FHWS building at Sanderheinrichsleitenweg Würzburg

Inaugural meeting for the doctoral center Sustainable and Intelligent Systems (NISys) at THWS

Higher education institutions in Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Coburg, and Aschaffenburg work closely together

Representatives of the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS), of Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences, and of Coburg University met in Würzburg for the launch of the doctoral center Sustainable and Intelligent Systems (NISys). The interim management has also started its work by now.

With the doctoral center, the three higher education institutions offer master’s graduates the opportunity to complete a doctorate without having to cooperate with a university. “We are very pleased that we are now able to award the highest level of academic qualification at our higher education institution. In the doctoral center, we now deepen the successful cooperation with Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences and Coburg University in various fields of teaching and research”, emphasised Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Robert Grebner, THWS President.

Application-oriented research

“The cooperative doctoral center for ‘Sustainable and Intelligent Systems’ (NISys) will play an essential role in further expanding the cooperation between the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Coburg University, and Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences in the field of application-oriented research. The scientific environment characterised by excellent research, consequent application-orientation, and close supervision will appeal to many internal and external graduates,” adds Professor Dr. Klaus Zindler, Vice President for Research and Transfer at Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences.

“Expanding the established cooperation of our three Franconian higher education institutions allows us to make better use of the synergies in pressing research and future questions of sustainable systems based on intelligent methods and technologies” says Professor Dr. Martin Synold, Vice President for Research at Coburg University. “Due to the Free State’s support we expect groundbreaking contributions to society’s transformation towards careful use of available resources.”

Interim management gets to work

At the inaugural meeting of the doctoral center, important cornerstones were laid for a timely start of operations. The pillars for successful cooperation were defined and operative processes were agreed upon. Until the first general meeting, the doctoral center is coordinated by the interim management. The interim management is taken on by Professor Dr. Jürgen Hartmann (THWS), Professor Dr.-Ing. Christiane Thielemann (Aschaffenburg UAS), and Professor Dr. Christian Weindl (Coburg University).

Within the interdisciplinary doctoral center NISys, early-stage researchers can work on doctoral topics in these three fields of application:

  • Energy and infrastructure systems
  • Mobility
  • Production and materials

The intended doctoral degree is an engineering doctorate (Dr.-Ing.). The doctoral students can be located and supervised at any of the three higher education institutions involved. They complete a qualification programme divided into four modules:

  • Cross-institutional general qualification
  • Specialist qualification in the doctoral center's fields of applications
  • Networking within and outside the doctoral center
  • Internationalisation

Dr. Christian Lengl, Head of the Campus for Applied Research at THWS, adds: “At THWS, the doctoral center will be located under the roof of the THWS Graduate Center and will thus be closely linked to our general service offers for early-stage researchers.” This could also promote interdisciplinary exchange of candidates completing cooperative doctorates.

For further information on the start date of the doctoral center and the requirements for becoming a member, please see the informational page of the doctoral center:

www.thws.de/promotionszentrum-nisys

 

Contact:                              

Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt

Dr. Christian Lengl

Head of the Campus of Applied Research

Münzstr. 12

97070 Würzburg

christian.lengl[at]thws.de

 

Press contact:                 

Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt

Angela Kreipl

Münzstr. 12

97070 Würzburg

angela.kreipl[at]thws.de

+49 931 3511-8354