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University of Ulm

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Ulm University
Universität Ulm
MottoSciendo – Docendo – Curando
TypePublic
Established1967
PresidentMichael Weber
Students9,188 (2013)[1]
Location
Ulm
,
Germany
Websitewww.uni-ulm.de
The main building of the Ulm University

Ulm University (German: Universität Ulm) is a public university in the city of Ulm, in the South German state of Baden-Württemberg. The university was founded in 1967 and focuses on natural sciences, medicine, engineering sciences, mathematics, economics and computer science. With 9,188 students (summer semester 2013),[1] it is one of the youngest public universities in Germany. Times Higher Education (THE) ranks it at position 16 among the world's top 100 universities under the age of 50 years in 2014, making it the highest-ranked young university in Germany.[2][3][4]

In 2007, University of Ulm was appreciated by German Universities Excellence Initiative and altogether financially endowed for International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine. In 2012, University of Ulm has been selected for 27th position by Academic Ranking of World Universities according to ratio of Academic staff to students indicator. The campus of the university is located north of the city on a hill called Oberer Eselsberg, while the university hospital has additional sites across the city.

Concept and history

The university is the youngest public university in the state of Baden-Württemberg, which boasts several old, renowned universities in Heidelberg (founded in 1386), Freiburg (1457) and Tübingen (1477). The idea was to create a university with a new approach in both research and teaching. An important concept since the foundation of the university has always been to promote interdisciplinarity. In the decades following the foundation, the spectrum of subjects has steadily been extended, and the university has grown significantly.

An important step in combining the strength of industrial and academic research was the realization of the idea of a science park around the main university campus. Research centers of companies like Daimler, BMW, Siemens and in the past also Nokia, AEG, have been established at the site, in addition to institutes of the university focusing on applied research. Among other large research projects, the university features four Collaborative Research Centers (German: Sonderforschungsbereiche),[5] which are established on a competitive basis by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). Third-party funding of research reached 67.5 million euros in 2009.[5]

In 1998, Ulm University introduced an International Masters program in English: M.Sc. in Communication Technology, which is the first of its kind in Germany. Since then, this program attracts students from different countries around the world. C-Tech Program has research collaboration with many renowned Universities around the world.

It also offers other English programs, namely M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine, M.Sc. in Advanced Materials, M.Sc. in Energy Science and Technology, M.Sc. in Finance, M.Sc. in Biology and M.Sc. in Advanced Oncology, the latter being an extra-occupational program.[6]

In 2003, the Ulm University was involved in founding a private university in Egypt, the German University in Cairo.

Since 2007, the university has been participating in the German Universities Excellence Initiative with the newly founded International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm.[7]

Structure

The university is composed of four divisions, which in German universities traditionally are called faculties, and separate institutes. The four faculties are the medical faculty, the engineering and computer science faculty, the natural science faculty and the mathematics and economics faculty. A university hospital is associated with the medical faculty.[5]

The Science Park

The University of Ulm's campus is located on a hill on the outskirts of the city of Ulm hosts a variety of public and industrial research and development centres, as well as three major hospitals - jointly referred to as the science park. This close proximity of academic and industrial R&D is designed to improve interaction between industrial needs on the one hand and academic teaching and research on the other. The industrial and academic research centres within the science park encompass diverse applications in material science, hydrogen and solar energy sources, biomedical engineering, artificial intelligence, advanced materials for the automotive industry, mobile communication systems, advanced semiconductor devices, and the use of lasers in medicine and metrology. Students of the Sciences often spend their internship in companies located close to the campus or work on their master's thesis projects in close cooperation with the industrial partners.

Master plan

An overall planning concept for Oberer Eselsberg was developed with all involved parties on the basis of the land utilisation plan. This includes sustainable enhancing of the campus by developing it into a centre of science and research, as well as a long-term plan for future areas of development. This planning was commissioned by the city of Ulm, in cooperation with the state.

  • Enhancement of Albert-Einstein-Allee by turning it into a central axis of public infrastructure.
  • Preservation and stabilisation of green areas strengthening of public local traffic opposite to individual traffic: improving provision of public infrastructure through the construction of a tramway to the science park. This plan was defined as the main traffic project.
  • Determination of areas for students' living

Research profile

Inventions:

In 2008, a total of 37 inventions were registered at the University. With 14 of the inventions, exploitation had been predefined in the form of a contract. Ten inventions were absorbed and transferred with compensation to an industrial partner. In 43 cases, invention procedures from previous years were either processed further or taken up again, e.g. monitoring invention compensation and licence payments, tracing payment of invention compensation and distribution of residues to the facilities, processing offers of protection right adoption, etc. In 2008, a total of 45,173 euros were generated through the transfer of invention rights. Of that, 15,224 euros were paid out to 25 inventors.

The University has defined the following future-oriented areas as its concentrations:

  • Engineering & Technology
  • Life Sciences and Medicine
  • Nanomaterials and Biomaterials
  • Financial Services

Faculty

The University of Ulm is divided into four faculties, each with its numerous scientific establishments, the institutes. The faculties are headed by the deans' offices, which are responsible for coordinating student services.[8]

Facilities

University Library

The library building

Academy for Science, Industry and Technology

In 2008, the Academy again expanded its course programme, including a newly added programme entitled "Special Pain Therapy". This is an 80-hour course following the curriculum of the German Medical Association, which is taught in 14 themed blocks in four modules.[9] Another new offer is a three-semester programme in "Commercial Mediation and Organisational Development", which consists of nine modules and follows the guidelines of the Federal Association for Mediation in Commerce and the Workplace. Within another newly integrated programme on intercultural training, the problems of intercultural communication and interaction were dealt with. The aim here is to shorten the adaptation phase in a foreign culture during a stay abroad and thereby ease integration into the new studying or working environment. In 2008, a total of 875 participants took advantage of the Academy's course offerings. The most popular in terms of participant numbers was again the "Compact Seminar Emergency Medicine", followed by the course offerings from the International Center for Advanced Studies (ICAS) and the distance learning programmes in actuarial science.

Scientific Computing Centre at Uni Ulm

The Scientific Computing Centre Ulm [German: Ulmer Zentrum für Wissenschaftliches Rechnen (UZWR)] is an interdisciplinary research focus of the University of Ulm. Application-oriented research questions in science and economy been solved with advanced numerical methods. Overview of the services:

  • Mathematical, numerical and stochastic computations
  • Numerical Simulations and optimizing
  • Strength analysis
  • Stress analysis and optimization of components (FEM)
  • Vibration analysis
  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Statistical analysis and simulation
  • Numerical biomechanic: Bone healing, musculoskeletal system
  • Further education

Collaborative Research Centres

Collaborative Research Centres (Sonderforschungsbereiche - SFBs) are interdisciplinary research concentrations at one or more universities, which can be funded for up to 12 years. The University of Ulm is a public institution. As a major, innovative and forward-thinking employers in the Ulm region with over 1,800 employees, the University of Ulm University offers various facilities such as central Universitäsverwaltung, communication and information center, workshop and scientific animal research center at attractive occupations. The Collaborative Research Centres are reviewed by the German Research Foundation in a three-year rotation.

International & ranking

Ranking 2012
Spiegel Ranking (2004) Mathematics (in German) 02
Academic Ranking of World Universities (academic staff to student ratio) 27
The Times Higher Education World University Rankings (World) 201~225
THES-QS World University Rankings 233
CHE Hochschulranking 2012/13 10-20

The first phase of the development of the GUC with support of the University of Ulm can be judged as finished highly successfully. On the occasion of the celebration of 5 years GUC at the universities Ulm and Stuttgart the partners could be proud of the reached position: In winter semester 2008/2009 nearly 6.800 students are studying at the GUC on an extensive campus with a new building opened recently. In October 2008, the first class in engineering and in pharmacy and biotechnology graduated together with the second class in management technology. Now there are already around 800 GUC graduates who have very good job chances nationally and internationally. Professor Ashraf Mansour, Prime Founder of the GUC and Honorary Senator of the University of Ulm, got the Federal Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for his contribution to the German-Egyptian relations.

Near East/Egypt:

In October 2008 the 25 years old exchange with Cairo University was celebrated by a conference titled »Science for Life« with the presence of an Ulm delegation headed by Vice president Prof. Dr. Dürre. The long-lasting collaboration was the basis for the Ulm participation in the »German-Egyptian Science Year 2007« and the follow-ups in 2008

China :

The successful cooperation with Chinese partner universities was strengthened. Chinese partners send doctoral students predominantly to the University of Ulm with own scholarships and thus start building up a lasting research cooperation. The »International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm«, financed by the Excellence Initiative, held the second successful Summer Academy in Wuhan at the campus of the partner university HUST, sponsored by the DAAD. In September 2008 the first Ulm Alumni Clubs have been founded with the presence of an Ulm delegation headed by the Vice-President Professor Stadtmüller at the HUST Tongji Medical Faculty and at the SEU in Nanjing.

International Master Programmes taught in English

  • Energy Science & Technology[10]
  • Advanced Materials
  • Physics[11]
  • Biophysics[12]
  • Communications Technology
  • Molecular Medicine (Master + PhD)
  • Finance
  • Advanced Oncology (Master Online)

Students Exchange Programmes

The internationalisation of teaching and research as well as international exchanges at the University of Ulm are covered by a spectrum of activities as the 25 years old university cooperation with the Cairo University, recent and however intensive exchanges with Chinese partner universities and last but not least the partnership with the German University in Cairo (GUC). Student exchange programmes were expanded to reach across all the continents. The university was able to win exceptional students and doctoral candidates by well-targeted marketing. The University of Ulm currently holds 101 bilateral agreements with 79 partner universities in 19 European countries. During 2008, a total of 43 students from these partner universities studied in Ulm, while 54 students from Ulm studied abroad at European partner universities under the ERASMUS programme. From overseas partners 38 students came to study at the University of Ulm for a full year and 51 students from Ulm took part in our 27 overseas exchange programmes. A particularly large number went to Canada and Australia as well as to the US. The number is further increased by the participants of the mathematics exchange programmes with partner universities in the US. The »11th International Summer Program at the Ulm University 2008« attracted again 29 students from transatlantic partner institutions.

Academy Fund for Internationalising the University

The Academy for Science, Industry and Technology allocated 100,000 euros out of the »Academy Fund« to the University for the promotion of internationalisation in 2008. Since it was founded, this non-profit organisation has been raising these funds itself with its successful course programme. 80,000 euros of the fund will be distributed as scholarships, especially to cover tuition fees for international students who are in need of financial aid. The remaining 20,000 euros are intended for the promotion of international cooperation, for continuing education, development of new programmes and public relations.

Certificate Family Friendly University

The University of Ulm received the basic certificate »Family-Friendly University« on 24 November 2008 on the basis of an audit carried out by the company berufundfamilie gGmbH. The University of Ulm’s Executive Committee signed an agreement on objectives in which the University of Ulm commits itself to further measures of making more compatible career/ studying and family. The public awarding of the certificate was carried out by the patron, Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, on 17 June 2009. On 30 June 2008, the University Hospital was the first university hospital in Baden-Württemberg to receive the same certificate. By means of interim reports and another audit after three years, the institutes are required to prove that they implement their self-imposed goals – only then will the final certificate be awarded.

Children's Day-Care Centre:

In the children's day-care centre, jointly used by the University Hospital and the University of Ulm, there are 20 spots available for children of employees and young scientists of the University. These spots are all taken and other children are currently waiting for a vacancy. Possibilities for more capacity are therefore now being looked into. The question of subsequent childcare for children who have reached the age of three is becoming increasingly important.

Holiday Childcare:

The University administration offered a holiday childcare programme for children of employees, in cooperation with the Workers’ Welfare Organisation (research holidays) and the Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education (Summer Science Camp). The research holidays were met with great enthusiasm in 2008. A total of 141 children were registered for 218 childcare weeks. Registrations from 121 children 180 childcare weeks) were accepted. 40 children participated in the Summer Science Camp 44 childcare weeks)

Partnerships and collaborations

The idea behind the "Ulm Science Park", joining university and industrial research, is implemented successfully by collaboration between the University's associated institutions and the University, the University of Applied Science, the University Hospital and industry. Application-oriented research is in the foreground. The first associated institution was founded in 1985, the Institute for Laser Technology in Medicine and Measurement Technique (ILM), as a foundation under public law.[citation needed]

Partners in the Region

  • Ulm Innovations Region
  • Ulm Science Park
  • IHK Ulm
  • Ulm University of Applied Science
  • New Ulm University of Applied Science
  • Stadt Ulm/Neu-Ulm
  • Ulmer Volkshochschule
  • Stadtbiblothek Ulm

Name

Albert Einstein

As Albert Einstein was born in Ulm in 1879, it was suggested repeatedly that the university be named after him.[13] In November 2006, the senate of the university finally decided to rename the university.[14] As this decision was however not confirmed by the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts of the State of Baden-Württemberg, the university was not renamed to Albert Einstein University of Ulm (German: Albert-Einstein-Universität Ulm) as of July 2007, and stayed as Ulm University. However, the street on which the main buildings of the Ulm University are located, and thus the physical address of the university, was named "Albert-Einstein-Allee" in honor of Einstein.[citation needed]

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b "Uni Ulm eröffnet Sommersemester: Gut betreut in den neuen Lebensabschnitt" (Press release). Ulm University. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  2. ^ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2012/one-hundred-under-fifty
  3. ^ http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2014/one-hundred-under-fifty
  4. ^ http://www.zeit.de/studium/hochschule/2014-04/hochschulranking-times-universitaet-ulm
  5. ^ a b c Ulm University. "Annual Report 2009" (PDF). Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  6. ^ "Programmes of Study in English". 13 August 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  7. ^ DFG, German Research Foundation (9 September 2010). "Current Graduate Schools". Retrieved 1 October 2010.
  8. ^ http://www.uni-ulm.de/en/universitaet/faculties.html
  9. ^ "History". Academy of Lymphatic Studies. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  10. ^ "Energy Science and Technology". uulm. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  11. ^ "Physics M. Sc". uulm. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  12. ^ "Biophysics M. Sc". uulm. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
  13. ^ WEST GERMAN UNIVERSITIES: WHAT TO CALL THEM? by John Vinocur, The New York Times, March 31, 1982
  14. ^ "Neuer Name zum Jubiläum: Albert-Einstein-Universität Ulm" (Press release). idw. 16 November 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
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