The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) and the city of Mönchengladbach are joining forces to tackle the key challenges facing the Niederrhein region. With a focus on socio-cultural participation, sustainable urban development and interdisciplinary cooperation, they are tackling structural change in a region characterized by economic and social upheaval. This intention is now being sponsored financially. The university and city were successful in the Stifterverband's "Transformationslabor Hochschule" competition.
"The funding shows us that we are on the right track with our transformation program and the stakeholders involved," says Vice President Donja Amirpur, who launched the project as the first step in her new department "University Culture and Diversity" - together with colleagues from the Faculties of Design and Applied Social Sciences as well as the Cultural Office and the Strategic Development Office of the City of Mönchengladbach.
As part of the one-year program, the tandem teams from the department and the relevant city departments take part in method, strategy and networking workshops. They also receive coaching and financial support of 25,000 euros each. The aim is to strengthen them as jointly active and competent shapers of transformative processes.
Under the leadership of the newly formed Executive Board, the HSNR has been pursuing a clear strategy since September 2024: the needs of the region are the focus. With innovative degree programmes in technology and interdisciplinary projects, the aim is not only to train urgently needed specialists, but also to find answers to central questions of regional development.
Particular attention is paid to participatory research: together with citizens, companies and public stakeholders, practical solutions are developed that promote social participation and sustainable urban development for the common good.
The project focuses on the question "Which university does the region need?". To find out, the project partners will try out new forms of collaboration in three steps:
Community outreach with the TransferBike (TraBi): With workshops and events in socioculturally special neighborhoods, the concerns of citizens:innen are recorded directly on site. The university thus enters public spaces, opens up new social places in the city and the region and creates a flexible spatial situation with the TraBi, which makes it possible to conduct innovative workshops and surveys (Photo Voice, Community Mapping) on the market square, in the schoolyard, in front of the supermarket. Conference Festival MG (October 23 to 25, 2025): An innovative event format that brings together the cultural and creative industries, science and civil society to unleash the region's potential. In addition to the university at the Mönchengladbach location and the city of Mönchengladbach, the Future Work Lab in Krefeld, Neuss and the Dutch city of Roermond will also be taking part. HSNR workshops: Based on the findings gathered, measures for teaching education, research and social responsibility will be developed, accompanied by a Citizens:in Council.
The Hochschule Niederrhein and the city of Mönchengladbach see their cooperation not only as an opportunity for sustainable innovation, but also as a way to strengthen the region's identity and quality of life in the long term.
"Our goal is to combine education, research and urban development in such a way that everyone benefits - students, companies and the urban community," emphasizes Ingrida Dolfen, Head of the Future Work Lab at The Hochschule Niederrhein.
With a clear focus on the common good and regional networking, the city and Hochschule Niederrhein want to lead the Niederrhein region into a future-oriented and sustainable future.
The Hochschule Niederrhein was joined by seven other universities and their partner municipalities:
- University of Hamburg & Altona district
- Bochum University of Applied Sciences & City of Herne
- Braunschweig University of Technology & City of Braunschweig
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena & City of Jena
- University of Münster, universities of applied sciences Münster & City of Münster
- The Hochschule Niederrhein & City of Mönchengladbach
- University of Stralsund & City of Stralsund
- University of Würzburg & City of Würzburg
