Oldenburg. Since the 1998/99 winter semester, the University of Oldenburg and Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences have been jointly offering the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in ‘Engineering Physics’. The universities now wish to expand their range of courses – and to include the dual study programme ‘Engineering Physics in a Practical Partnership’. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed today in Oldenburg by Prof. Dr Katharina Al-Shamery, acting president of the University, and Prof. Dr Gerhard Kreutz, president of Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences. “The University maintains numerous co-operations with higher education institutions in the north-west – whether in the areas of study, research, further education or administration,” said Prof. Dr Katharina Al-Shamery. “I am delighted that, together with Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences, we will be intensifying our cooperation in the field of dual degree programmes, which is set to become increasingly important – with a view to achieving a closer integration of professional practice and academic study.” Prof. Dr Kreutz also emphasised the importance of boosting competitiveness from a regional policy perspective: “I see this co-operation as a further contribution by the University of Applied Sciences and the University to effectively tackle the shortage of skilled workers and to offer young people a career-oriented academic qualification in their home region.” The dual degree programme is aimed at those interested in physics- and technology-related professions, such as precision opticians, laser technicians, electronics technicians, mechatronics engineers, acousticians, medical technicians or microtechnologists. It will be accredited in 2015 and will launch in the 2015/16 winter semester with an initial intake of five students. By June of this year, the University and the University of Applied Sciences aim to amend the 1998 cooperation agreement. Prof. Dr Björn Poppe, a medical physicist from Oldenburg, and Prof. Dr Walter Neu, a laser specialist from Emden, have been tasked with leading the negotiations.

Front row: Prof. Dr Katharina Al-Shamery (Acting President of the University of Oldenburg), Prof. Dr Gerhard Kreutz (President of Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences)
; Back row, from left to right: Prof. Dr Meinhard Simon (Dean of School V - School of Mathematics and Science, University of Oldenburg), Prof. Dr Walter Neu (Institute of Laser Technology, Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences), Prof. Dr Rüdiger Götting (Dean of the School of Engineering, Emden/Leer University of Applied Sciences)