What course specialities does the International University of Cooperative Education offer?
The University of Cooperative Education offers sandwich courses which combine academic study with continuous practical application in the company. The officially-recognised Business Studies bachelor course can be studied with a focus on one of the following course specialities: Hotel and Tourism Management, Event and Congress Management, Sports
Management, Food, Beverage and Culinary Management, Industry and
Commerce, Banking and Insurance and Taxation and Auditing. What characterises studying at the International University of Cooperative Education?
At the International University of Cooperative Education, within any given week, practical training periods alternate with classroom study periods. This enables the company to ensure early on that the students are involved continuously and intensively in company procedures. This flexible, convenient educational plan makes it simple for small or medium-sized companies to create and organise training posts. An additional benefit is provided by intensive, personal support on two levels: companies benefit from the individual support in the selection of applicants, and students benefit from the intensive professional and personal tutoring within small study groups at the University of Cooperative Education.
How are the academic studies at the University of Cooperative Education organised and how long do they take?
Each year, the Bachelor courses begin in autumn. The study course is divided into 6 semesters of 6 months each. The curriculum is taught in modules and assessment is continuous. After 4 terms of basic studies the intermediate examination is taken, leading to the academic award of “State-recognised Economic Assistant”. In the advanced study period consolidation and individual differentiation of the academic subjects are offered by means of mandatory elective modules. After the successful completion of the Final Year Project– where the student has to choose a topic in coordination with the tutors and lecturers that relates to company practice analysed in an academic manner – the Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded.
What experience do the lecturers at the University of Cooperative Education have?
The lecturers are academically qualified and have long teaching experience. The University of Cooperative Education employs teaching staff from the area of academic research, as well as lecturers with appropriate professional experience acquired at companies which are often located in the region. The majority of the teaching staff has long experience of sandwich courses at a University of Cooperative Education. What requirements does a partner company have to fulfil?
The company has to demonstrate that during the three-year course students can be employed in all professionally relevant areas and that there is a contact person assigned to each student. For questions concerning instructional qualifications please contact Mr. Dino Bächstädt, Tel: +49 6151 49248812 (email:
). In individual cases certain occupational fields can be covered in cooperation with other training companies.
What requirements do students have to fulfil in order to be admitted to the University of Cooperative Education?
Applicants have to possess a general university entrance qualification, a specific secondary school-leaving certificate or an upper secondary school-leaving certificate granting access to a college of higher education. Moreover, they have to have a contract with a suitably qualified company. In addition to this, there is occupational access to studies: for particularly able employed persons with a minimum of 4 years professional experience, a completed and officially-recognised apprenticeship and relevant advanced training, there is the possibility of demonstrating their suitability for academic studies through a university entrance examination at a Hesse university. For the moment, there is no limit on places per course. Does the University of Cooperative Education put applicants in touch with companies?
The University of Cooperative Education gives its partner companies the opportunity to advertise job openings on the University’s website and to forward recommendations of suitable applications it receives. Irrespective of this, applicants already employed at the company or recruited by the company can apply for study courses at the University of Cooperative Education.
Does the contract between the student and the company foresee a trial period?
As a rule, a trial period of three months is agreed on. The University of Cooperative Education recommends a get-to-know internship before the admission of an applicant. This internship can be credited to the trial period afterwards.
Are there semester breaks or holidays?
Students are entitled to the statutory minimum holiday. This holiday can only be taken during the practical training periods at the company and/or during the University of Cooperative Education’s official semester break (3 weeks during the summertime, 2 weeks at Christmas/New Year and one week at Easter).
How are the studies financed?
How the course is financed is stipulated in the contract. In general, the company and the student can agree on one of the following ways: a) The company pays the tuition fees (completely tax deductible as operating costs) and in addition pays the student an allowance. b) The company pays the tuition fees but does not pay the student an allowance. c) The student pays the tuition fees and receives an allowance from the company.
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