Reutlingen University

Institution Info

The history of Reutlingen University goes back to the School of Weaving established in 1855 by the Kingdom of Württemberg, the city of Reutlingen, and the textile industry. The school was renamed in 1891 and became the Technical College for Spinning, Weaving, and Knitting. In 1908, the Technical college received state recognition and changed its name once more to the State Technical College for the Textile Industry. Two years later, the State Testing and Examination Authority for Textiles was founded in Reutlingen. In 1967, Mechanical Engineering was added to the State Technical College, and in 1971, the College received official recognition as a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences). In the Department of Business Studies, the first course in International Business began. A year later, the business course "Fertigungswirtschaft" (Production Management) enrolled its first students. Work began on the new Hohbuch campus in 1975, and the Fachhochschule moved there in 1977. The old buildings in the center of town were handed over to the police force, and parts of the original equipment from the Weaving School and other documentation were placed in the Industrial Museum. In 1979, the "Europäisches Studienprogramm für Betriebswirtschaft" (ESB), with partner schools in London and Reims, enrolled its first students. Today's Building 2, home to the School of Applied Chemistry and University Administration, opened in 1983, and in 1984, the first students entered Automation Technology and Business Information Science classes. The same year, the Export Academy Baden-Württemberg was founded at the Fachhochschule with a postgraduate degree course in International Marketing. The largest building on campus, Building 1 (Betriebshalle) opened in 1987 by the President of Baden-Württemberg with space for Reutlingen University's technology departments. The degree course in Electronic Engineering began in 1989. The latest degree courses, Mechatronics and Media/Communication Information Technology, opened their doors in 2003. In full accordance with European agreements, all degree courses switched in 2003 to international Bachelor's and Master's qualifications. Since its latest restructuring in autumn 2001, the University has had 7 schools or departments (Fakultäten), each offering at least one, and in some cases several, degree programs. Reutlingen University has adopted the `Bologna Model´ of the EU in its essential features, including the use of the English designations "Bachelor of..." and "Master of..." for the degrees it awards. This means that the traditional German university degree "Diplom..." is being phased out. As of 2003, all new students have been enrolled in Bachelor´s and Master´s programs. In mid-2008, Reutlingen University merged all three of its business schools (European School of Business, School of International Business, and Production Management) into one school under the European School of Business name.