The Dual Concept

Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University - the Alternative

The Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University as state-owned higher institutions of education were established in 1974. The curriculum combines practical training and university education, aiming to provide both practice-oriented and academic-based theoretical knowledge. Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University address all high-school seniors (with university entry qualification) interested in an alternative to university or technical/professional college.

Currently 23.500 students are enrolled in eleven sites in Baden-Wuerttemberg. More than 8.000 cooperating companies and institutions are engaged in providing the practical part of the dual education. In 85-90% of all cases, after the final exam, graduates are offered contracts of employment. The practice-oriented education at the Universities of Cooperative Education on the highest academic and technological level meets the steadily increasing demand for management skills. From this point of view these Universities offer their graduates the chance of a smooth professional transition with excellent career opportunities.

Educational Goals

The primary goal of dual education is to prepare students for the demands they will face during their professional lives. During the course of studies students should acquire a wide range of expert knowledge at university level combined with the capacity for analytical thinking and understanding of interdisciplinary contexts. Graduates are prepared to solve problems by application-oriented methodological competence. They have learned to integrate themselves into work teams, to act appropriately, and have obtained many different social skills.

Our strengths

• Practical orientation

Study and work are closely related. The dual concept of education enables the use of current and practical teaching contents, multiple teaching methods, knowledge transfer between the educational instances, university and company, as well as the participation of part-time lecturers from companies. This results in a practice-oriented qualification.

• Small groups (individual supervision)

Classes usually consist of 20-30 students. The classes stay together for the entire period of study. Lectures and labs in small groups, as well as individual supervision facilitate studies and enable the use of modern teaching methods such as seminars, business simulations, empirical studies or computer-aided teaching.

• Lecturers

Practice-orientation and university-level education require a differentiated teaching staff. There are 40 full-time Professors and many part-time lecturers from universities, technological colleges, schools and qualified professionals from companies. 90 % of the part-time lecturers are professionals from cooperating companies.

• Short study period

The compact program requires only three years of study. The contents of university study are conveyed in six terms, while complementary and in-depth training takes place at the company during alternating 6-term internships.

• International Orientation

UCEL provides integrated international degree courses as well as a long list of exchange programmes for all interested students. Staff exchanges and lecturers with an international background round up the study programme.

• Financial Independence

All students receive a monthly salary during the whole three years based on a standard contract for employees.

• Attractiveness for the employer

In-depth expertise knowledge, understanding of interdisciplinary contents, the ability to solve problems methodologically and purposefully, along with effective team skills characterise the qualification of UCEL students. In addition, students acquire the ability to find their own methods of learning and are able to adapt their knowledge to the constantly changing demands of an internationally linked job world. Upon graduation students are capable of meeting professional demands immediately, which is a definite competitive advantage on the labour market.