Big stage. Festive program. Personal talks. Fachhochschule Dortmund's anniversary year reached its climax with the "FHestakt". Around 900 people celebrated the past 50 years and the future of Fachhochschule Dortmund at the Dortmund Concert Hall on Saturday (May 21, 2022). They included guests from politics, Business Studies and society as well as teaching staff, employees and students.
"Universities are different from people, who sometimes start to look back at the age of 50," said Rector Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Schwick in his speech. "At this age, universities are just getting out of the woods. We feel young, strong and ready to really get going!"
There is also every reason to feel strong: In the five decades since it was founded, Fachhochschule Dortmund has more than quintupled its student numbers from 2,600 to almost 15,000. It has significantly expanded its research activities and cooperation with companies in the region. And since the introduction of Bachelor's and Master's degrees, it offers an application-oriented education right through to cooperative doctorates.
Successfully combining science and practice
"Fachhochschule Dortmund has been involved in shaping structural change in Dortmund from the very beginning and continues to do so," praised Dortmund's Lord Mayor Thomas Westphal. Fachhochschule Dortmund has no reservations about tackling socially relevant issues. The university and the city work together as partners at various levels, for example on issues of social justice, sustainable urban development and digital transformation. Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen, Minister for Culture and Science of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, therefore emphasized: "Fachhochschule Dortmund impressively demonstrates how science and practice can be successfully combined."
Guido Baranowski, Chairman of the University Council, praised the University of Applied Sciences as the backbone of innovative strength. As Managing Director of the TechnologieZentrum Dortmunder, he has supported 50 start-ups from Fachhochschule Dortmund. "Our resources are not in the ground, they are in the brain," said the University Council.
Atmospheric, festive, entertaining
The festive "FHestakt" was accompanied by the East West European Jazz Orchestra together with singer Morgan Moody from the Dortmund Theater. The ensemble brings together musicians from Dortmund and the partner cities. Like Fachhochschule Dortmund, it stands for togetherness and for overcoming borders. The storyLab kiU of Fachhochschule Dortmund has been presenting its new façade mapping on Dortmund U since the "FHestakt". The visual exploration of the themes of peace and freedom can be seen on the U Tower every evening until May 27, 2022. It is an anniversary gift from Fachhochschule Dortmund to society and is intended to stimulate discussion, said Harald Opel, Artistic Director of storyLab kiU. Because 50 years of Fachhochschule Dortmund are also 50 years of participation and co-design.
The anniversary: We're turning fifty!
Fun and entertainment were not to be neglected on a festive evening. Moderator Kerstin von der Linden surprised the speakers at the "FHestakt" with unusual questions such as this one: "Mr. Schwick, if the university of applied sciences were a sports club, which club would it be?" she asked the rector. In the soccer capital of Dortmund, there can really only be one answer to this question. But this cannot do justice to the sporting diversity at Fachhochschule Dortmund. A trick question?
A short pause. Murmurs and laughter in the hall. "The FH is an up-and-comer with a stadium that is too small," replied Wilhelm Schwick and added: "The space we currently have is definitely too small." The development of a joint, modern location for all of the university's faculties is therefore one of the major challenges for the coming years.