Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau


The Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau is the largest of five universities of applied sciences in the federal state of Brandenburg, Germany. TH Wildau was founded as a technical university of applied sciences in 1991, but its connection to engineering education dates back further to the late 1940s. Today it sits on a modern and compact campus, with direct S-Bahn access to Germany's capital city, Berlin.

History

The history of Wildau begins with fishermen's families that settled by the Dahme River and then came to deliver sand, gravel and bricks from the region by boat to Berlin. Mechanical engineering put Wildau on the map as a location for industry.

1889-1933: Growing Industrial Region

Berlin Machine Building Corporation, formerly L. Schwartzkopff, became one of the leading railway locomotive manufacturers in Germany in the late 19th century. The original plant, located in the centre of Berlin, became insufficient to meet the growing demands of railway operators. Therefore, the company began looking for a new plant site in the surrounding area around Berlin. An area of 600.000 sqm adjacent to Goerlitz Railway, close to the town of Hoherlehme, was eventually chosen for this purpose in 1889.
The entire production of high-speed rotating machinery, generators, and electrical equipment was not long after relocated to B.M.A.G.'s new plant. From these beginnings, a new company - Maffei-Schwartzkopff Co. Ltd. - emerged, which in the following years equipped all Schwartzkopff and Maffei E-locomotives with electricity. In the aftermath of the Great Depression, however, the site had to be closed.

1933-1945: Wildau under the National Socialist Regime

In 1934 AEG took possession of the former Maffei-Schwartzkopff site and converted it into a feeder plant for aviation industries. Armament production began in 1936. Torpedoes, grenade shells, propeller hubs, cannon tubes, mortars and artillery were all produced. But two larger scale projects would become infamous. The locomotive plant at Wildau produced the infamous “:de:Schienenwolf|Schienenwolf”, which the German Wehrmacht deployed during their retreat from the Soviet Union and Italy. And in the large locomotive assembly hangar 15/16, AEG employees built the armored locomotive of the “Führersonderzug“.
In April 1945, the Soviet Army occupied Wildau. Not long after, it was decided that all production halls should be demolished and all gear and equipment from B.M.A.G. and AEG removed.

1949-1955: Engineering Education Begins

In mid-September 1949 the 'Vocational School of Locomotive and Wagon Construction' was founded and specialist engineering education in Wildau officially began. Engineering studies began with a group of just 5 students. Initially, the prescribed period of study was set to be “not significantly more than two years”.
In September 1953 the school was renamed “Technical School of Heavy Machinery Construction” and was assigned to the Ministry of Heavy Machinery Construction. Two years later, it was renamed again, this time as “Engineering School for Heavy Machinery”. Master engineers were trained, initially in evening classes, but in distance learning courses as well.

1956-1991: Skilled Engineering Professionals

The scope and focus of the school grew more general over the years. In 1964 it was renamed "The Engineering School of Mechanical Engineering Wildau" to reflect this. On account of being assigned, in the 1970s, to the GDR's Ministry of Tool and Processing Machinery Construction, Wildau had access to various tools at an early stage. In fact, one of the first computer systems of the GDR, type ZRA 1, was installed in Wildau.
During the 1980s, further courses of study for technicians were initiated and other courses were expanded. A new building on Friedrich-Engels-Strasse, with a large auditorium, began construction as well.

1991: Founding of the University of Applied Sciences Wildau

The end of the GDR and the reunification of Germany brought immense changes. In October 1991 the federal state of Brandenburg founded the University of Applied Sciences Wildau. Other Universities of Applied Sciences throughout Brandenburg - in Lausitz, Potsdam, Brandenburg, and Eberswalde, for instance, were founded at the same time under the same Decree.

Location

Proximity to Berlin

TH Wildau is a campus university located just south of Berlin. The campus can be reached directly using the S-Bahn line 46 to the Wildau S-Bahn station. The university is located of the station.
With the bus lines 736, 737, and 738, the university can also be reached directly. The regional train line RE2 as well as the line RB24 allow for further accessibility of the university from Berlin with a change in Königs Wusterhausen.
By car you can reach the university via the Bundesautobahn 10 via the exit Königs Wusterhausen as well as via Federal Highway 179.

Regional Growth Centre

TH Wildau is also part of one of Brandenburg's fastest growing regional growth centres, dubbed the Schönefeld Cross. It of the cities of Königs Wusterhausen and Wildau, along with the municipality of Schönefeld. It encompasses the new Berlin-Brandenburg airport region, which will become quite active once Willy Brandt Berlin-Brandenburg airport opens in October 2020.
The university also borders the town of Zeuthen, which is home to the second campus of the German Electron Synchroton, part of the Institute of High Energy Physics. DESY is a national research center that operates particle accelerators and investigates the structure of matter.
In an adjacent district of Brandenburg lies the district of Oder-Spree, which will be the home of Tesla's recently announced Gigafactory, its first in Europe.

Degree programmes

The Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau has 15 Bachelor's programmes and 15 Master's programmes. Alongside the traditional engineering disciplines, the range of degrees at the university includes courses in natural sciences, engineering, economics, law, business administration and management. TH Wildau is the only university in Brandenburg to offer Logistics, and the first university in the whole of Germany with a degree in Telematics. It is also the first University of Applied Sciences in Germany with a degree in Biosystems Technology/ Bioinformatics.
Students can earn internationally recognized academic degrees such as master's and bachelor's degree.
Students can pursue Master's programmes in English at the university's graduate school, the Wildau Institute of Technology
Course of StudyDegreeType of StudyInstructional Language
Automation Technology Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Automation Technology Bachelor'sDual German
Aviation Engineering / Aviation Logistics Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Aviation Engineering / Aviation Logistics Bachelor'sDual German
Aviation Engineering / Aviation Management Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Aviation Engineering / Aviation Management Bachelor'sDual German
Biosystems Technology / Bioinformatics Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Industrial Engineering Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Industrial Engineering Bachelor'sDual German
Industrial Engineering Bachelor'sDistanceGerman
Logistics Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Logistics Bachelor'sDual German
Mechanical Engineering Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Mechanical Engineering Bachelor'sDual German
Physical Technologies / Energy Systems Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Physical Technologies / Energy Systems Bachelor'sDual German
Telematics Bachelor'sDual German
Transportation System Engineering Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Transportation System Engineering Bachelor'sDual German
Automated Energy Systems Master'sDirectGerman
Aviation Engineering / Aviation Logistics Master'sDirectGerman
Aviation Engineering / Aviation Management Master'sDirectGerman
Aviation Management Master'sExtra-OccupationalEnglish
Biosystems Technology / Bioinformatics Master'sDirectGerman
Logistics and Supply Chain Management Master'sDirectGerman
Mechanical Engineering Master'sDirectGerman
Photonics Master'sDirectGerman
Technical Management Master'sDirectEnglish
Telematics Master'sDirectGerman

Course of StudyDegreeType of StudyInstructional Language
Business Administration Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Business Administration Bachelor'sDistanceGerman
Business and Law Bachelor'sDirectGerman
Business Computing Bachelor'sDirectGerman
European Management Bachelor'sDirectGerman/English
Public Administration in Brandenburg Bachelor'sDual German
Public Administration Informatics in Brandenburg Bachelor'sDual German
Business and Law Master'sDirectGerman
Business Computing Master'sDirectGerman
Business Management Master'sDirectGerman
European Management Master'sDirectEnglish
Business Administration Master'sExtra-OccupationalGerman
Library Computer Sciences Master'sExtra-OccupationalGerman

Research & Development

TH Wildau has a strong research focus. In comparison to other small universities of applied sciences, it has done exceptionally well in obtaining third-party research funding. Over 203,000 EUR was raised in third-party funding for each professor in 2015; in 2017, the university raised 11 million EUR - two thirds of its budget.
TH Wildau stands out in three key areas of research, which have been publicised on the research map of the conference of vice chancellors:
The university further specialises in the research fields of production and materials, transport and logistics as well as management and law.
TH Wildau is also home to two research institutes: the and the .

International Partnerships

Since its foundation in 1991, TH Wildau has cooperated with more than 150 universities in over 60 countries across the world.
TH Wildau currently awards double degrees with partner institutions from China, France, Georgia, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Spain. It has also established a trilateral Joint Degree program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management together with Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona in Spain and Riga Technical University in Latvia.
TH Wildau also currently has about 70 active partnerships with international partner universities around the world. Many of these cooperations include arrangements for student and/or staff exchange.
A list of current partnerships can be found below:
Partner InstitutionCityCountryFaculty/SubjectType of CooperationYear Established
The University of NewcastleNewcastleAustraliaOpenStudy Abroad/Outgoing 2006
Western Sydney UniversitySydneyAustraliaOpenStudy Abroad/Outgoing 2017
FH Salzburg - University of Applied Sciences SalzburgPuchAustriaInformation and Communication TechnologiesStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2014
FH Campus Wien - University of Applied Sciences ViennaViennaAustriaManufactoring and ProcessingStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2018
VIVES University of Applied SciencesBruges/KortrijkBelgiumBusiness and Administration, EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2011
FAE Centro UniversitárioCuritibaBrazilBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange 2011
Universidade do Estado de Santa CatarinaFlorianópolisBrazilBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange 2010
Centro Paula SouzaSão PauloBrazilAutomation TechnologyStudent Exchange 2018
“Angel Kanchev” University of RousseRousseBulgariaManagement and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2014
University of Chemical Technology and MetallurgySofiaBulgariaChemistry, EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Assistance for PhD Students2001
British Columbia Institute of Technology BurnabyBurnabyCanadaBusiness and Media StudiesStudy Abroad/Outgoing 2018
Shanghai Jian Qiao UniversityShanghaiChinaEuropean Management, Business and Management, LawStudent Exchange, Guest lectures2017
Shanghai University of Political Science and LawShanghaiChinaLawStudent Exchange 2019
Polytechnic of RijekaRijekaCrotiaLogistics, TelematicsStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2005
Universidad Tecnológica de la Habana José Antonio EcheverríaHavanaCubaLogisticsJoint Intensive Programmes, Guest Lectures2017
Technical University of LiberecLiberecCzech RepublicBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2006
Silesian University in OpavaOpavaCzech RepublicBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Joint Workshops2015
Aalborg UniversitetAalborgDenmarkSustainable Energy Planning and ManagementOnly Lecturers‘ Exchange Possible2002
Karelia University of Applied SciencesJoensuuFinlandBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2002
Université Clermont AuvergneClermont-FerrandFranceBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2019
Université de LilleLilleFranceBusiness and Administration, European Management, EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2008
Institut d’OptiquePalaiseauFrancePhysics, PhotonicsStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2017
Université Jean MonnetSaint-ÉtienneFranceBusiness and Administration, TelematicsStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Workshops2012
Georgian Technical UniversityTbilisiGeorgiaLogistics DAAD Transnational Education Project, Student Exchange, Staff Exchange2012
New Vision UniversityTbilisiGeorgiaLawStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Guest lectures2018
Óbuda UniversityBudapestHungaryBusiness and Administration, Engineering, Information and Communication Technologies, LogisticsStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Joint Workshops and Projects1995
Eszterházy Károly UniversityEgerHungaryBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2013
Bifröst UniversityBifröstIcelandBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2018
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and TechnologyChennaiIndiaStudent Exchange 2019
Technological University Dublin, BlanchardstownDublinIrelandBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange 2000
Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata"RomeItalyPhotonics, Engineering, Material Science, LawStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Assistance for PhD Students 2007
Tokyo University of Technology, HachiojiTokyoJapanBioscience and BiotechnologyStudent Exchange 2014
German-Jordanian UniversityAmmanJordanEngineering, Business and AdministrationStudent Exchange 2019
Kazakh-German UniversityAlmatyKazakhstanLogistics, Telematics Summer Schools, Guest Lectures2008
Dedan Kimathi University of TechnologyNyeriKenyaMechanical Engineering, Molecular BiologyStudent Exchange, Joint Projects2013
Technische Universität RigaRigaLatviaEngineering, Logistics Student Exchange, Staff Exchange2011
Šiauliai State CollegeŠiauliaiLithuaniaLibrary ScienceStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2012
Mykolas Romeris UniversityVilniusLithuaniaBusiness and Administration, LawStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2006
HAN University of Applied Sciences, Arnhem Business SchoolArnhemNetherlandsBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange1995
Avans University of Applied SciencesBredaNetherlandsBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2015
Windesheim University of Applied SciencesZwolleNetherlandsEngineering, Information and Communication TechnologiesStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2013
Gdańsk School of BankingGdańskPolandBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2008
Jacob of Paradies UniversityGorzówPolandInformation and Communication Technologies, Business and Administration, Foreign LanguagesStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Joint Workshops 1997
University of EconomicsKatowicePolandBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2009
Łódź University of TechnologyŁódźPolandBiological and Related Sciences, EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2016
Poznań School of BankingPoznańPolandBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2014
Poznań School of LogisticsPoznańPolandBusiness and Administration, LogisticsStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2004
Poznań University of TechnologyPoznańPolandManagement Science, Physics, Transport and Traffic Studies/Logistics, Mechanical EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Joint Workshops 1994
Instituto Politécnico de BragançaBragançaPortugalBusiness and Administration, Engineering, BiotechnologyStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2005
Povolzhsky Institute of Management Named After P.A. StolypinSaratovRussiaPublic AdministrationInterns Exchange, Joint Projects2012
Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic UniversitySt. PetersburgRussiaEuropean Management, Industrial Engineering, Business and ManagementStudent Exchange, Guest lectures2001
Yaroslavl State UniversityYaroslavlRussiaBusiness Informatics Student Exchange, Guest lectures1995
Ural State University of Railway TransportYekaterinburgRussiaLogisticsJoint Intensive Programmes, Guest Lectures2012
Technical University of KošiceKošiceSlovakiaEngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange, Assistance for PhD Students1997
Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Campus D'AlcoiAlcoySpainBusiness and Administration, InformaticsStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2015
Universitat Autónoma de BarcelonaBarcelonaSpainEngineering, Logistics Student Exchange, Staff Exchange2012
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Euncet Business SchoolBarcelonaSpainBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2014
Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa School of EngineeringBarcelona SpainEngineering, Mechanical EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2013
Universidad de CórdobaCórdobaSpainEuropean Management, Business and AdministrationStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2014
University of BoråsBoråsSwedenBusiness and AdministrationStudent Exchange 2014
Işık UniversityIstanbulTurkeyBusiness and Administration, EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2016
Muğla Sıtkı Koçman UniversityMuğlaTurkeyRenewable Energies, Physical TechnologyStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2005
V.E. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of UkraineKievUkrainePhotonicsResearch, Assistance for PhD Students2009
Higher Colleges of Technology Abu DhabiAbu DhabiUnited Arab EmiratesLogisticsGuest lectures2010
University of the West of Scotland PaisleyPaisleyUnited KingdomEngineering, Mechanical EngineeringStudent Exchange, Staff Exchange2005
DePaul UniversityChicago, ILUSABusiness Informatics, IT SecurityJoint Projects, Research2018
Clark UniversityWorcester, MAUSABusiness Informatics, IT SecurityJoint Projects, Research2018