University of Wuppertal (BUW), Germany

Founded in 1972 as part of the establishment of several new "Gesamthochschulen" (comprehensive) in North-Rhine-Westphalia, the University of Wuppertal is committed not only to the growth of knowledge across a wide range of academic and scientific disciplines, but also to fostering the transfer of knowledge. Teaching and research ranges from the arts and humanities over economic and social sciences to science and engineering. An interdisciplinary centre for humanities of science and technology aims to integrate teaching and research of science and engineering with humanities. There exists a close cooperation with the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy via common research projects and teaching. The university’s reputation as a partner for local business is rivaled only by its name as a springboard for young entrepreneurs. For the third time in recent years, the University of Wuppertal’s Business Startup Program achieved one of the first places in the 2005 German university rankings. Since 1990 the University has an office for equal opportunities. The University has a Center for Educational Research and Teacher Education (ZBL). Gender Studies are integrated in humanities and educational and social sciences most of all. The University was partner in several European Commission funded projects like INDECS “Potentials on Interdisciplinary Degree Courses in Engineering, Information Technology, Natural and Socio-Economic Sciences in a Changing Society” (www.indecs.uni-wuppertal.de), Womeng “Creating Cultures of Success for Women Engineers” (www.womeng.net)(FP5) and PROMETEA “Empowering Women Engineers Careers in Industrial and Academic Research” (www.prometea.info)(FP6), Coordinator of coordination action MOTIVATION.