Hochschule Osnabrück, also known as Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, is the largest and most performance-oriented university of applied sciences in Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1971, the university has grown to encompass four faculties: Agricultural Sciences and Landscape Architecture, Engineering and Computer Science, Management, Culture and Technology in Lingen, and Business Management and Social Sciences, along with the Institute of Music. With approximately 13,377 students enrolled as of the winter semester 2022/2023, the university offers around 110 bachelor's, master's, and advanced training programs. It is renowned for its innovative and practice-oriented approach to education, maintaining a close dialogue with economic, social, and political sectors to address socially relevant issues.
The university's strategic focus is on providing application-oriented and interdisciplinary instruction, preparing students to apply systematic theoretical knowledge to practical problems. This approach enables graduates to integrate quickly into the business environment. The university emphasizes close collaboration with industry and society, ensuring that its programs are aligned with current market needs and technological advancements.
As a public institution, Hochschule Osnabrück is primarily funded by the state of Lower Saxony. In 2018, the university's budget, including third-party funds, was approximately €128.64 million. The university actively secures external funding for research projects, such as the Volkswagen Foundation's grant of around €1 million from 2012 to 2016 for a soil science research project in cooperation with HAWK University.
Hochschule Osnabrück has established several research priorities to focus its activities and encourage innovative projects. These include:
- Agricultural Systems and Technologies
- Energy Systems, Management, and Law
- Innovative Materials and Material Technologies
- Healthcare Services Research, Care Management, and Informatics in Healthcare
Additionally, the university funds internal research priorities that are particularly innovative, such as the EN ROUTE focus area, which develops concepts and strategies for sustainable traveling in the university context, and the SPINE project, dedicated to the potential applications and effects of artificial intelligence.
The university's research is characterized by its application-oriented nature, aiming to provide practical solutions to current and future challenges. This includes interdisciplinary work in areas such as drive and mobility solutions, health and supply innovations, nutrition and agricultural technologies, material sciences, landscape and urban development, computer science, and artificial intelligence.
Hochschule Osnabrück is led by President Alexander Schmehmann. The university employs approximately 1,338 staff members, including over 320 professors, as of late 2022.
In 2020, Hochschule Osnabrück was recognized by the international U-Multirank as one of the top 25 universities worldwide in the category of practical contacts in business and economics studies. The university also received top marks for the international orientation of its bachelor's and master's programs in economics.
Hochschule Osnabrück is a member of the UAS7 alliance, a strategic partnership of seven leading German universities of applied sciences. This collaboration enhances the university's international orientation and provides opportunities for joint research and academic exchange. The university also maintains a network of over 280 partner universities worldwide, facilitating student and faculty exchanges and international research collaborations.
The university's strategic roadmap includes expanding its research capabilities, enhancing international collaborations, and developing new programs that address emerging societal and technological challenges. By leveraging its strengths in applied research and industry partnerships, Hochschule Osnabrück aims to continue providing high-quality education and contributing to regional and global development.
For more information, visit the official website of Hochschule Osnabrück.
