News & Press | IU International University of Applied Sciences

Democratising education means taking responsibility

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 16:37:03 +0100

24 March 2026

"At IU, we are driven by a very simple idea: education changes lives. We set out to democratise education – with flexible, practical and personalised study programmes for people who often cannot find a suitable option within the traditional higher education system.

The fact that around 130,000 students today consciously choose IU, even though there are often tuition-free state alternatives in Germany, is therefore, above all, a sign of trust and responsibility for us. These people are investing their own money, time and hope in their future. That is precisely what compels us.

For this reason, we do not look first at claims, but at results. In the latest University Experience Study 2026, conducted by Kantar Profiles, 91 per cent rate courses, lecturers and learning materials at IU positively. On average, IU alumni find a job after 2.63 months – faster than the benchmark. And in the Employability Benchmark 2025, employers rate the performance of our graduates at 3.52 out of 5 – above the benchmark of 3.34. 64 per cent consider IU graduates attractive in recruitment.

But a university is not good simply because the average looks good. It is good when every single student experiences good teaching, encounters reliable processes and is offered genuine development prospects. That is precisely why we realigned our strategy around 18 months ago.

Yes, we have grown very rapidly during a period of very high demand. But not because growth was an end in itself for us, or because we view education as a short-term profit-making venture. Rather, because we were convinced that many students need a better, more flexible programme that is more closely aligned with the labour market. Looking back, it is clear to us: in some areas we underestimated the operational complexity and, in certain situations, regulatory requirements as well. That was a mistake. And we have learnt from this mistake and drawn the necessary conclusions.

Our strategic response is therefore not retreat, but maturity: less complexity, more reliability; less breadth, more focus on quality in each individual case. Since the reorientation, we have invested more than €30 million in teaching quality, services, data, systems and quality control; built up additional teaching and service capacities; introduced clear end-to-end responsibilities; tightened quality and risk checks for new degree programmes; professionalised incident and escalation management; and simplified our portfolio in a targeted manner. This also includes the fact that we have deliberately scaled back profitable elements where they created too much operational complexity.

The impact is tangible: the rate of timely mark allocation in the OnCampus area stood at 98 per cent by the end of 2025, major operational incidents have declined significantly, and we are seeing improvements in service, onboarding and student satisfaction. At the same time, we are continuing to work on faster responses, better timeliness of our content and even greater process stability.

What matters to us is: Entrepreneurial ownership and academic integrity are not a contradiction. A modern university needs academic independence in teaching, assessment and research – and at the same time professional management that systematically ensures quality, innovation and reliability. What matters is not the form of ownership, but governance.

Our new guiding principle is clear: Growth follows quality, not the other way round. We grow where we reliably master teaching, student support, processes and labour market relevance. And we reduce complexity where we cannot yet guarantee the quality that meets our standards.

That is why our standards are higher today than they used to be: not just to be strong on average, but to offer every single student what IU stands for – access to education, personal development and better opportunities in life."

Empowering people to grow – with high quality, future ready education for everyone

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 15:40:46 +0100

Our mission at IU is very simple, and it is very personal to me: we exist to democratize education so that more people can grow.

Not as a slogan on a wall, but as a promise to real people: if you have the drive to learn – whatever your background, your age, your grades, your postcode – there must be a real path for you.

By removing traditional barriers, equipping our students with digital first skills, and aligning study programs with what employers actually need, IU expands opportunity, strengthens social mobility, and directly addresses Germany’s critical skills shortages.

1. Improving access & social mobility

In 25 years, IU has grown from a small private university into Germany’s largest university, with around 130,000 students in more than 200 programmes. But the real story is who those students are:

Over 70% come from non academic families.
Around 16% study without a traditional Abitur, often via vocational qualifications and work experience.
Over 20% of our students are raising children or caring for relatives while they study.
And 84% say they would not have the opportunity to study without IU.

So when we talk about “democratizing education”, it is not an abstract ideal. It is about real people – nurses, social workers, AI engineers, software developers, parents and career changers – who now have a university badge on their CV and a genuine chance for upward mobility.

2. Boosting workforce & addressing skills gaps

IU is one of the country’s largest providers of critical talent:

The biggest share of students in Social Work study at IU – every year, thousands of our graduates go on to work in youth welfare offices, schools and social services.
At the same time, we are the largest educator in digital and AI related fields – from business informatics and data science to cyber security and IT management – areas where Germany is missing tens of thousands of specialists.

By opening doors for non traditional learners into these fields, we directly support Germany’s social infrastructure and its digital transformation: more qualified social workers for vulnerable communities, more IT and AI talent for an economy under pressure to modernise.

3. Graduate quality

A university should be judged on what its people can actually do. That is why we care deeply about independent evidence. In a very recent, soon to be published independent study, German employers were asked how IU graduates compare to graduates from other universities. Their answers were unambiguous:

89% see our graduates as more engaged and more practice oriented.
85% say they prefer IU graduates in recruitment.
64% rate IU students as the most attractive candidates in the market – eight percentage points above the benchmark for all other universities.

This is not our self assessment. This is what the people who hire our students are telling us. It is also why 89% of our students believe that their investment of time and money into education has been very much worth it – significantly more than at private competitors and especially more than at German public universities where tuition is free.

Our quality is also visible in regulation: we have just been re accredited for our quality system for the longest possible period – until 2033. That is a strong external signal of our long term commitment to high quality education.

On top of that, in an independent survey of people who have studied at more than one university and can compare services, 91% say IU provides better support, 91% say IU has better teaching, and 86% say IU helps them better to reach their full potential.

4. Innovation in learning

In the last 15 years we have game changed education with many world firsts – always with one goal: to empower more people to grow with the most personalised, high quality education. We have been:

The world’s first university (in 2011) to let you start your degree any day.
Among the first to roll out online degrees at scale in Germany – now in over 100 degree programs, including Social Work, Psychology, AI and more.
The first to enable students to write exams immediately, 24/7, the moment they feel ready.
The first university worldwide to roll out a GPT 4 driven learning companion for all students – and we are improving it continuously.

Today, our most important obligation is not just to change how people learn, but what they learn in a world shaped by digitisation and AI. Future proof education is not just more content; it is different content:

the ability to be more productive with AI – responsibly and ethically;
critical thinking and problem solving;
collaboration, communication, resilience;
learning how to learn – again and again across a lifetime;
making ethical and values based decisions in complex situations.

We evolve our curricula and our learning tools around these future skills, while providing the best possible academic grounding. That is why we are proud that 90% of employers say the AI and digital skills of IU graduates are as good as or better than those of other universities – and 88% of our students agree that IU prepares them better for this new world.

There has never been a time in which agility is more important for universities and educators, given the seismic shifts that work, life and learning are experiencing – and we embrace that responsibility.

On criticism – and how we respond

We have always faced criticism given the fundamental changes we pushed forward. But in recent months, we have seen more critical reporting about IU than ever before. As CEO, I have read these articles carefully. Some of the criticism is fair, some is, in our view, unbalanced. All of it matters.

We are not perfect. When you grow quickly and push into new territory, you will make mistakes and you will elicit criticism from more conservative sides. Some of that criticism we need to weather if we want to democratise and improve education.

But whenever a student is affected, I want you to know this: we care deeply. Every day, students and alumni write to me directly. Some messages are full of gratitude. Others are angry or disappointed. I read them. My colleagues and I follow up. We try, case by case, to understand, to fix, and to learn.

We are investing heavily in:

better support,
clearer processes,
faster responses, and
more transparency about who we serve and how successful they are.

We want to be judged not by how loudly we speak, but by how reliably we deliver for our students – especially when something goes wrong.

What gives us confidence is what our students tell us when they can compare. In a recent independent survey of people who have studied at more than one university:

91% say IU provides better support,
91% say IU has better teaching, and
86% say IU helps them better to reach their full potential.

Being a trailblazer means you will be challenged. That is not a problem. In fact, it is part of our job. What defines us is not that we never stumble, but that we listen, take responsibility, and do the work to get better.

A thank you – and an invitation

None of this would be possible without people. I am deeply grateful to our faculty and staff, who bring tremendous expertise and an extraordinary growth mindset to this mission every single day. You are willing to rethink courses, fix processes, try new things, admit when something doesn’t work, and try again. Thank you.

I want to thank our more than 15,000 corporate partners, who trust us with their talent pipelines, offer real projects and dual positions, and challenge us to keep our programmes relevant.

And to our 130,000 students and the many tens of thousands of alumni: you are the reason we exist. Your courage to learn – often alongside work, children, and everything life throws at you – is what gives this whole project meaning. Your success in companies, schools, hospitals, start ups and public institutions is the strongest argument for this model.

To everyone watching or reading – students, parents, policymakers, colleagues, critics, partners – I have one invitation: If you believe, as I do, that talent is distributed more fairly than opportunity, then join us in this work. If you believe, as I do, that education is part of the solution to almost every major challenge we face, help us to democratize it. Ask hard questions. Look at the facts. Hold us to our mission.

Because in the end, it is simple: we are here to democratize education so that more people can grow. If we keep that promise – together – the real story will not be about IU. It will be about the lives changed because someone, perhaps someone like you, finally got a fair chance to learn.

- Dr Sven Schütt, CEO of IU Group & IU International University of Applied Sciences, on 28 November 2025

IU International University of Applied Sciences hands over Bad Honnef campus to Alanus University

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:00:00 +0100

Bad Honnef, February 14, 2025. IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is handing over its campus location in Bad Honnef to the Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences, based in Alfter near Bonn. This ensures the continued use of the historic building complex on Mülheimer Straße. The handover of the location will take place on 1 October 2025. The approximately 300 international IU students currently studying at the Bad Honnef campus will continue to be supervised by IU until 30 September 2026, after which they will be able to move to neighbouring IU locations.

In order to ensure that studies run smoothly, IU will retain lecture rooms and offices on the campus in Bad Honnef until 30 September 2026. Until then, students can also keep their rooms in the halls of residence on the premises. The approximately 100 employees of IU International University of Applied Sciences at the Bad Honnef site will be partially taken over by Alanus University or moved to the neighbouring IU campus in Bonn.

Dr Carmen Thoma, managing director of IU International University of Applied Sciences: "I am delighted that we have been able to find a university to continue campus operations in Bad Honnef in the form of Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences. This means that the city and region will retain an important educational institution and we will be able to give our international students enough time to move to neighbouring locations. I would also like to thank Alanus University for its willingness to take on some of our staff in Bad Honnef and for giving us the opportunity to look after our students at the campus for another year."

“We are very excited about this fantastically developed campus,” explains Michael Schröder, managing director of Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences. “It will provide Alanus University with exciting new development opportunities. We will work on a sustainable and future-oriented concept for this location until IU has finally moved out.”

The Bad Honnef campus was the founding campus of IU. It was here that the former IFH (International University of Applied Sciences Bad Honnef/Bonn) began its studies in 2000, specialising in tourism and hospitality. Today it is called IU International University of Applied Sciences and, with around 130,000 students at 38 locations, is the largest university in Germany.

ABOUT ALANUS UNIVERSITY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

The Alanus University of Arts and Social Sciences in Alfter near Bonn is a private, state-recognised art university with the right to award doctorates in the field of educational science. The university combines bachelor's and master's degree programmes in the fields of architecture, fine arts, acting, eurythmy, art therapy, education, business administration and philosophy. An essential part of the educational concept is the encounter between art and science, as well as the opportunity to look beyond one's own field of study: all students attend the interdisciplinary and cross-year study programme. In addition to the location in Alfter, there has also been a study centre in Mannheim since August 2014. Around 1600 students are currently enrolled. www.alanus.edu

Culture of Everyone®: IU International University of Applied Sciences launches campaign for diversity, tolerance and democracy

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 14:19:00 +0100

Erfurt, 5 February 2024. In the current social situation, which is characterised by uncertainty and in which our basic democratic order is under threat, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) stands firmly for the indispensable values of tolerance, democracy and a culture that includes all people. Within IU, these values have been practised by students and staff alike as a "Culture of Everyone®" since its foundation more than 20 years ago. Together, they are now also campaigning for an open, respectful and diverse society outside the university.

"A Culture of Everyone at IU is not just a slogan, but a promise — to our students, our staff, and our entire community. We believe that education is the most powerful tool for building bridges, expanding horizons, and creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to realise their full potential. Let's stand together for an inclusive and open-minded future," says Dr Carmen Thoma, COO of IU International University of Applied Sciences on LinkedIn, one of many IU voices currently expressing their personal stories and thoughts on social media.

IU's trademarked term Culture of Everyone® stands for a corporate culture that thrives on diversity, openness, tolerance and respect. More than 130,000 people from all over the world study at Germany's largest university, and more than 4,000 people from over 87 nations work here. Each and every one of them plays an important role in maintaining a culture in which everyone feels safe, heard and tolerated. This is also the essential basis for IU's mission to empower people worldwide with the most personalised education by breaking down barriers to higher education.

Social media campaign to strengthen democracy

To show how important an open and respectful working and living environment is, IU is launching a campaign on social media. More and more IU employees are posting pictures or texts with the hashtag #CultureOfEveryone and explaining why this is so important to them. IU also invites everyone outside the university to join this campaign to strengthen our democracy.

Dr Sven Schütt, CEO of IU International University of Applied Sciences, kicked-off the campaign in a LinkedIn post and is leading by example (see LinkedIn post).

In a clear statement, the CEO of IU also emphasises IU's stance against intolerance, racism and any kind of threat to our democracy:

"We all have a responsibility for one of the most precious gifts, a treasure that we often take for granted: our democracy. But in today's world, in which xenophobic and totalitarian tendencies are gaining ground, we must not remain silent and inactive.

We, as Germans, bear a particularly important responsibility because of our history. We have seen where hatred and intolerance can lead. Our country has risen from a very dark past and guilt to stand up for hope, tolerance and peaceful coexistence. We must continue on this path with determination.

Tolerance and international understanding are the cornerstones on which our prosperity rests. They enable us to recognise diversity as a strength, to learn new things and to continue to develop. In an increasingly interconnected world where education and knowledge know no borders, it is essential that we remain open to other cultures, ideas and perspectives. This openness is at the heart of IU's mission and vision.

We want to democratise access to education. This is only possible in an open and tolerant democracy. At the same time, 'tolerance becomes a crime when it applies to evil', as Thomas Mann admonished us Germans. Each of us can not only share this message, but also actively live it in our everyday lives.

It is not just about spreading words, but also about standing up for our democratic values every day. We can stand up for our opinions among friends, acquaintances or colleagues when intolerance or undemocratic beliefs are voiced. We all have a voice – let's use it to strengthen our society and secure our future and the future of our children. I hope that many people will share this call in view of the dangers to our democracy, trust and tolerance."

Further initiatives for diversity and tolerance

In October 2022, IU received the TOTAL E-QUALITY award for its personnel and organisational policy geared towards equal opportunities and diversity. IU also supports the "Weltoffenes Thüringen" initiative launched in Thuringia (IU's headquarters) in 2024 and is a signatory to the Diversity Charter, through which IU has been officially committed to an appreciative and unprejudiced working environment since 2019.

Based on its educational principles, IU has launched several initiatives of its own to sustainably support and empower students. For example:

In 2022, IU awarded around 5,000 scholarships to students from developing countries; an increase of over 60 per cent compared to the previous year.
With the Study Access Alliance, IU supports students in African countries and is constantly looking for further educational or financial partners.
IU offers special scholarships for people with disabilities, single parents and career changers, including the "Women in Tech" programme to promote women in IT and technical professions.
With a wide range of admission options, IU enables many people without a traditional university entrance qualification to study. The proportion of first-year students at IU without an Abitur is seven times higher than the national average; 70 per cent of IU students come from families without an academic background.
IU is the first university in the European Union to be a member of the UNESCO Global Education Coalition, which provides students in crisis situations with access to relevant subjects and credits.
IU offers individual further education opportunities with inclusion-friendly study formats and equips people with knowledge and methods for a sustainable future with degree programmes such as Sustainable Management.

More information about IU's corporate culture at: https://www.iu-careers.com/en/culture/

IU ALLOWS USE OF AI CHATBOTS IN ACADEMIC CONTEXT

Thu, 30 Mar 2023 12:24:00 +0200

Erfurt, 30 March 2023. IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), Germany's largest university with over 100,000 students, allows the use of AI chatbots in an academic context and encourages its students to use tools like ChatGPT. AI chatbots are excellent research tools for obtaining basic information, finding ideas and topics, structuring papers or essays, translating complex texts into simpler language and generating interview questions.

Syntea, a specially developed learning assistant, has been in use at the IU since last year. This learning assistant also uses AI, but goes one step further than an AI chatbot: Syntea uses a question-answer system to determine the students' personal level of knowledge and answers individual questions about the learning material. Since the answers come directly from the virtual learning library of the IU International University of Applied Sciences and are approved by tutors within 24 hours, they are academically validated and thus relevant for exams. In addition, Syntea enters into dialogue with the students by asking questions in turn in order to query the learning material and interact with the students.

The Rector of IU, Prof. Dr. Holger Sommerfeldt, emphasises: "Syntea offers an interactive and personalised learning experience that will positively accompany learning progress. Our university has been an innovator in digital learning tools for years and is already actively integrating them into teaching."

IU DONATES 100,000 EUROS AND 100 SCHOLARSHIPS TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 15:12:00 +0100

Erfurt, 22 February 2023. 100,000 euros have been collected within one week in a fundraising campaign launched by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) in aid of the earthquake victims in the Turkish-Syrian border region. One third of the amount is made up of donations from IU students and staff, and two thirds from a donation from the university. The money will go to the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF and the alliance Aktion Deutschland hilft (ADH) in equal shares. In addition, IU is providing 100 scholarships for those affected in the earthquake areas.

Dr. Sven Schütt, CEO of IU International University of Applied Sciences:

"In this sad situation, it is great to see how the IU community supports the Turkish and Syrian earthquake victims with their donations. More than 33,000 euros were raised thanks to the support of our students, staff and close ones. The IU will increase this amount to a total of 100,000 euros and focus its aid on children whose lives have been severely affected by this sad tragedy. In addition, we have decided to donate 100 full online scholarships for affected people in Syria and Turkey. I would also like to express my deepest appreciation to all colleagues who are directly on the ground, organising support and helping. I am deeply impressed by this engagement and kindness."

The more than 700 individual donations reflect the great sympathy and solidarity at IU. In addition to numerous students and staff with Turkish roots who study, work and teach at IU, several hundred students in Turkey are also enrolled in IU's distance learning programme.

The donation page will remain active even after the planned donation target has been reached (ends by 28 February 2023 the latest). Anyone who would still like to participate until then is cordially invited to do so. Click here to go to the donation page.

Please find more information about the 100 online scholarships on: iu.org/help-for-turkey-and-syria/

PRESS STATEMENT "EDUCATION DAY 2022"

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:58:00 +0100

Erfurt, 8 December 2022. In a recent survey commissioned by the "Education Day" initiative, the opinion research institute Forsa asked young people ages 14 to 21 about the German education system. The results show that the perception of equal opportunities is at its lowest level since this question was first included in the survey in 2015. According to the survey, around two-thirds of respondents do not believe that all children in Germany have the same opportunities for a good education, regardless of their social and cultural background.

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig, Chancellor of IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) says: "For us, equal opportunities in the education system are a central motif. We work every day to ensure that all people have access to education. In doing so, we see tremendous progress towards making education available to all. Just a few years ago, studying at university without A Levels (high-school diploma) was not an option. People who wanted to continue their education were therefore denied access to certain subjects and degrees. However, the permeability of the education system in Germany is steadily increasing - studying without A Levels, even for a master's degree, is now often possible without any problems if you have the relevant prior qualifications. The Numerous Clausus at German universities is also declining.

At IU, we work every day to democratise education for all and to break down barriers. We have made it our goal to give as many people as possible access to education. We achieve this, for example, through scholarships in Africa, special support for people with disabilities or through digital offerings so that people in rural areas can also continue their education through distance learning. As Germany's largest University of Applied Sciences with over 100,000 students, we are committed to education for all."

ABOUT IU INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
With over 100,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-approved educational institution with its main campus in Erfurt brings together more than 200 bachelor's and master's programmes under one roof, which are offered in German or English. Students can choose between dual studies, distance learning and myStudies, which combines online and face-to-face events, and design their studies independently with the help of a digitally supported learning environment. In addition, IU enables further training and promotes the idea of lifelong learning. The aim of the university is to give as many people as possible worldwide access to personalised education. IU started operations in 2000 and is now represented in more than 30 German cities. It cooperates with over 15,000 companies and actively supports them in the development of their employees. The partners include Motel One, VW Financial Services and Deutsche Bahn. Further information at: www.iu.org.

Press statement on the German Diversity Day 2022

Tue, 31 May 2022 10:56:00 +0200

Diversity is part of our DNA

Erfurt, 31 May 2022. May 31st is German Diversity Day (DDT). Organised by the employer initiative Charta der Vielfalt e. V., DDT22 will take place for the 10th time this year. IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) has been a signatory since 2019 and is thus committed to diversity measures for respectful cooperation - regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, ideology, age, disability or sexual orientation.

Tim Kaltenborn, Director People Organisation & Culture at IU: “As an internationally active company that has set itself the goal of providing access to education for people all over the world and in different life situations, diversity is virtually part of our DNA. But even though diversity, inclusion and belonging are firmly anchored in our self-conception - and are also lived - it is important to continuously promote and demand sensitivity and appreciation for diversity in the organisational culture.

We challenge ourselves and everyone in our environment to actively deal with challenges that can arise from heterogeneity and diversity, with existing access hurdles and barriers in everyday (university) life, and to address these in order to jointly experience a "culture of everyone" - a culture in which everyone feels they belong just as they are - authentically and real!

We understand diversity as enrichment and are convinced that sustainable growth can only be achieved through different perspectives and potentials.”

About IU International University of Applied Sciences
With over 85,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution brings together more than 200 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes under its roof, which are offered in German or English. Students can choose between on-campus study, dual study, distance learning and flexible combination models and thus shape their studies in a self-determined way. In addition, IU facilitates continuing education and promotes the idea of lifelong learning. The university's goal is to make education possible for as many people as possible. IU began operations in 2000 and is now represented in 28 German cities. It cooperates with over 10,000 companies and actively supports them in employee development. Its partners include Motel One, VW Financial Services and Deutsche Bahn. Further information at: www.iu.de/en

PRESS STATEMENT: FEMALE ROLE MODELS NEEDED

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:44:00 +0100

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig: Girls must be able to imagine career paths in science.

Erfurt, 10 February 2022. February 11 is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The United Nations created the day to recognize the role that girls and women play in science and technology.

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig, Chancellor of IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU): "We need to get more girls and women excited about STEM subjects and professions, about research and science. To do this, we need female role models who present fields of activity that are true to life. As a University of Applied Sciences, we are already creating a wide range of opportunities to start a career in STEM fields. With increasing success, we are specifically supporting women who choose to study IT or technology. But we need to create enthusiasm for STEM subjects at an early age and break down the barriers in girls' minds much earlier.

It is not about persuading girls and young women. Rather, it is about giving them a clear idea of professions with an IT, technical or scientific focus. At present, the field still seems too abstract for many girls and women. The 'normal', everyday female role models lack visibility. They can show that every woman can gain a foothold in professions in IT and technology as well as in science and make a difference – without being considered nerdy and also with a family life."

ABOUT IU INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
With over 85,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution brings together more than 200 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes under its roof, which are offered in German or English. Students can choose between on-campus study, dual study, distance learning and flexible combination models and thus shape their studies in a self-determined way. In addition, IU facilitates continuing education and promotes the idea of lifelong learning. The university's goal is to make education possible for as many people as possible. IU began operations in 2000 and is now represented in 28 German cities. It cooperates with over 10,000 companies and actively supports them in employee development. Its partners include Motel One, VW Financial Services and Deutsche Bahn. Further information at: www.iu.de/en

Press statement: More opportunities through education

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 11:51:00 +0100

The new German government is right to focus on education for more growth, says the Chancellor of IU

Erfurt, 7 December 2021. The signing of the coalition agreement and the election of Olaf Scholz as Chancellor marks the beginning of the new government's term of office this week. In the agreement of SPD, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and FDP entitled "Mehr Fortschritt wagen" (Dare to make more progress), the word "education" appears 178 times. Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig, Chancellor of IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), says what the start of the new federal government means for education beyond the school career:

"The coalition agreement of the new federal government is a promise for more growth through education. 'Aufstiegs-Bafög' and 'Lebenschancen-Bafög' are intended to promote what education can do: Giving people the opportunity to develop throughout their lives. And it helps the economy to combat the shortage of skilled workers that inhibits growth. Countries like India and Singapore have long been investing massively in lifelong learning systems. Germany can learn from them and must catch up: If you want progress, there is no way around education.

By focusing on digitised education, we could facilitate access to higher education and further democratise it. Everyone should have the opportunity to invest in their own future through education. The coalition agreement promises financial incentives to increase both supply and demand. Now education must really be understood as an opportunity that not only helps, but is also fun. This is what IU, as Germany's largest university, is committed to."

ABOUT IU INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES
With over 75,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution brings together more than 200 Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes under its roof, which are offered in German or English. Students can choose between on-campus study, dual study, distance learning and flexible combination models and thus shape their studies in a self-determined way. In addition, IU facilitates continuing education and promotes the idea of lifelong learning. The university's goal is to make education possible for as many people as possible. IU began operations in 2000 and is now represented in 28 German cities. It cooperates with over 10,000 companies and actively supports them in employee development. Its partners include Motel One, VW Financial Services and Deutsche Bahn. Further information at: www.iu.de/en

PRESS STATEMENT: ON THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 11:52:00 +0100

Equality and Diversity Officer at IU: Inklusion is a marathon, not a sprint.

Nicola Schmidt-Geheb, Equality and Diversity Officer at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU): "Inclusion does not mean adapting people with disabilities to given circumstances, but finding solutions together with them that enable equal participation."

Erfurt, 01 December 2021 – The third of December is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day of action was created by the United Nations and has been held annually since 1993. The day aims to create more awareness for people with disabilities and promote their participation in society.

Around 7.9 million disabled people lived in Germany at the end of 2019. According to the 21st Social Survey of the German Student Union (2016), 11 per cent of students in Germany have one or more health impairments that make studying difficult.

Nicola Schmidt-Geheb, Equality and Diversity Officer at IU International University (IU) says: "Social conditions must be designed in such a way that persons with disabilities can participate equally in life in society. Of course, this also applies to barrier-free access to education. In order to be able to respond to the special needs of students with disabilities, universities must be aware of those needs, remove obstacles and enable students to concentrate on their studies. Students who are blind need different solutions than students who are deaf. Students with limited mobility need different solutions than students with mental disabilities. Shaping inclusion sustainably and fully is not a sprint, but a marathon - it requires commitment on all sides and staying power.

PRESS STATEMENT: BLACK FRIDAY AND BUY-NOTHING-DAY FROM A SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE

Thu, 25 Nov 2021 12:53:00 +0100

Prof. Dr. Julia Pitters researches the topic and says: Social polarization is increasing.

Erfurt, November 25, 2021. 26 November is Black Friday, in the environment of which, according to the German Retail Association (HDE), 27 percent more sales are to be achieved than in 2020 - i.e. around 4.9 billion euros. The discount battle is followed by Buy Nothing Day on November 27. The Canadian artist Ted Dave created it in 1992 as a protest action. Consumption and consumer abstinence collide. Prof. Dr. Julia Pitters, professor of Business Psychology at IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU), is currently researching the topic and said:

"Buy Nothing Day and Black Friday both have their justification - one is important from an ecological point of view, the other helps struggling retailers. Black Friday is particularly popular with two very contrasting groups: the 'digitized generation' of under-29s and the over-60s 'analog bargain hunters' who prefer to pay cash. The Buy Nothing Day, on the other hand, calls for conscious consumer restraint. Everyone should buy only what is needed, thus protecting the environment. In contrast to Black Friday, Buy Nothing Day is geared toward long-term rethinking and leads, for example, to ideas such as the sharing economy. The danger lies in the polarization of positions that we are currently seeing in very many areas of life. Crises like Corona are even intensifying this tendency. Depending on whether the crisis is perceived as an opportunity or a threat, purchasing behavior, for example, becomes more risk-averse or more cautious. In this context, extremization can be observed in a wide variety of social fields."

PRESS STATEMENT: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 07:40:00 +0200

PROF. DR. TIMO HEINISCH: THE NECESSARY FLOOD PROTECTION HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE BOAR

Erfurt, 12 October 2021 - 13 October is the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, launched by the United Nations. The disasters to be avoided internationally are very diverse and are described on a UN website : pandemics, tsunamis or forest fires. In Germany, the focus is currently on flood protection following the events in the Ahr valley. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Timo Heinisch, Professor of Civil Engineering at IU International University of Applied Sciences, puts the topic in context:

"In German cities, communities and properties, we have not yet reached the necessary flood protection. Yet climate change is increasing the risk of flooding, which in extreme cases can cost lives and cause billions in damage.

The current flood hazard maps of Germany show the weak points: not all areas are yet prepared for the extreme weather events that statistically occur about every 100 years. Protection for the hazard areas should be established more quickly than has been the case so far: firstly, natural retention for water should be used, secondly, technical protection devices should be built and thirdly, flood prevention and proper alerting should be put into practise.

Looking abroad and exchanging best practices, which is also called for by the UN, can help in disaster prevention. For example, Switzerland has defined a so-called watercourse area: this is the space that a body of water should have in order not to endanger buildings even during floods and to enable ecologically valuable water functions. Buildings that need object protection can already stand in this space, but no one is allowed to erect new buildings there - according to the motto "surface instead of concrete". We now need modern decision-making procedures in Germany to speed up the implementation of flood protection projects. The next flood won't wait until we have built up the protection".

A high-resolution image of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Timo Heinisch, Professor of Civil Engineering at IU International University, is available here .

PRESS STATEMENT: LAW GOVERNING AUTONOMOUS DRIVING

Fri, 28 May 2021 07:40:00 +0200

Trust is essential

Erfurt, 28 May 2021 - The Federal Council of Germany today approved a bill on autonomous driving in Germany. Prof. Dr. Christian Lucas, Professor of General Business Administration with a focus on Marketing and Head of Marketing Management at IU International University of Applied Sciences, explains:

"The future of the automotive industry is determined by the four main topics of electromobility, connectivity, sharing and autonomous driving. Each of these topics offers new and previously non-industry-specific companies the opportunity to enter and conquer the market through disruptive innovations. The existence of German automotive companies is threatened due to this. Companies such as Tesla, Google Waymo or Apple are only the visible tip of the iceberg; other companies are currently working on their own solutions.

Germany is the first country in the world to create the legal framework for fully autonomous driving, thereby facilitating the faster advancement of this new technology. A factor that is particularly crucial for the sale of such autonomous vehicles. After all, a customer will only invest in this new technology if he also trusts it! A study with students from the IU International University of Applied Sciences and over 4200 participants now shows that it is especially German car manufacturers that are currently trusted the most: 43.8% have trust in this technology in German cars, while only 25.5% have this trust in US cars and only 20.2% in Korean cars. It is essential to maintain and expand this lead in trust."

IU Mobility Kompass annually examines the attitudes of young German students to mobility issues, with a focus on electromobility. The results of the current year are expected to be published by the end of the third quarter of 2021.

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL EDUCATION PLATFORM - EDUCATION NEEDS DIGITALISATION

Thu, 06 May 2021 07:42:00 +0200

MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN ONLINE TEACHING AT IU INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED

Erfurt, 06 May 2021 - The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has announced the establishment of a national education platform with digital access for innovative teaching and learning formats in a new funding guideline. Prof. Dr. André Hollstein, Vice-Rector Distance Learning and Professor of Business Informatics at IU International University of Applied Sciences, explains:

"The demand for digital educational offers and individualised support in their creation and implementation has grown considerably, and not just since the pandemic. Therefore, projects such as the establishment of a digital education platform by the BMBF are an essential building block towards the stronger digitisation of education in Germany. Rightfully the focus is not only on the development of digital service infrastructures and digitally supported educational offers, but also on the attempt to strengthen methodological knowledge and digital competence on the part of learners and teachers. With our many years of experience and expertise in online teaching, we at IU International University of Applied Sciences can and want to contribute to making the vision and goal of a digital education platform achievable. Digitalisation is a great opportunity to make education available to as many people as possible, which is why we welcome and support the development of the digital education platform - so that education for all does not fail due to the lack of access."

IU International University of Applied Sciences is a pioneer in digital education with blended learning, virtual campus, learning apps and other digital offerings, as well as degree programmes in the fields of artificial intelligence, cyber security, data science, new work and UX design.

STATEMENT ON INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION DAY: EDTECH PROMOTES DEMOCRATISATION OF EDUCATION WORLDWide

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 11:41:00 +0100

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig, Chancellor of IU: Education is key to greater prosperity and growth.

Erfurt, 20 January 2021 - 24 January is International Education Day. UNESCO created this day because the UN's Sustainable Development Goals include high-quality, inclusive and equitable education for all.

Prof. Dr. Alexandra Wuttig, Chancellor of IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU): "Education is a key to greater prosperity and growth for all countries in the world - and for each and every one of us. In this context, digitalisation is a central driver for the democratisation of education.

EdTech (Educational Technology) is becoming increasingly popular. Countries like India and Singapore have been investing heavily in digital education for a long time, and it has been very well received. With its fun character and playful elements, EdTech can also inspire more educationally distant strata to learn. In addition, EdTech dissolves the traditional teaching approach: There is no longer one system for all, but the system is agile and adapts to the learning wishes of the individual.

Once digital systems are built, educational offerings can be scaled, reducing costs for individual participants. Because of the low cost of teaching, more and more people in the world can participate in upscale education and invest in their own future.

At IU International University of Applied Sciences, we have deep insights into the world's education systems: our students come from more than 170 countries. 70 per cent of them have a non-academic background - so it is possible to make higher education accessible to more and more people and to democratise it."