The bachelor's degree course "Applied Computer Science and Social Media" is a program focussing on applied computer sciences supplemented by the basics of social media. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or YouTube have radically changed today's reality of life and our way of working. Whether in the private domain or for professional applications, for instance in organizations, administrations and businesses, the possible ways of communication, that is the interaction between sender and receiver, the sharing of or commenting on news and images puts high requirements on the developer and operator of such media. The "Applied Computer Science and Social Media" study program takes up these challenges.

Biology, physics, chemistry, computer sciences, and genetics are the basis for new interdisciplinary developments and progress in medical science, for example, in intelligent data analysis as well as the continued and new development of imaging methods or high-tech equipment such as ultrasonic, X-ray and other analysis systems. Inventive materials for implants as well as innovative genetic technologies and biomicrosystems technology play a major role in medical therapy and the further development of molecular diagnostics. All in all, these are complex systems, which require both scientific knowledge and an interdisciplinary understanding in particular.

Regardless whether medium-sized enterprise or multi-national group, consulting firm or technology production – economic know-how is required in all companies. Operational business or strategic aspects, the requirements specification for business economics is continuously developing further and the challenges the management is confronted with are growing: globalization, international markets, unstable competition and framework conditions, changing financial instruments, and the micro-segmentation of target groups with all consequences for individualized products are only a few adjustment screws for business success.

In the age of digitization with current application areas such as connected and autonomous driving or Industry 4.0, the discipline of electronics is essential. The tight integration with computer science, which is the only way to develop complex, usually highly interactive systems, currently provides the breeding ground for more than 80% of innovations in application domains such as transport, medicine, telecommunications, automation, and smart home. Electronics is one of the most important disciplines in industry and business. Electronic engineers trained in Germany enjoy an excellent reputation worldwide.

Pipelines, power plants, wind turbines, and solar collectors, biogas plants or combined heat and power units? Environmental protection, resource depletion and new technologies play a major role in planning how energy can be optimally provided and used, how new technologies can be integrated into existing structures and markets, and how the resulting change in the energy supply industry can be managed. These are decisive issues for our everyday life – already today and even more so for the generations to come

The fascinating aspect of the CSI crime series is probably the high-tech methods used for investigation: ballistic trajectory calculations of bullets, analyses of blood splatters, crime scene reconstructions, experiments and tests, hair and fingerprint analyses. All these assays are based on new instrumental measuring and analysis methods.

Sports, health care and technologies – three areas that have a lot to do with each other: in a general sense, but, above all, from a technology-based perspective, such as that of engineers when it comes to the development of new technologies and products in these fields of application. 

In companies, many details are critical for creating added value. An important prerequisite for this is interdisciplinary know-how equally considering business issues and technical processes. Strategic vision and detailed knowledge of operational processes are both imperative. That is why experts with an awareness of the big picture and with an understanding of engineering issues and modern business management are in demand.

Communicating online all day long and everywhere, operating devices without touching them, closing the shutters at home via an app while away from home, checking the content of the fridge online, securing a parking space with a power charging station for the electric car outside the 3D cinema thanks to valet parking and when you enter the pleasantly air-conditioned loft in the evening, soft light welcomes you and the food ordered online during the day was already delivered in an ice box. Besides imagination and vision, the time factor plays an important role for the further development of new intelligent systems and their integration into the environment: in other words, speed to get products and applications ready for the market. In this process, algorithms are the basis, while programming, simulation processes, modelling, prototyping, and design are the tools.

We live in a world of internationalization and globalization in all our spheres of life. Consequently, the ability to understand people from other cultures and successfully communicate is of constantly growing significance. In working life, too, knowledge of the psychological principles of intercultural communication and collaboration is increasingly important. The knowledge of these processes and so-called intercultural competencies are consistently imparted in the Bachelor degree course Intercultural Business Psychology. It is about the human being, his behaviour as well as decision-making processes in economic contexts.

Nature offers a veritable treasure trove of optimally functioning systems. Uncovering these assets, which means taking nature as a model, understanding its functionalities and incorporating them in new technical materials and products, this is the core of the still rather young discipline of bionics. Chemistry, physics and biology thereby provide the natural science foundations. Combined with engineering courses, such as technical mathematics, mechanics as well as construction technology and electrical engineering, and in combination with the key disciplines of materials science, optics and lighting technology as well as design, a unique study course arises. Due to its interdisciplinary approach, it offers a very broad spectrum in the development of new materials for products and technologies of tomorrow’s industries.

A modern, interdisciplinary engineering science. The fundamentals are mechanical engineering, electrical and control engineering as well as computer sciences. The knowledge acquired in these disciplines is complementary and enables mechatronics engineers to develop various systems for high-tech products as we find them everywhere today: cell phones, automobiles, aircrafts and trains, energy and production facilities, logistics systems, light-emitting diodes – LEDs and OLEDs, imaging technologies and laser-based applications through to the mega trend, electric mobility. Based on the intelligent connection of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer sciences, "Mechatronics" generates new prospects today for the world of tomorrow.

In a globalized economy, companies are subject to constant change. Anticipating the factors that will positively influence competitiveness and growth thereby presents particular strategic challenges to, among others, the innovation management in technology companies. The requirements profile is broad: exploring market opportunities and recognizing business risks at an early stage, demand-oriented design of product innovations, respecting trade mark rights and protecting patents. Furthermore, future-oriented developments and the intelligent application of efficient and resource-sparing technologies gain an ever-increasing importance in times of demographic change.

Everyone ist familiar with the many small displays and digital media on devices and appliances used to adjust settings or the interactive touch screens for navigating systems and simulated views of products, buildings or objects. All of them are based on the visualization of information and functions and backed by complex systems consisting of technical components and elaborate software. However, even the best technology does not automatically lead to a good, intuitive operability or a convincing look; this additionally requires a target group-specific and user-oriented design. This, in turn, implies an understanding of what expectations people have on objects and products or how people behave when they operate a machine, a smartphone, a car or a ticket machine.

New materials, advanced procedures, refined technologies, innovative systems, efficient management: the spectrum in "Applied Biomedical Engineering" is broad. The challenge lies in the successful combination of new possibilities and their practical application. Here, safety aspects when dealing with appliances are just as important as the development of new application scenarios or the integration of microsystems and information technology into diagnostics.

Point of care diagnostics, telemedicine and personalized pharmaceuticals: in the next few years, biomedical and medical technology companies will be confronted with enormous challenges. Biomedicine and medical engineering are large future markets for companies in Germany. From component suppliers to companies supplying patients, physicians or hospitals as customers, there is a great demand in the entire value chain for specialized employees with biomedical expertise as well as management and marketing know-how for highly specialized and regulated markets.

The "Business Administration" master's degree program at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences aims to impart skills that enable students to recognize and assess these challenges and to deal with the expected changes. The aim is not only to train specialists who are able to efficiently implement the profit- and socially oriented objectives at the corporate micro level.

Transforming innovative ideas into real, financially successful systems through the consistent management of development processes is one of the core competencies imparted in the "Business and Systems Engineering" master’s degree course. Based on scientific-theoretical foundations of system development and design, students are taught how to scientifically analyze technical and methodological problems, design products independently, develop them and bring them to market maturity – from design to development through to production.

The consecutive master's degree program builds on a bachelor's degree program with a focus on chemistry or natural science analysis, such as the bachelor's degree program "Environmental Monitoring and Forensic Chemistry" at the Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences. In terms of content, it is a scientific-analytical course of study at the interface between environment, health and safety. The aim of the degree program is to extend and deepen the knowledge of modern (bio-)analytical methods and to impart competencies in the fields of data analysis, health and technical compliance.

Our Master’s degree in "Intercultural Business Psychology" prepares graduates for work at the intersection of different cultures. In a world characterized by rapid globalization and demographic changes, intercultural understanding has become a key competence. In this interdisciplinary degree course, we want to prepare our students to be able to develop answers to the challenges of an increasingly complex business world, be it as employees, managers, or customers.

In everyday as well as strategic decision-making processes in companies, particularly in risk and life cycle management, it is crucial to consider all influencing aspects. For this purpose, all parameters of facilities and products − economic, legal, safety-relevant as well as technical risks – are holistically gathered and assessed from various angles over the entire life cycle. Specific perspectives of companies or corporate divisions have to be considered accordingly.

Wearables, such as fitness trackers, are a prime example of smart accessories from the sports and leisure sector that take advantage of synergies between various disciplines: human science knowledge, technical innovations and possibilities in the fields of sensor technology and microcontroller systems. If innovative materials and modern production techniques are used in addition, a cost-efficient, attractive high-tech product is the result. The success of the top seller is rounded off by effective marketing strategies, such as the "10,000 steps initiative" internet campaign, and user-friendly apps which address fundamental psychological needs such as health and competitive thinking. In the meantime, these products, which were originally developed for the sports and leisure market, have found their way into the health care system, where they are used by health insurance companies for the voluntary monitoring of insured persons, or even in the medical field for health monitoring of, for example, cardiac patients, where huge amounts of data are generated.

The "Product Development and Business Studies" master's program focuses on the demanding development of smart products in the sports, health and medical sector.

The aim of the "Technical Consulting and Management" study programme is the qualification of students for management assignments and consulting activities in a professional environment with a focus on technology. This is not only done with a view to the classic consulting industry, but also with an eye towards career entry into positions in the technical management field, for example, in the manufacturing industry, which involve project and staff responsibilities.

Speaking two "languages" – understanding both worlds

The degree course is based on both an economic and a technical foundation. Building on the basics acquired in a bachelor degree course, for example, “Industrial Engineering with Business Studies”, the economic foundation conveys in-depth knowledge from the fields of business management and business control. Project and organisational management are covered and complemented with methods of strategic business consultancy, such as organizational health.

Technological developments are accelerating rapidly and companies are confronted with severe competitive pressure. Short development periods and flexible production processes present companies with a particular challenge in times of user-generated products. Consequently, companies invest in innovations in order to be successful on the market. At the same time, technical innovations in particular open up scope for agile, young start-ups with good ideas.