The model of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) Ravensburg, Germany

Presenter: Professor Karin Reinhard (DHBW)

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Abstract

The policymakers of state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, determined that there was a need for a new method of teaching that would directly impact the students who were attempting to learn the duties and responsibilities that industry desired in today's highly technical and increasingly global world. Therefore in 1972, three world-renowned corporations: Bosch, Daimler Benz and SEL initiated, in cooperation with the Baden-Württemberg Chamber of Commerce, an innovative and highly successful system of academic study at university level. Their intention was to establish a model programme for WIL. Eight main locations and three branch campuses with their areas of responsibility and close networking with the regional organisations form the DHBW group of universities today.

DHBW offers a broad range of bachelor degree programs (master programs start in 2011) in the fields of business, engineering, and social work. All the degree programs are worth 210 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits and count as intensive programs. The students have an employment contract with companies, and throughout the entire period they receive a monthly salary and have the insurance status of employees. They also alternate semesters between work and study. Since students are learning concepts today that they are applying in their companies immediately, it is essential that the learning be practical, useful, and experiential. These values provide the core learning objectives that exist at the DHBW.

In addition to the professors of the DHBW, lecturers from other universities and universities of applied sciences, as well as experts with specialized knowledge from various fields all contribute to teaching at the university. This ensures a high level of academic studies as well as practice-oriented teaching. Furthermore this union of experts and corporations provide fertile opportunities for numerous research endeavours.

The presentation will illustrate how the study model of the DHBW was implemented and discuss its strengths, but also its problems and controversies.

Speaker Bio 

Prof. Karin Reinhard is a professor at the Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg (DHBW) Ravensburg, Germany where she teaches Marketing- and Internet Management plus Media Economics. She was promoted to Head of Department of the International Business program in 2007. Her research interests are within the field of social marketing and social media marketing. In association with colleagues from Australia and Wales she currently explores the severe problem of "binge drinking" of young adults. Together with a colleague from the United States she works on a Corporate Responsibility project for INTEL corp. In addition she helps to promote the idea of stopping smoking via the website www.stop-simply.de, a site launched by a German associate. With the latter she currently establishes another community of practice, PSYCHOMEDA www.psychomeda.de. The intention is to help people suffering from burn out.

Before coming to the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University she was Executive Head of Division Information and Communications Technology Policy Section at the Bavarian State Chancellery. Among other things she was responsible for the launch of the Bavarian Virtual Market Place, www.baynet.de and the Bavarian Virtual Campus www.vcb.de.

Among other articles Dr. Reinhard published her doctoral thesis on Industry Sponsorship, a comparative study between Germany and the United States. She studied Business Administration at Mannheim University, Germany where she completed a master's degree. In addition she received a post graduate degree in Educational Science. Karin Reinhard was raised in Ravensburg, Germany where she also went to High School. She spent a year as an exchange student in New Jersey, USA.

Prof. Reinhard is a guest lecturer at the University of Johannesburg and Durban University of Technology, South Africa, the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia, Johnson & Wales University, United States of America, the University of Napier, Scotland and the Université de Poitier, France.

Until 2008 she was chair of the German chapter of ISBE/SIEC - International Society for Business Education/ Société Internationale d'Education Commerciale, where she still enjoys her membership. Dr. Reinhard is member of the judging panel of the INKA - award, TANNER Denkfabrik, the Newway-award of the University of Vorarlberg, Austria, the Spotlight-award of the International TV-Spot- and Advertising Film Festival, Germany and the Bavarian International Online Award. Furthermore she is a member of the Academy of International Business.

Date of Presentation

06 December 2011