150 years of Hochschule Buxtehude and 20 years of hochschule 21

Dear students, dear partners of hochschule 21,
dear friends and supporters of hochschule 21,
dear staff,

2025 is a very special year for us. We are not only celebrating the 150-year history of Buxtehude as a university location, but also the 20th anniversary of hochschule 21. Starting out as a training centre for technicians and craftsmen, we are now training young talents to become experts in the fields of construction, health and technology in an application-oriented, dual study programme. At the same time, we are involved in innovative projects and are a trusted partner for companies and organisations throughout northern Germany. We therefore make a valuable contribution to society in all areas.

Let's take a look back at the history of the university, which began 150 years ago: After the institution was founded as a technical centre for the construction industry, the location quickly developed and became known beyond the region. Even though there have been numerous renamings over the years, one thing has remained the same: the high quality and practical nature of the education.

The company has also been able to overcome crises that have occurred throughout its 150-year history - including two world wars, financially difficult phases and closure plans. The Buxtehude site emerged stronger from each of these events. The most drastic event in the recent past is probably still remembered by many: the impending closure of the former ‘Fachhochschule Nordostniedersachsen’ in 2003. Students, lecturers, companies, politicians and indeed the entire region fought for its preservation - with success.

The year 2005 was finally to be characterised by a new beginning. The hochschule 21, now a state-recognised, private university of applied sciences, began operations with 48 students in the Department of Civil Engineering. The result is a university location with more than 1,000 students that has become an integral part of northern Germany. The transfer of a formerly state-run university of applied sciences into a private, non-profit university is still a fairly unique model today.

All of this was only possible thanks to the many pioneers and companions, our faculty and our partners, to whom we would like to express our sincere thanks at this point. It is only thanks to this very special collaboration that hochschule 21 is so firmly anchored in the German higher education landscape today and is able to train the specialists that are urgently needed in our country - then as now.

We also want to maintain the right balance between tradition and innovation in the future. We want to remain true to ourselves, but also reinvent ourselves time and again, not building on the familiar, but constantly adapting to current requirements. In this way, we want to continue to offer our students and partners a high-quality academic education and training programme as well as application-oriented research and development - true to our mission statement

‘We empower people and institutions to shape a bright future through expertise and application-orientation based on lived values’

We hope that you will continue to accompany us on this journey and celebrate our double anniversary with us.

Your university management