Fachhochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin

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FHTW Logo

The Fachhochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft (German, literally University of Applied Sciences for Engineering and Economy) or FHTW is the youngest and largest University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, Germany. It has almost 10,000 students studying in programs in the area of engineering, computer science, business and graphic arts.

There are a number of specialized programs in fashion design, restoration engineering, communication design or Media and computing that are in high demand with students and are very selective in admissions. The school has its own fashion label, 30paarhaende and it awards a prize for business communication (DPWK) once a year. Both projects are entirely run by the students.

Prof. Dr. Michael Heine was elected president of the school in 2006.

[edit] History

Main Building in Karlshorst

FHTW is a result of several mergings of pre-existing institutions.

1874 - Founding of the Technical School for Demontage, Montage and Design, which later became the Textile and Fashion School of Berlin. It then became the Engineering School for Clothing Technology, and was incorporated into the Engineering College of Berlin, in 1990.

1948 - The Engineering School for Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering was founded. This was renamed the Engineering College in 1988

1950 - The former Kant Gymnasium (high school) was reinstituted as the Institute for Planned Economy. In 1954 this was renamed into "Economics College", which was one of the premier institutes for Marxist-Leninist economical studies and research in Eastern Germany. The last rector was Christa Luft, who was the last Minister for Business in the German Democratic Republic. This school was dissolved in 1989 after the Berlin Wall came down.

1991 - The Technische Fachhochschule Berlin, TFH, was charged with founding the FHTW, unifying the Engineering College and other colleges as well as the Economics College, located at five different places around the former East Berlin. The TFH was given responsibility for setting up the administration and hiring new teachers, although much of the staff remained with their respective schools.

1994 - The FHTW was formally declared independent.

1996 - Integration of the University of Applied Sciences German Telecom into the school

2004 - The FHTW celebrated its ten-year anniversary