Nordrhein-Westfalen

The demands on the development and coordination of projects for the planning, evaluation and maintenance of open spaces are constantly growing.

Economic, ecological and social requirements of the most diverse stakeholders have to be taken into account when it comes to the creation and operation of green spaces, urban squares, sports, leisure and park facilities. Specialists are needed who are able to manage the different concerns of all stakeholders efficiently and competently.

In previous training and study courses, however, these competencies usually represent only partial aspects. For this reason, the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences has launched "Open Space Management", a Bachelor's degree course that is unique in Germany and will start for the first time in the winter semester 2018/19 at the Höxter location.

There is currently no getting around the buzzword "redensification" in major cities such as Berlin or Hamburg. People want to work, live and enjoy leisure time in cities. Everything needs its space. Higher, narrower, denser is the motto in building planning, because there is not only a shortage of apartments. Open spaces are also a resource that arouse desires, especially in urban areas.

A responsible, sustainable approach to parks, playgrounds, sports facilities, roadside greenery and green spaces such as urban forests and nature reserves, but also to private and communal open spaces in housing, is therefore a task that will become increasingly important in the future. For this reason, the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences (OWL) has launched the "Open Space Management" course of study, which is unique in Germany to date and will start in the winter semester 2018/19 at the Höxter location.

While digitalisation under the title "Work 4.0" currently enjoys a great deal of attention in the manufacturing industry, among others, such approaches have so far only been rudimentary for open space planning. The OWL University of Applied Sciences wants to close this gap and presents a study concept with the new course "Open Space Management", which focuses on digitalisation in project management under the motto "Digital networking - sustainable development".

Study course initiator Professor Felix Möhring explains: "The study course brings together those with a talent for art, those with an affinity for technology, nature lovers and arithmetic artists, creating a special and creative free space per se", he emphasises and adds: "This means we have our finger on the pulse of the times and offer young people attractive career prospects".

Students are taught how to deal with conceptual, open space planning issues in the areas of project development, planning, execution as well as maintenance and project evaluation. Interdisciplinary cooperation and digital networking of all project participants play a central role. With this approach, the increasingly demanded tasks around the term "success of an open space facility" also move into focus. With the aspect of sustainability, both ecological but also social and economic, the responsible use of the resource space is focused. "In many places, a demographic

pressure for densification with living space meets urban planning and landscape architecture reservations. This current field of tension will accompany the students during and after their studies as open space economists," adds Professor Möhring.

The 7-semester bachelor's degree program concludes with a Bachelor of Engineering degree. An integrated practical semester offers students the opportunity to gain a direct insight into the professional world. The future fields of work of the graduates lie in commercial enterprises, municipalities, management consultancies as well as in the housing industry.

Applications for the admission-free course of study are possible until 15 July 2018 at the OWL University of Applied Sciences. Information can be found by interested parties at www.hs-owl.de/freiraummanagement.

Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe

The Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe is a state university of applied sciences (FH) and is characterised by its three locations Lemgo, Detmold and Höxter as well as the study location Warburg with a total of nine departments. More than 6,600 students lay the foundation for their successful professional careers here in a total of 49 practice-oriented courses of study.

Each location has its own individual profile: Höxter is a recognised centre for environmental sciences, where ecological aspects play a central role in the technical courses of study in teaching and applied research. This applies equally to landscape architecture, which is unique in NRW, and to environmental engineering.

Lemgo is home to the classical engineering disciplines (production engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and information technology), as well as media production, economics and the courses of study in food technology and wood technology, which are unique in NRW. Detmold, with its specialist disciplines around construction and architecture, enjoys a nationwide reputation.

The interior design course is also offered exclusively in NRW. Warburg is the youngest study location, which was opened in 2009. With an innovative course of study in business administration for small and medium-sized enterprises, the focus here is on intensive and practical support.

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