engineering 

Total student numbers 

13.809 

WS 09/10 (as at November 

24, 2009 – discounting 


students) 

Educational and 


G 

1.781 

C 

2.133 

New admissions 

International students 

from 90 countries 1.871 

Mathematics 

and Natural 

Sciences 

3.237 

SS 09 + WS 09/10: degree 

program enrollments (discounting 

German language 

course students) 

A 

3.621 

Humanities 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

B Business and 

2.497 Economics – 

Schumpeter 

School of 

Business and 

Economics

udget development 

€ millions 

Graduates 1.567 

Academic year 2008-2009 

(as at February 15, 2010): 

incl. diploma, master’s (old 

model), state examinations, 

bachelor’s and master’s 

(Bologna model) 

Development of external funding 

€ millions 

Year 

Post-doctoral degrees 

(Habilitation) 6 

External funding expenditure 1998-2009 

by major funding source 

Doctorates 

operating costs (physical) 

salaries & wages 

98 

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Impressum 

Herausgeber 

Bergische Universität Wuppertal 

Rektorat 

Gaußstraße 20 


T: +49 (0)202 439-2224 

E: rektor@uni-wuppertal.de 

www.uni-wuppertal.de 

Konzept und Redaktion 

Katja Indorf, Annika Thiel, 

UNISERVICE Marketing 

Gestaltung 

Stephanie Saage, 

UNISERVICE Grafikdesign 

Druck: 

Offsetdruckerei Figge, Wuppertal 

Auflage: 

Deutsch 4.000 Stück 

Englisch 500 Stück 

Bildnachweis 

Bergische Universität Wuppertal: 

Page 10, 14A, 14 B, 26, 28, 29, 36, 37, 54, 68, 

69, 70, 71, 76, 82, 87, 93, 96, 98, 108, 109, 115, 

120, 121, 131, 160.1, 161.2, 163.2, 166 

Beier, Christian: Page 132, 133 

Bosse, Jürgen: Page 64 

Buck, Jonas: Page 93F 

Brinker, Maren: Page 107 links 

Brinkhoff/Moegenburg Page 122.2 

DB AG/Max Lautenschläger: Page 31 

Dehof, Ines: Page 93 

Deitsch: Page 122.5 

Die Schlüsselregion e.V.: Page 77 

Ebstein, Katja: Page 122.6 

Effizienz-Agentur NRW: Page 74 

Fischer, Andreas: Page 28 

Forschungszentrum Jülich: Page 64, 161.1 

Gerlach, Prof. Dr. Jürgen: 

Page 100, 101, 102, 103 

Hahn, Carsten/pixelbunker.de: Page 72-73 top 

Hense, Lars Birger: 107 

Keil, Kurt: 134, 138 

Jepp/Hänsel :Page 1, 18, 163.1 

K. A. Schmersal Holding & Co. KG: Page 80, 81 

NASA STS85 archive: Page 161 

Otto, Christian Lord: Page 14C, 14E, 52, 58 

Pabst, Roger: Page 122.3 

Poetic Jazz, Page 122.4 

Herbertz, Heike: Page 19 

HRK: Page 49 

Maurer, Bernd-Michael: Page 96, 97 

Minikin, A./DLR: PAge 55, 56 

Molina, Olivia: Page 122.1 

Mutzberg, Michael: 

Page 21, 118, 119, 140, 161.3 

National University of Singapore: Page 91 top 

Novertgum AG: Page 61 

Osswalt, Bettina: Page 75 

Petersdorff, Friedrich: Page 60 

Riehle, Tomas | artur: 

Page 8, 14D, 43, 109, 113 

Saßmannshausen, Sean Patrick: Page 99 

Schütz, Dieter/Pixelio: Page 93G 

Silberkuhl, Ralf | 6tant: Cover front and back, 

page 4, 11, 20, 24, 30, 32, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46, 

47, 50, 51, 59, 83, 104, 106, 114, 115, 125, 126, 

127, 158, 163.4, 164, 

Stadtsparkasse Wuppertal: Page 72-73 

TUKE: Page 92 

Université Jean Monnet: Page 90 

University of Birmingham: Page 90 

WSW: Page 34 

Medienzentrum Wuppertal: Page 6, 7

School - Bergische Universität Wuppertal

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