In 2023, the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts funding association distributed more than 32,000 euros to students and faculties at the university. In an interview with the FH Online editorial team, Celine Carstensen-Opitz, Chairwoman of the Fördergesellschaft, explains who decides which project receives funding, whether she really reads 800 theses every year and why it is also worthwhile for students to join the Förderverein.
Ms. Carstensen-Opitz, according to your CV, you studied at the Technical University of Dortmund - how does that fit together?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz: That fits together very well. Nobody has to have studied at Fachhochschule Dortmund to become a member of the Fördergesellschaft. We are happy about any support. The Fördergesellschaft is open to all individuals and organizations that feel connected to the FH, regardless of whether they are individuals, associations or companies. As a board member of VOLKSWOHL BUND Versicherungen, it is important to me that my company supports Fachhochschule Dortmund as a renowned educational institution.
How are the members involved in the development association? Is it a typical club life with meetings and work assignments?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz : First and foremost, it is the task of the Fördergesellschaft to collect money and thus support Fachhochschule Dortmund and its students by regularly funding projects in teaching and research. On the one hand, this is done through membership fees. On the other hand, some actually make regular donations over and above their membership fee. And, of course, all members are free to look for other donors - which is very welcome to us as a support society.
What is the benefit of joining the development company?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz: Fachhochschule Dortmund educates students who will later help shape our future. The Fördergesellschaft is an uncomplicated way of supporting the UAS. You can make a comparatively big difference with a small amount of money. Think of the students whose theses we honor at Fachhochschule Dortmund's annual academic celebration. The prize money not only helps with starting a career, but also provides a mental boost of motivation - especially after the strenuous final thesis. Graduates confirm this time and again.
One of the aims of the Fördergesellschaft is to promote teaching and research, as well as training and further education, and to deepen practical relevance. And we want to help present the achievements of Fachhochschule Dortmund to the public. We try to do this by financing the necessary equipment and supporting lectures, meetings and other events. All of this is extremely important for the further development of teaching and research. Last but not least, the work of the Fördergesellschaft strengthens Dortmund as a business and cultural location. This is another reason why many Dortmund companies are already members. By the way, it's very simple: use our application form (PDF)(Opens in a new tab) .
What would Fachhochschule Dortmund look like without the Fördergesellschaft?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz : In the past, many a project would probably not have come to fruition. Take the Race Engineering team, for example, in which creative minds from various disciplines are dedicated to race car construction, which is also really good advertising for the UAS. Or the IEEE IDAACS Conference 2023(Opens in a new tab) , which brought together researchers and scientists from different countries in Dortmund. The Summer Academy of the Faculty of Architecture in Montagnac and the "Learning in a new way of thinking" project of the Faculty of Applied Social Studies are further examples of activities that we have supported recently. In the future, we want to intensify cooperation between the University of Applied Sciences and regional companies even more with the sponsoring company. At the same time, the faculties' need for grants and funding will increase once again, making the Fördergesellschaft even more important.
It is certainly a nice task to distribute money. But doesn't it also arouse covetousness?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz: Individuals never decide which projects we will support. This is the responsibility of the Board of Directors of the Fördergesellschaft. Anyone wishing to submit a funding application (PDF)(Opens in a new tab) can do so easily via foerdergesellschaftfh-dortmundde .
At the annual academic celebration, you honor the best theses of UAS graduates on behalf of the Fördergesellschaft. With more than 800 graduates a year, you have quite a lot to read. How do you decide who wins?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz: Yes, one of the prizes we award once a year at the Annual Academic Celebration is for the best graduate in each faculty. But we don't have to read 800 papers for this. The faculties do that for us. They decide in advance who should receive the prize and also give reasons for it. In the case of the research prize for special achievements in research and development, a jury made up of members of the Fördergesellschaft decides on the basis of objective criteria. We also award the doctorate prize for an outstanding, cooperative doctorate. We also award the teaching prize for special achievements in teaching, for which the student councils make their nominations.
Could membership of the Fördergesellschaft be of interest to students?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz: To be honest, we only have a few student members. Nevertheless, I can only recommend all students to join. The opportunity to network is certainly unique.
What are the association's plans for the near future?
Celine Carstensen-Opitz: We would indeed like to revive the specialist committees. These committees are designed to facilitate an exchange of ideas between professors at the university and interested members of the Fördergesellschaft. In the end, everyone benefits: the Fachhochschule can discuss its topics with external partners, while participants from the ranks of the Fördergesellschaft and representatives of Dortmund companies gain an insight into current teaching content and research and development activities.