Mission Statement

The Academic Senate adopted the following mission statement on 17 April 2018.

I. Preamble

We uphold the freedom of teaching, learning and research within the framework of an understanding of science based on democratic principles. We preserve our academic freedom and independence in responsibility towards society.

Science serves the search for knowledge. This primary goal of all scientific activity guides everything we do at the Hochschule Bremen (HSB).

All university members are committed to the spirit of enlightenment, honesty, openness and tolerance in their professional and personal actions and are bound in their activities by fundamental moral standards. Science includes reflection on the methods used and possible consequences for people, society and the environment, as well as accountability for the results.

Studies, teaching and research at the HSB serve exclusively peaceful purposes. The HSB rejects the participation of science and research in projects with military applications or objectives.

HSB is also committed to

the ideals of a humane, liberal, just and democratic society,

science and technology aimed at facilitating work, enriching life and conserving natural resources,

an enlightened and tolerant social climate that respects different interests, opinions, lifestyles and cultures,

the realisation of gender equality,

consideration of the special concerns and needs of disabled and chronically ill people,

the elimination and prevention of all kinds of discrimination,

an orientation towards diversity and the promotion of diversity and

international understanding.
Die HSB trägt mit ihren Mitteln und Planungen zu deren Erreichen bei.

HSB creates the conditions that make it possible for all its members to

develop individual initiative,

take responsibility in a democratic society and

develop the courage and ability to represent their ideas in public.

II. Profile

We have been shaping our special profile of a university of applied sciences over many decades. Our scientific culture is geared towards proactively shaping processes of social change and future issues at regional, national and international level, as well as towards an application-oriented education for specialists and managers. We do science for practitioners and with practitioners.

In view of the differentiation that exists in the science system, HSB is clearly contouring its profile as a university of applied sciences. In so doing, it is acutely aware of the importance of profiling and positioning under competitive conditions at regional, national and international level, as well as the effectiveness and potential of applied science for satisfying the demand for skilled labour, the need for innovation and educational equity. This type of university has a central function and position for the development of the economy and society.

People can expect in particular the following services from HSB – they are cornerstones of its special type of educational development:

a broad range of courses to ensure supply of a skilled workforce, combined with a high quality of teaching and learning offers, as well as tiered degrees up to the doctorate,

tailor-made offers for the personal development of its students, incorporating the principles of an open university and lifelong learning, adaptable forms of study, the promotion of educational equity as well as educational excellence and manifold career options,

continually expanding applied research and development services as well as the transfer of ideas, technology and knowledge, especially oriented towards relevant future topics and the needs of the regional innovation system,

a high degree of internationality with an orientation towards profile-building in all areas,

science for practice, linked with an expanded focus on practical orientation and application reference, the strengthening of interdisciplinarity and more individualised study courses and formats,

tapping scientific potential by establishing parity in all status groups and increasing the proportion of women in previously male-dominated STEM subjects,

supporting knowledge-based urban-regional development through a transformational understanding of science and a high level of networking with stakeholders,

systematic forms of quality development and quality assurance as well as supporting parameters and infrastructures.

III. Internationality

We continue to develop our profile as an outstanding international brand. We live internationality and cosmopolitanism. We help to shape mindsets in an international context bolstered by intercultural and international competences.

Over the years, HSB has systematically created a respected trademark and a central profile feature with its internationalisation strategy and subsequently occupies a leading position not only in Germany, but on an international scale. The international degree programmes, the high level of international mobility, the high proportion of international students and lecturers multilingualism, the acquisition of intercultural skills, a worldwide network of international cooperative relationships in teaching, education and research, as well as the expansion of the internationalisation of further education and research have all contributed to this in their particular way.

The diversity of its students and employees is a valued enrichment that makes the Hochschule Bremen a truly intercultural campus. Cosmopolitanism defines university life, making the university attractive to international students and lecturers alike.

The HSB sees its internationalisation strategy as an opportunity for regional development and application-oriented education for the German and international labour market, for Germany's ability to play a role in European and global relations, for cosmopolitan science and for the perception of responsibility in a globalised world. The HSB is guided in its development by the principles of "global education".

The promotion of strategic partnerships, opportunities for internationalisation at home, conducive framework conditions for academic achievement and the internationalisation of research and further education, as well as infrastructures and incentives for the further implementation of internationalisation strategies strengthen the HSB's brand.

IV. Teaching and learning

Our strength lies in practice-oriented teaching, which primarily prepares students for the requirements of the national and international labour market. We impart competences for personal development and the perception of social accountability. We develop customised offers for the requirements of lifelong learning and educational equity. Systematic quality management and critical evaluation promote our goals.

The aim of teaching and learning at the HSB is to equip graduates who are highly qualified in their field and possess the personal, social and intercultural competences required to take on demanding tasks in a national and international context. They have knowledge of the social framework in which they live and act, the different contexts for gender, and they develop an understanding for the consequences of their actions for society and the environment.

The HSB is guided by subject-specific, national and international standards of quality management in teaching and strives to continuously increase the attractiveness of the framework conditions for teaching and learning through a systemic focus on student achievement. It sees quality in teaching and learning as a process; a development and reform task in which all lecturers, students, graduates and representatives of professional practice participate.

The HSB sharpens its profile as an "open university" and as a place of lifelong learning by making its degree programmes and structures as flexible and differentiated as possible and by developing reliable forms of accessibility in the education system. This purposefully addresses additional target groups for whom university studies have not been possible in the context of conventional career paths.

The HSB requires students to take initiative and encourages them to experience their studies as a process of self-directed learning and personal development.

V. Research

We support applied research with the goal of inter- and transdisciplinary and international profiling, above all oriented towards key future issues. In this way, we make a significant contribution to regional development, ensuring the topicality of practical relevance in teaching, and the promotion of early career researchers.

HSB promotes research that is oriented towards central future topics with the aim of contributing to regional economic and social development and ensuring that teaching is up-to-date and practice-oriented. In keeping with its orientation towards future topics that are also of supra-regional and global relevance, HSB networks with partners all over Germany and worldwide.

HSB sees itself as explicitly committed above all to applied research. It promotes the commitment of its members to innovative research and perceives a special task in building bridges between basic research with social, economic and technical reference and application-oriented, interdisciplinary research.

HSB is intensifying its research activities, especially in its interdisciplinary clusters. In this way, it strengthens its function as an impulse generator for regional development and driver of innovation for relevant future topics and consolidates its excellent position among other universities of applied sciences.

Research at the HSB serves

the acquisition of scientific knowledge with the inclusion of impact assessments for society and the environment, while showing scientifically sound possibilities and limitations of the proposed solutions,

the deepening of scientific foundations and the further development of teaching and study programmes,

the implementation of development projects for practical applications and

the analysis of problems in all areas of social life.

HSB supports

cooperation with other universities, regional, national and international research and development institutions,

the implementation of collaborative projects with industrial, commercial and service companies, politics and administration as well as with non-profit organisations and civil society,

the promotion of research projects by providing personnel, material resources, premises, facilities and administrative services,

performance incentives for the successful acquisition of third-party funding and believes success in promoting the work of the university deserves suitable reward,

internationalisation in the area of research as part of the further development of its "internationality" brand,

the possibilities for attracting and promoting early career researchers.

VI. Transfer of ideas, knowledge and technology

We cultivate a broad-based transfer of ideas, knowledge and technology, perceiving it to be in the interest of civil society as well as the economy, companies, politics and public administration. Through cooperation in joint development projects, offers of training and advisory services, as well as by promoting business start-ups, we make an important contribution as an impulse generator for the regional innovation system and the city region as well as for dealing with global challenges.

With its know-how, HSB is the first port of call for the regional economy and society when it comes to the transfer of ideas, knowledge and technology. It thus strengthens innovation and the quality of life in the region. Close cooperation with companies, institutions and organisations ensures the direct application of research results into practice. As its central mission, HSB offers distinctive, inter- and transdisciplinary research activities and transfer formats in its degree programmes on the basis of its specialist orientation, as well as a wide range of advisory and educational services that are committed to knowledge transfer.

"Transfer via mind sets": While working on concrete problems, students are trained to become practice-oriented, professionally competent and at the same time globally and responsibly acting personalities. In addition, HSB offers individually tailored, in-service training and further education as well as methods and formats that promote creativity and entrepreneurial and social action.

The HSB supports the engagement of its members in the transfer of ideas, knowledge and technology. It does all it can to provide the necessary personnel, material and spatial infrastructure and promotes and secures networking both within the university and with external cooperation partners.

By dealing with concrete issues from the realms of business, administration, politics, society and diverse organisations, the quality of teaching is promoted through increased practical relevance and the intensive involvement of students in practice-relevant work. The promotion of entrepreneurial spirit and initiatives for the founding of companies also plays an important role here.

VII. Gender equality

The realisation of gender equality is a central objective which we promote in all areas. Our commitment to equality is based on the dignity of the individual, regardless of gender, origin, religion, sexual orientation, world view, age or impairment.

Gender equality is understood as a central and at the same time cross-cutting issue at HSB and is supported by the rectorate, deaneries and staff in equal measure.

In the spirit of gender mainstreaming, we work with strategies, concepts and measures that enable or facilitate the path to gender parity in all areas and at all levels and take diverse life situations into account.

We create offers and framework conditions that support students and employees in meeting the diverse demands of their studies and careers as well as family-care or health challenges.

Gender equality activities focus in particular on gender parity in the STEM subjects, human resources development and on increasing the proportion of women in academic leadership roles and professorships.

In student studies and teaching, we strive to promote a differentiated perception and thus sensitisation processes through which stereotypical thinking can be recognised and overcome. We consider this to be the basis of our educational mission and the foundation for the expansion of spaces for thought and action.

VIII. Self-conception and value orientation

Together we create a distinctive place of inspiration and thus act as a strong impulse generator for the region.

We aspire to work together in mutual respect, to create good working conditions and to promote the interests of the university. We see diversity as an opportunity.

We are committed to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the principle of a university for all.

Sustainability, openness to the world, a wealth of perspectives, inspiration and reliability are our core values.

As an employer, HSB offers all its employees good working conditions in secure employment relationships in order to optimally support HSB's objectives and core tasks.

The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is both a mission and a responsibility that HSB takes very seriously. The right to equal opportunities and the development of self-determination of all individuals as well as the strengthening of human diversity at all levels of the education system and during lifelong learning is a central element of an inclusive education system.

As a "family-friendly university", HSB actively supports the compatibility of studies and work with caring for a family and relatives in need. To this end, it creates family-friendly working and study conditions.

HSB acts, teaches and researches in awareness of its ecological, economic and social responsibility and strives to balance economic, ecological and social requirements. Sustainable development is therefore a cross-cutting objective at HSB.
Above all, HSB stands for the following values:

Enriching perspectives: The joint learning, teaching, research and work of people with different experiences and backgrounds opens up new perspectives and promotes innovative thinking and action.

Creating inspiration: Interdisciplinary dialogue and new experiences overcome the boundaries of entrenched attitudes. HSB creates space for ideas and innovations that open up individual and successful paths for everyone.

Cosmopolitanism: HSB creates an intercultural campus, characterised by tolerance and international encounters.

Reliability: HSB claims to deliver what it promises and is honest and transparent. In this way, it wants to create conditions for successful educational biographies and for reliable partnerships. Achieving this goal is a mutual undertaking and obliges everyone to act accordingly.

HSB's identity is guided by the vision of creating a distinctive place of inspiration and togetherness.

IX. Structures

HSB creates service-oriented structures and processes in order to be able to meet the requirements of its diverse external and internal target groups and employees effectively and transparently. This increases the efficiency of teaching, research and administration.

We are open to new challenges and meet them proactively and with creativity.

HSB develops the structures and processes for its core tasks to meet the needs and requirements of its stakeholders and target groups.

HSB promotes a service-oriented attitude as well as appropriate and responsible action and behaviour at all levels and among all its members.

HSB is committed to transparency both internally and to the outside.

HSB sees its strength in its capability to meet changing and everyday challenges.

I. Preamble

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II. Profile

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III. Internationality

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IV. Teaching and learning

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V. Research

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VI. Transfer of ideas, knowledge and technology

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VII. Gender equality

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VIII. Self-conception and value orientation

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IX. Structures

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