New Südwissen office strengthens academic training in Baden-Württemberg
Freiburg, 16/07/2025
Universities, industry and commerce will in future benefit even more from bundled expertise and new training formats. The Südwissen network is a cooperation of all 48 Baden-Württemberg state universities. The office is located at the University of Freiburg.
The office of the Südwissen network officially commenced work on 1 July 2025. It is based at the University of Freiburg and stems from the nationwide cooperation agreement of all 48 state universities – including the three academies of performing art, pop and film.
“With Südwissen we are systematically continuing Baden-Württemberg’s successful campaign to promote advanced training. The network unites the expertise of our universities, strengthens the innovative ability and sustainability of Baden-Württemberg, and offers professionals new opportunities in a rapidly changing world of work,” says science minister Petra Olschowski.
Prof. Dr. Michael Schwarze, who as Vice Rector for Academic Affairs is responsible for knowledge transfer at the University of Freiburg, explains, “Advanced academic training supports the mutual transfer of know-how by the university with society and industry. Focused qualification and transfer-oriented networking by professionals and management is a core task for universities. With the office and the Südwissen network we will create numerous synergies and thus provide professionals with true added value.”
“Advanced academic training supports the mutual transfer of know-how by the university with society and industry. Focused qualification and transfer-oriented networking by professionals and management is a core task for universities. With the office and the Südwissen network we will create numerous synergies and thus provide professionals with true added value.“
Prof. Dr. Michael Schwarze
Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, University of Freiburg
Coordination and strategic marketing of the network
The office at the University of Freiburg coordinates the network of training universities in Baden-Württemberg, as well as operating the suedwissen.de platform and being responsible for its strategic marketing. Four regional training coordinators support an exchange of ideas between universities, companies and social partners. The work is guided by an advisory board consisting of university representatives and individuals from industry and society. Südwissen is already running innovative training projects, such as a novel module offering for the aerospace industry which has been developed jointly by several universities.
Advanced training campaign for Baden-Württemberg
The Südwissen office builds on the successes of the Hochschulweiterbildung@BW project which ran from 2021 to 2024, and which received more than 13 million euros as part of the Baden-Württemberg cross-cutting advanced training campaign. The project also involved the establishment of the suedwissen.de platform, which currently records and enables potential participants to book more than 1000 academic training offers in Baden-Württemberg. A network of regional and specialist networks has provided fresh momentum for the exchange with industry and society and for the development of needs-oriented services. In total 270 network events and almost 2,000 meetings with companies have so far been realised.