Greeting NRW Minister President Armin Laschet

Greeting

25 years Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg

30 years of German unity, 25 years of Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg – the two anniversaries may seem unrelated at first glance but, in fact, have a great deal to do with one other. In June 1991, when the German Bundestag decided after a passionate debate to move large sections of the federal government from Bonn to Berlin, the then German capital and the entire region were facing a major upheaval. A new university of applied sciences was one of the agreements in the Bonn/Berlin Act. The goal was to create new academic training opportunities while also sustainably promoting structural change in the region through practical projects and cooperation with business and industry. Today we can say – this has been an outstanding success!

When the first degree courses started in autumn 1995, a real success story began. Just seven years later, the original target of 2,500 students was exceeded. This trend continued. Today more than 9,000 young people study here! And the university with its campuses in Hennef, Rheinbach and Sankt Augustin continues to grow. It has now expanded its range of courses to include 36 practice-oriented degree programmes, some of which are taught in English. The broad spectrum of subjects ranges from natural sciences and mechanical engineering to computer science and social policy. Both international exchange and partnerships with regional business and industry are emphasised. The university itself is one of the largest employers in the region today.

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg has far exceeded the high expectations of its founders. As a strong motor of structural change in the region, it contributes with its own institutes and initiatives to the excellent reputation of both the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg science and research region and North Rhine-Westphalia as a centre of higher education. With 69 universities and other higher education institutes, around 100 research institutes and more than 50 non-university research facilities, our state offers a density of higher education institutions that is unique in Europe. We are just as proud of this as we are of Hochschule BonnRhein-Sieg – University of Applied Sciences. I would like to warmly congratulate you on your anniversary!

Armin Laschet NRW Minister President