The Swabian educational region - the territory of the Swabian Alliance - extends from Oswürttemberg through the Danube-Iller region and Lake Constance-Upper Swabia to the Allgäu region. In addition to the HNU, the universities located there with a total of almost 30,000 students are the Duale Hochschule Heidenheim, the University of Ulm, the Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences, the Weingarten University of Education, the Kempten University of Applied Sciences and Zeppelin University. This area is one of the economically strongest regions in Germany, but between the metropolitan regions of Stuttgart, Munich and Zurich, it is not perceived enough as an independent living and economic area.
Under the umbrella of CampusSüd, the universities have set themselves the goal of increasing the appeal of this area both nationally and internationally. The Swabian educational region is to be made better known as an attractive place to study and contribute to attracting highly trained specialists.
By becoming a member of the Swabian Association, CampusSüd complements its pillars of business and politics with a third pillar of science. By establishing a sustainable networking and innovation structure, new impulses for knowledge and technology transfer are to be made possible and the innovative power of the region is to be increased.
HNU President Prof. Dr. Uta M. Feser emphasizes that HNU already cooperates closely with universities and companies in research and transfer projects, in the start-up sector or in the recruitment and development of skilled workers. "With our membership in the Schwabenbund, we create a common understanding about strategic goals and open up opportunities for cooperation. And precisely where we can achieve more together than alone." Nevertheless, there is no compulsion to cooperate and each university is independent. Prof. Dr. Feser sees the federal government above all as an opportunity for universities to develop sustainably, for example in the funding and promotion of research projects.
Josef Brandner, board member of the Schwabendbund e.V. and deputy president of the Swabian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, considers the networking of business and science to be urgently necessary with regard to attracting skilled workers: "We are in a competition of regions. That's why it's very important for us to make universities even more attractive for studying."
Schwabenbund e.V. is a cross-border association of local authorities, regional associations and chambers of commerce in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria with the aim of positioning the region more strongly between the metropolises of Stuttgart and Munich. The association bundles the common interests and forces in order to promote the further development of the region in the fields of education, research, energy, transport, healthcare and tourism through joint projects.
