With the ceremonial signing of a cooperation agreement, Hof University of Applied Sciences and bfz gGmbH are strengthening their collaboration in the field of vocational education in the healthcare sector. The focus is on targeted academic continuing education for teachers at technical/vocational schools and technical academies in the healthcare sector. For eligible employees at bfz gGmbH’s vocational schools, the partnership provides structured access to the part-time bachelor’s degree program in “Vocational Education in Healthcare” at Hof University of Applied Sciences.
High-quality training in the health professions requires exceptionally qualified instructors. bfz gGmbH will therefore provide targeted information about the degree program to suitable employees, encourage them to enroll, and support them from the application phase through to successful graduation. A special focus is placed on balancing studies, family, hobbies, and professional work.
The part-time bachelor’s degree program in “Vocational Education in Healthcare” is designed for healthcare professionals and qualifies them to teach at vocational schools in the healthcare sector as well as to take on roles in continuing education and professional development. Skills acquired during vocational training can be credited toward the degree program. This makes it possible to earn a bachelor’s degree in as little as four semesters, provided the relevant requirements are met.
With this partnership, we are taking an important step beyond the traditional collaboration between universities and industry partners. Together, we are creating a reliable pathway to certification for individuals who already have extensive professional experience in the healthcare professions and who wish to contribute this experience to the training of the next generation. “Given the high demands placed on training in the health professions, we need academically qualified instructors who combine subject expertise, pedagogical competence, and practical experience.”
Prof. Dr. Matthias Drossel, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Society
Academia and Practice Benefit from Each Other
The collaboration is intentionally designed to be long-term and broad in scope. In addition to teacher training, the agreement provides for an ongoing professional exchange aimed at further developing course content. The university and the bfz also intend to jointly develop and implement practice-oriented continuing education programs for teachers. Subject to the agreed-upon conditions, bfz employees can take on teaching assignments at Hof University of Applied Sciences and directly contribute their professional expertise to academic instruction.
“It is particularly important to us that such a partnership is not a one-way street. The university contributes scientific and pedagogical perspectives, while at the same time we benefit from the expertise and experience of our staff members gained through their daily educational work. The exchange between the university and the field enables us to align our training programs even more closely with the actual needs of the healthcare sector.”
Silke Schreiter-Taubenheim, Head of Product Management for Vocational Schools and Technical Academies at bfz gGmbH
Both partners also plan to work closely together in the future on quality assurance measures for the degree program. Thus, the partnership combines staff development, academic qualification, continuing education, and the joint advancement of vocational education in the healthcare professions.
Qualified instructors are crucial for the healthcare labor market
University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann views the partnership as an important contribution to ensuring a long-term supply of qualified professionals in the healthcare sector:
“The challenges facing the healthcare sector do not begin at the patient’s bedside, but rather with the training of those who will later take responsibility for the health of others. Providing teachers with academic qualifications through part-time study while incorporating their existing professional experience simultaneously strengthens both the quality of training and the pool of skilled professionals across the entire healthcare sector. “The collaboration with the bfz therefore directly links academic education to the demands of the labor market and creates concrete career development opportunities for experienced professionals.”
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann
By signing this agreement, Hof University of Applied Sciences and bfz gGmbH, together with its schools, are sending a joint signal in support of the sustainable professionalization of education in the healthcare sector. At the same time, this creates a pathway to qualification that combines professional experience, academic education, and pedagogical competence.
