Do you (still) recognize anyone here? This photo was taken around 1980 and shows various professors from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering.
If that was "your" year, you studied Automation Engineering and you are part of the 1983 graduating class, we might see you on November 24 to celebrate your 40th degree. Graduates from the Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences are celebrating an even bigger anniversary this year. 50 years after their degree, some of them came together once again on campus in Mönchengladbach. Others are looking for former fellow students and friends. There are always exciting, funny and simply beautiful memories that are shared and I am happy if we can share them with you here.
Have fun reading!
Karla Kaminski
Alumni Coordinator
According to agreement
News from the universityIt's hard to believe. The four former students who returned to their university in Mönchengladbach at the beginning of July graduated exactly 50 years ago. They are celebrating their golden jubilee this year.
Getting the group of visitors together was a bit of an adventure and began with an inquiry as to whether we still had addresses of graduates from the 1973 Oecotrophology class, as one alumna had once had address documents, but these had been lost when she moved house. So we started advertising and even an alumna from the south of France got in touch, who dropped everything and flew in at short notice. So a group of four came to visit the HSNR in Mönchengladbach.
In bright sunshine, they first went to the Blauhaus, a building that of course did not exist 50 years ago. However, the roof terrace of the Blauhaus was the ideal starting point and vantage point for the start of the visit. Due to the demolition, conversion and new construction of buildings, it is of course difficult to recognize the old site, especially after 50 years. However, the lack of landmarks was quickly made up for by sharing memories and looking back. In the Faculty of Food and Nutrition Sciences, Dean Professor Wittich was waiting for the group of visitors and gave them a warm welcome. An overview of how the faculties have developed over the last 50 years led to a lively exchange. It is interesting to see the different directions in which the ecotrophologists have developed and where their studies or the coincidences of life have led each individual. As a teacher in southern Germany, developing recipes and setting up the Maggie cooking studio, as a trainer/teacher for prospective oecotrophologists, at the Chamber of Agriculture, in helping the homeless, at other well-known companies such as Maggi and in association activities. International jobs were also included. They all had one thing in common: a continuing great and lively interest in the subject of ecotrophology. Dean Wittich then took the time for a detailed tour of the department. The ladies would certainly have liked to have had today's equipment in our laboratories in their own time and were visibly impressed. The tour could have gone on for much longer, so many questions were asked and so much discussion took place, but - as it should be for nutritionists - a visit to the canteen was a must. And so we had to break away from the faculties (forgive the pun for the insiders) to avoid standing in front of closed canteen doors. Even late at night in the canteen, the food met with the approval of the female specialists and here too we could have stayed much longer if the canteen hadn't closed.
At this point, the women's group continued on their own across the campus and through the city. It was a great visit and rarely has a group of visitors been as lively and interested as these Oecotrophologists. A big thank you to Professor Wittich and the faculties! Many thanks to our visitors - I look forward to seeing you again!
From 1979 to 1983, Manfred Disko studied at the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering. Unfortunately, he lost sight of his career. His subject was construction. Anyone who studied with him at the same time: Please contact me if you are interested in an alumni reunion.
By e-mail at alumni(at)hs-niederrhein.de or by phone on 02151-822-2942.
Our new "Applied Psychology" degree programme will start in the winter semester 2024. The aim is to better understand people and contribute to the promotion of individual health. Based on the scientific foundation course of people's experience and behavior, the newly acquired knowledge is immediately applied in various project and practical modules or in a company. The specialization in health psychology starts with basic psychology subjects. These include, for example, bio- and neuropsychology, general psychology and differential psychology. In the further course, the application subjects of health psychology are concerned with better understanding how people make decisions regarding their health and, for example, deriving suitable health psychology prevention concepts from this.
The degree programme is based on the recommendations of the German Society for Psychology (DGPs).
All information can be found on our homepage at
40 years ago, around 30 students graduated from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering with a degree in Automation Engineering under semester supervisor Dr. Weingarten. And since then, the alumni have met once a year. The alumni always come together again in Krefeld on the last Friday in November. To mark the 40th anniversary of the degree, this year's reunion will take place on November 24.
A visit to the university in Reinarzstraße is planned from 4 to 5.30 pm. Afterwards, as in previous years, there will be a visit to a restaurant in Uerdingen.
Unfortunately, not all alumni have always come along. So if you belong to this group of alumni, just get in touch at alumni(at)hs-niederrhein.de. We look forward to seeing you!
Students and companies often have problems when looking for jobs or personnel: many students do not reflect on their talents or inclinations and apply for anything that doesn't put up a fight. Companies often don't know exactly which personalities and skills they really need and act according to the principle of trial and error. As a result, things that don't really fit together tend to come together.
With the "Matchpoint Campus" app, students and academic staff together with Professor Dr. Alexander Cisik from the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics have developed an innovative online platform that combines key elements of self-assessments and job exchanges in a new app. Students and companies analyze in detail who they are, what they offer and who they are looking for (screening), and then find a perfect match thanks to special algorithms (matching). Thanks to the special combination of screening and matching, MATCHPOINT CAMPUS offers students and companies the opportunity to position themselves optimally in the job and applicant market and thus find the perfect job or the right employees.
1.8 million euros to ex-students for innovative yarn
Mönchengladbach. Swim trunks on, into the water, out again with dry trunks - sounds utopian, but could soon become reality. The trio of founders of "Octogarn" are currently developing a real innovation: a new type of yarn that could turn the textile industry upside down.
The "Octogarn" project sounds so promising that the former students from The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) and Aachen University of Applied Sciences have received funding of 1.84 million euros. The money comes from the "EXIST - Start-ups from Science" funding program of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection.
"Octogarn" is pollutant-free, sustainable, cold-insulating, breathable and friction-reducing. It has a similar effect to the lotus effect and is therefore water-repellent. But it has a decisive added value: it is non-wettable. This means that if a textile made from it is completely submerged in water, it remains dry. "An effect that is hardly known in the textile industry," says Alexandra Plewnia from Mönchengladbach. At the moment, many water-repellent textiles, especially in the technical sector, are produced by finishing them with chemicals such as fluoropolymers. Although green alternatives are more environmentally friendly, they are often not powerful enough. "Octogarn" aims to solve both problems.
The people behind "Octogarn" are all women: Alexandra Plewnia (29), who most recently studied Textile Products at the HSNR, is the idea generator. Sarah Neumann (28) from Cologne, who completed her Master's degree in Management and Entrepreneurship at the FH Aachen on a career-integrated basis, brings business management know-how to the table. From November, the team will be completed by Melanie Jakubik (29) from Duisburg, who studied the same subject as Plewnia and, like her, will be responsible for technology.
Plewnia researched "Octogarn" for around two years as part of her Master's studies in the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology. Her interest was piqued when she took the compulsory optional course nanotechnology and focused on the topic of functionality.
She won the "Battle of Ideas" university competition in 2022 with her idea. The 20,000 euros in prize money went directly towards the patent application. Since then, the idea has been presented at many other competitions in Germany.
The HNX team, which advises HSNR students and employees interested in founding a company and supports them as part of the "HNexist" funding program, among other things, also accompanied Plewnia and her team this time. For example, it helped with the extensive application for EXIST. "The combination of this high level of funding and the topic of sustainability is truly unique at our university. This is also an investment in the future!" says Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Alexander Prange, HNexist project manager and HSNR Vice President for Research and Transfer.
The yet-to-be-founded start-up wants to produce the yarn and sell it to companies as a supplier. Whether outdoor clothing, protective equipment or use in the shipping industry - thanks to the diverse properties of the material, "Octogarn" can be used in many different ways - and even open up new markets.
The trio is only at the beginning, as the finished yarn is not yet available. The 1.84 million euros will therefore help enormously to develop a prototype by the end of the funding period in February 2026.
The funding will be used primarily for personnel expenses, but a new machine will also be purchased. For the development of Octogarn, the founding team is allowed to use office space and machines from the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology. Plewnia: "The HSNR has excellent machinery. Everything you learn can also be put into practice here."
"Without courage, knowledge is barren" - as Baltasar Gracián y Morales once said. A quote that applies perfectly to this dedicated team!" says Prof. Dr. Robert Groten, head of the "Octogarn" project.
"You need a lot of patience and very good planning, but it's an absolute affair of the heart," says Sarah Neumann from Cologne.
HSNR Racing The Hochschule Niederrhein's HSNR racing team has now been in existence for 11 years and has built its tenth successful car. The past season is very special for the team, as it not only successfully contested the Endurance for the first time in six years, but the RS-23c also marks the team's last combustion-powered racing car. The coming season holds the challenge of building an electric racing car, which the team is already preparing for. The new racing car should reflect the team's technical progress and crown another successful season. The concept of the car includes a self-developed and self-built battery as well as electric motors in the rear wheel arches. The team currently consists of around 70 highly motivated students, mainly from the Faculties of Mechanical and Process Engineering, as well as Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Nevertheless, this season we have added students from almost all faculties to our team.
On Friday, June 16, the time had come again. The HSNR racing team presented the new RS-23c racing car. Team leader Frederic Schiwan led through the rollout and reported on the developments of the past year. Faculty Advisor Professor Michael Heber passed the baton on to Professor Julia Kessler last year after 10 years. There has also been a major change in the team, so that after Corona there has been a reorganization with many new faces.
In her speech, Professor Julia Kessler was impressed by the team and the team spirit. In her speech, Professor Fabienne Köller-Marek, representing the Presidential Board, not only spoke about the value of teamwork as a sign of putting theory and program content into practice. She also questioned the sense of a racing car with an internal combustion engine at a time when the concept of sustainability is everywhere. She sees the work of the racing team not only as something that brings great joy and is fun, but also serves above all to drive innovation, conserve resources, avoid waste and thus contribute to sustainability. Faculty Advisor Julia Kessler then confirmed that the trend in the HSNR racing team is also clearly moving towards electric racing cars and that the changeover is foreseeable. The Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Professor Marc Gennat, was also full of praise for the work of the students and then made the connection to his field of work, Automation Engineering, with a film about the work in the racing team.
Team leader Frederik Schiwan presented the current developments and innovations of the RS-23c in an interview with his component managers. For example, there is now one sensor less on the accelerator pedal. The failure that occurred here last year should now be avoided. Overall, the aim is to create reliability and develop a fail-safe concept. While last year's motto for the airbox was "As long as it lasts!", this year's motto was "As long as it lasts and is light!". And it was indeed possible to save another 200g in weight. In terms of aerodynamics, the car now has the Drag Reduction System (DRS), which is also used in Formula 1. The DRS system is a movable rear wing that reduces the car's drag. This allows the car to achieve a higher top speed on a straight.
As always, there were of course fears before the rollout that it would take a long time to get the car ready. But isn't that the case every year?
It is clear that without sponsors there would be no racing car. The team therefore thanked the main sponsors from MLP, Brunel, Hebmüller, Kniest and ntn with a small gift before the new car was finally unveiled. As always, there was a great deal of interest in the float, bridging the time until the cozy part of the evening could begin. The buffet was almost an in-house effort by the racing team. The original caterer dropped out at short notice, so the mother of team leader Frederic Schiwan, Andrea Janßen, who runs a farm with catering, spontaneously stepped in with the catering. And as the 200 guests were told, this was a good and tasty solution that could be repeated.
In keeping with tradition, many former team members met up again at the rollout to celebrate the new car and the reunion. It was a great rollout! Many thanks to the whole team!
Dates
24 hours, exciting challenges and prize money totaling 6000 euros: At the KReathon, you can develop smart applications, digitally controlled processes, good application design and intelligent concepts that make our world more convenient. The challenges deal with issues that are transferable to many areas, which will provide exciting insights into the daily working world.
At Krefeld's fourth major hackathon event on November 17 and 18 at The Hochschule Niederrhein, the aim is to make the world more comfortable and, above all, more sustainable. SWK, Fressnapf and The Hochschule Niederrhein are presenting a total of six challenges this year: SWK is looking for new ideas on how to use the data collected by Smart City, such as the fill levels of waste containers or groundwater levels, wants to enable customers to find out how big their carbon footprint is and also wants to make its own infrastructure greener. Fressnapf wants to know how to determine the carbon footprint of products as reliably as possible using key criteria and parameters and how the company can best compare and evaluate the sustainability of different packaging. With its challenge, the university is looking for sustainable smart homes.
Friends, family and acquaintances of the participants as well as interested parties are cordially invited to the final presentation of the teams' work results and the subsequent award ceremony on November 18 from 4 pm.
All information and registration: https://kreathon-krefeld.de/ or directly at kreathon(at)krefeld.de.
On Saturday, November 18, 2023, the Faculties of Design and Chemistry in Krefeld-West will open their doors from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and cordially invite you to an Open Day.
Get to know the historic campus on Frankenring, our workshops and laboratories and, of course, our degree programmes. Come and talk to students and lecturers. We have organized a varied programme that will give you an insight into studying chemistry and design in Krefeld. Calendar concepts, book covers, films of student projects and film workshops or let it rip in chemistry and find out where chemistry comes from. So let yourself be tempted and find out about other study options. Alternatively, the campus is always worth a visit for those interested in architecture.
For all those interested in studying design, the portfolio advisory service is also available again.
Coffee and cake will be served in the Shedhalle.
You can find the entire program at www.hs-niederrhein.de/design/tag-der-offenen-tuer/
The career-integrated MBA program "Leadership & Management" is the practical emphasis / orientation for current and future managers. The program teaches, for example, how to successfully conduct employee appraisals, what is meant by agile leadership and the impact of digital transformation on companies, as well as many other practical insights and skills.
You can find out more details in our online information events
Please register by e-mail at mba-info(at)hs-niederrhein.de or by telephone on 02161-186-6356, stating the event. We will then send you the Zoom link.
Alternatively, you can also make an appointment for a personal consultation with Prof. Dr. Harald Vergossen: harald.vergossen(at)hs-niederrhein.de, phone: 02161-186-6367.
You can also find more information about the degree program at www.mba.hs-niederrhein.de.
The Faculty of Health also offers information events if you are interested in a Master's in Health Care Management. Find out more about Health Care Management with specializations in Management or Health Sciences. The next dates are:
Saturday, Nov. 25 at 10:30 a.m. at Krefeld South Campus, Building H, Room H-102 and
Tuesday, January 09 at 7 pm (digital).
Please register at Master-10(at)hs-niederrhein.de.
The HNX start-up advisory team also regularly offers events and workshops for alumni. So if you are interested in the topic of start-ups, they have an open ear for you.
Just have a look at the HNX website https://www.hs-niederrhein.de/existenzgruendung/ or join our LinkedIn group for HSNR alumni. We post all dates at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12669788/, but also on the university page on LinkedIn.
By the way, the next events organized by Team HNX will take place during the Niederrhein Start-up Week from 13 to 19 November. Register now for the FuckUpNight and much more.
The four Faculties of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Mechanical and Process Engineering and Industrial Engineering cordially invite you to the Engineering Days 2024!
The Engineering Days are our in-house exhibition with numerous student project assignments from all disciplines, a look behind the scenes during campus and laboratory tours, Student Advice sessions and lots of information and the racing team's racing car is also a must.
As alumni, especially from these faculties, you know what to expect. We therefore invite you to get actively involved this year if you have studied something technical with us or are currently supervising a dual student in your company. Tell young prospective students about your professional life as an engineer and make your first contacts with the next generation.
Would you like to take part and get involved? Then please get in touch at engineering(at)hs-niederrhein.de
Or perhaps you know young people, relatives etc. who are interested in technology and studies? Then we look forward to seeing you on Friday, November 19 and Saturday, November 20 in Krefeld, Krefeld South Campus, in Building J at Obergath 79.
To mark the 650th anniversary of the city of Krefeld, there is a mobile traveling exhibition that uses various objects and media to show the history of the city and its inhabitants from 1373 to the present day.
The Hochschule Niederrhein will be the last stop of the traveling exhibition in January. From January 16 to 24, 2024, you are cordially invited to the Krefeld South Campus to visit "650 years of Krefeld. The history and stories of a city." The exhibition can be found on the lawn in front of the J building. It can be visited during the usual opening hours.
The Hochschule Niederrhein's mentoring program "Taking the Lead as a Woman" was launched in spring on the initiative of Prof. Kampker (Faculty of Industrial Engineering) in cooperation with Unternehmerschaft Niederrhein and the Krefeld network "Leading Ladies in Town".
The program offered female students of the Faculty of Industrial Engineering the opportunity to receive support from mentors from regional companies on their way to becoming qualified specialists and managers.
The program, which was completed on 19.09.23, received very positive re-registration from both the students and the participating companies.
For this reason, the mentoring program will be opened up to other STEM faculties from 2024.
Perhaps you would also like to pass on your knowledge and experience and support a student? Then simply get in touch with us!
Graduation ceremonies 2023/24Have you just finished? Then don't miss your graduation ceremony! Here are the current invitations and a few dates for 2024. As always, we are ready with our cameras, gowns and hats to provide you with great snapshots.
On Thursday, November 16, starting at 6 p.m., the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science will celebrate its graduates.
If you have not yet registered, please contact the faculties' Administration at sekretariat-03(at)hs-niederrhein.de as soon as possible !
On November 17 from 5 p.m., the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering would once again like to congratulate its graduates who successfully completed their studies in the last summer semester and invites you to the big award and certificate ceremony! On this day, the prize of the support association and the BAYER foundation prize for the best graduates of the year will also be awarded.
Incidentally, this year's event will be accompanied musically by the young singer Cristian Martinez - a HSNR student from the Faculty of Applied Social Sciences.
Not registered yet? Then register as soon as possible at the e-mail address: sekretariat-04(at)hs-niederrhein.de
Congratulations to all graduates who celebrated their degrees in 2023. I was present at some of the faculties and once again took countless photos of you, in your gowns, alone or with friends, partners, parents, siblings and grandparents. All beaming with joy, proud, relieved and in a great mood.
We already have a few dates to announce for 2024
If you have failed to register for "your" photos, please contact our central alumni coordination office at alumni(at)hs-niederrhein.de and we will rummage through the archives for you.
Or maybe you have old pictures of your degree from a few years ago. I look forward to receiving - especially older - pictures for our archive!
Continuing education at the HSNR Even after your studies at The Hochschule Niederrhein, we would like to support you as a professional in responding to changing professional requirements and updating your knowledge or qualifying for new tasks. Our aim is to accompany you on your personal educational path.
The Center for Continuing Education currently has the following certificate courses and studies planned:
Online certificate course"ISMS Auditor | Lead Auditor according to ISO/IEC 27001"
Start date: 13.12.2023 with six ONLINE attendance dates and self-study phase until 20.12.2023.
Registration deadline is 30.11.2023!
Website certificate course
Online certificate course"Chief Data Officer"
Start date: 10.01.2024 with eleven ONLINE attendance days and self-study phase until 03.06.2024.
Registration deadline is 08.12.2023!
Website certificate program
Certificate course "Data Analyst"
Start date: 31.01.2024 with eleven attendance days and self-study phase until 07.06.2024.
Registration deadline is 10.01.2024
Certificate course website
Animal-assisted therapy and education - a comprehensive further education course in the field of animal-assisted work
Start date: 13.04.2024 with 28 online and attendance days and self-study phase until 13.04.2025.
Website certificate course
Laboratory management - organizing and leading
Start date : 27.08.2024 with seven attendance days and self-study phase until 18.09.2024
Website certificate course
Acquisition of expertise according to §11 of the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance
Start date : 25.09.2024 with 1.5 days of attendance and self-study phase until 06.11.2024
Training website
Obtaining expertise in accordance with Section 11 of the Chemicals Prohibition Ordinance
Alternative dates: 17.01.2024 (online)or 20.11.2024 (attendance)
Training website
In addition, we offer continuing education for educators and employees in social work fields with detailed information at https://www.hs-niederrhein.de/weiterbildung/paedagogische-und-soziale-arbeitsfelder/:
Mindfulness
Online: 29.11.2023 and 17.01.2024, 9 am - 5 pm
Mental disorders
Online: 06.12.2023, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
AI in teaching practice
Online: 13.12.2023, 9 am - 5 pm
ADHD in the classroom
Online: 18.12.2023, 9 am - 5 pm
Nerves of steel
Presence: 27.02.2024, 9 am - 5 pm
Contact:
Ulrike Schoppmeyer
Center for Continuing Education
Phone: +49 2151 822-1561
Email: ulrike.schoppmeyer(at)hs-niederrhein.de
Personalia
It has been over ten years since the Surface Technology Applied Research (STAR) competence center was founded at The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR). Under new management, the focus is now increasingly on sustainability.
The competence centre was founded by Professor Dr Johannes Wilden following his appointment to the HSNR in 2011, with specialization initially focusing on developing the coating infrastructure as well as materials and Surface Engineering. Following Professor Wilden's retirement, Professor Dr. Markus Lake has now taken over the STAR competence centre. He teaches Production Technology and Coating Processes and has headed the Laboratory for Surface Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering since 2011.
Both the old and the new management agreed that the topic of sustainability should increasingly take center stage. A new concept was therefore developed, based on the Sustainable Development Goals of the global community's Agenda 2030.
Six goals were jointly identified to which the competence center can contribute. These goals can only be achieved through interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary cooperation. To this end, milestones for research activities have been developed, the foundation course of which are concrete research projects. One goal is the research field of reactive multi-material systems (RMS), which are an innovative technology for energy storage. RMS thin-film systems are produced in the in-house Surface Engineering laboratory in such a way that they are more effective and efficient and can ultimately be manufactured in a more resource-efficient manner.
Surface Engineering also provides important impetus for the field of sustainability. In the 2030 Agenda, two of the goals are "Clean water and sanitation" and "Climate action". "Catalyst systems are being developed that use an oxidation process to remove micropollutants from wastewater and treat exhaust air in order to meet air pollution control requirements," says Professor Dr. Markus Lake, Head of the Competence Centre for Surface Engineering at The Hochschule Niederrhein.
The STAR competence center sees itself as a cooperation partner for industry, especially for medium-sized companies in the region. Students write student projects and theses on practical issues in order to find innovative solutions. As Surface Engineering is relevant to many areas of everyday life, the companies come from a wide range of industries. In the past, the competence center has already collaborated with companies from the transport, energy technology and water treatment sectors.
We wish Professor Wilden all the best for his retirement and the new head, Professor Markus Lake, every success!
Obituary
Shortly before going to press, we received the news that Professor Renate Schmitt, Professor of Color Theory at the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology from 1997-2021, had passed away unexpectedly.
When she retired two years ago, there was a very special kind of finissage. 64 student paintings transformed the former Karstadt building on Rheydter Markt into a very special kind of exhibition space. The entire glass front of the building, several hundred meters in total, was hung with pictures from the inside. Professor Schmitt had been collecting and preserving the pictures since 1997. She wanted to engage the students in a playful creative process and show what artistic achievements students are capable of when they are able to create something together without pressure.
In a post at the time, a former student wrote: "Color theory with her was simply brilliant!". There is probably no better praise.
Our thoughts are with the relatives and friends of the deceased.
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