Esslingen University of Applied Sciences or Hochschule Esslingen and Hochschule für Sozialwesen ) is a University of Applied Sciences in Esslingen am Neckar, Germany. It has 11 faculties offering 25 bachelor study programs and 12 master programs. The University of Applied Sciences' focus is on engineering, management, social sciences and health care and nursing sciences. Esslingen is ranked among the top Universities of Applied Sciences in Germany, and has strong programs in the areas of Business Administration, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, IT and Engineering with Business Studies. The university cooperates closely with the local economy and has partnerships with well-established companies such as Daimler, Porsche, Bosch, Festo, Eberspächer which have major operations in the vicinity.
History
In 1868, a department for training mechanical engineers was set up in Stuttgart at the Royal Württemberg School of Construction. Soon, demand for this program was so high that the school in Stuttgart decided to expand to Esslingen. Industrial development in Esslingen was very advanced, especially in the area of engineering. In the following years, the spectrum of education was broadened, the school offering courses in electrical engineering, precision engineering, telecommunications, heating and ventilation. In 1938, the school was renamed the State Engineering School of Esslingen and in 1971, as Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, it added technical computer science and engineering management to its existing programs. The Soziale Frauenschule of the Schwäbischen Frauenverein was started in 1917 by a foundation established by Queen Charlotte of Wuerttemberg. This was the forerunner to the University of Applied Sciences for Social Work. In 1998, reacting to the demands of industry, Esslingen University of Applied Sciences started its first English-language master's program, the MBA in International Industrial Management. The Esslingen MBA was one of the pioneers of international, English-language programs at German state universities. The Esslingen Graduate School now runs and organizes three master's programs entirely in English. On 1 October 2006, the two Esslingen Universities of Applied Sciences - Technology and Social Work - were merged and are now a single entity. Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, or Hochschule Esslingen, in German, profits greatly from the synergies formed by this merger.
Esslingen University of Applied Sciences has three locations: the main city campus is situated in the centre of Esslingen and is an architectural mix of the neo-classical and the futuristic modern. Because the original engineering school in Esslingen was located directly across from the Royal Riding Stables, the city campus is referred to as “der Stall”. The hilltop campus is known as the Acropolis. The huge concrete block from the 1960s is prominently situated on the city’s northern hills and provides a good view of Esslingen and the entire Neckar Valley. Walking from the hilltop to the city centre campus, students can go past the old fortress and through the covered walkways along the vineyards of Esslingen. The new campus in Göppingen is 23 kilometers away. The Göppingen site is home to the Faculties of Mechatronics and Electrical Engineering, as well as the bachelor program in Business Information Management.
Candle march This bizarre and unique feature of the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences has an old, ritual parade through the city conducted when students complete their degrees. The professors lead the parade in old-fashioned horse carriages with the students following behind on foot, dressed elegantly in tailcoats and top hats – and with a mug of beer in their hands. After the diplomas have been handed out in a special celebration, the students set out on a tour of the city’s bars and pubs. They are allowed to drink as much as they want for free on this special evening.
