Facts and Figures

At the start of the 1970s, the companies Daimler-Benz, Bosch and SEL initiated the so-called “Stuttgart Model” as a forerunner of Universities of Cooperative Education (Berufsakademien, BA). The aim was to provide the increasing numbers of high-school graduates with an alternative to traditional studies, including career development prospects and the chance to increase their level of income. Furthermore, it was necessary to counteract the looming deficit of junior employees with a practical education.

As of 01 October 1974, the first Berufsakademien were able to open their doors to students in Stuttgart and Mannheim. The BA Stuttgart started with 122 students in 35 training companies. In 1975, the Schools of Business and Engineering were complemented by the School of Social Work.

Today, the DHBW Stuttgart is one of the largest universities in the region, forming part of the most successful university policy innovation of the last 40 years. In 2008, for the first time, the university had more than 6,000 students who completed the practical part of their studies in 2,000 first-class social institutions and companies both at home and abroad, including many market leaders.

Since 1st March 2009, a new chapter has begun: the Berufsakademie Baden-Württemberg has become the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg). This change means that the Cooperative State University now has university status, and the Baden-Wuerttemberg model dual course of studies is therefore gaining even greater regional and national recognition.

(as of December 2011)