Joint study

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The combined course of study at the universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia is a study model for part-time study which - in contrast to pure distance learning - is characterized by a combination of regular classroom teaching and self-study. It is a cooperative offer of the state universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia with a wide range of different courses in the Bachelor and Master areas, which was successfully started in 1994 and has been continuously expanded since then. This specific form of study is aimed primarily at employed persons and trainees who are aiming for a qualified academic further education parallel to their job and independent of the respective employer or company.

In contrast to this, the combined study in Bavaria describes a dual study variant that is characterized by cooperation between the university and companies, cf. also training-integrated dual study program and dual study

General

The combined course is a course offered by the universities of applied sciences in North Rhine-Westphalia that can be completed alongside work or training. The optimally coordinated combination of self-study and face-to-face study gives working people the opportunity to gain further qualifications and improve opportunities for advancement. This does not require a break from work or a career break. The great advantage of the combined course is that it can be flexibly adapted to your personal life situation, both in terms of time and location. The mission statement of the NRW joint study program is defined by three central goals:

  • Combination of studies and work - working people acquire a qualified university degree without having to forego the social and professional environment they are used to
  • Association of learning locations - the NRW model combines independent scientific work in the private sector with teaching teaching in the university and concrete problems in practice
  • Association of NRW universities of applied sciences - with joint courses, the universities increase the quality and efficiency of higher education

The universities of applied sciences have organized joint studies as decentrally as possible and, at the same time as the Institute for Joint Studies - IfV NRW, founded a central service and coordination facility as a partner for the universities. The IfV NRW supports the universities in the planning and implementation of numerous services and is based in Hagen.

Course offer

The specialist spectrum of the combined courses of study ranges from classic courses in engineering and computer science to courses in business and law to educational sciences. Some of the combined courses are offered in cooperation with several universities of applied sciences (max. Four) and there are also combined courses that are offered by two universities and alternate between face-to-face teaching. The general admission requirements apply to the bachelor's degree programs; Only in the case of the practice-integrated bachelor's degree courses at the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences and training-accompanying combined courses of study is it necessary to submit an additional training contract for enrollment. The admission requirements for consecutive or advanced master’s courses are more individual and different depending on the combined course. In the case of further education master’s courses, at least 12 months of professional activity are required after the bachelor’s course.

Study concept

The course content, which is the subject of lectures in traditional courses, is conveyed entirely through self-study materials (so-called learning letters) in the combined course, the combined course thus contains a largely independent self-study component, which makes up by far the largest part of the course (approx. 70%). Half of the exercises and seminars are taught through learning letters, the other half as face-to-face events and thus make up around 30%. Internships are offered entirely in the form of face-to-face events. Learning is done in small study groups of around 20 students. The learning letters are clearly structured and didactically prepared (e.g. specification of teaching / learning objectives, examples, summaries) in order to facilitate the acquisition of the learning material in self-study. In addition, the learning letters contain tasks that serve both to deepen the subject matter and to monitor the success of the course. The learning letters are made available in printed and digital form at the beginning of each semester. The concept provides for regular, individual processing by the students BEFORE and AFTER the attendance appointments. In addition, online support is provided. The support and mutual exchange is organized via the communication platforms of the respective universities of applied sciences (moodle, Ilias).

Regular contact with teachers and fellow students demonstrably contributes to maintaining motivation and academic success, although the concept still allows a high degree of flexibility.

The duration of the training and part-time combined courses is slightly longer than that of the full-time courses. Basic Bachelor's degree programs have i. d. R. nine, practice-integrated bachelor programs seven and master’s combined programs i. d. Usually five semesters of standard study time. In addition, other terms are possible depending on the study concept. Most joint study programs start in the winter semester. Individual further education master’s courses as well as a combined bachelor’s course have started the course in the summer semester. It is also quite common to start twice a year.

The course begins with a one-day introductory event. Find the presences i. d. Usually on Saturdays in a 14-day rhythm on approx. 8 Saturdays per half-year at the participating universities. Some master’s degree programs schedule the events on Friday and Saturday, but every 4 weeks. If possible, there are no face-to-face events in NRW during the school holidays.

The combined course enables effective qualification at the level of state universities of applied sciences.

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