Volker Winkler

FernUniversität in Hagen

The FernUniversität in Hagen is Germany's only state distance-learning university, and its largest in terms of student numbers. Its flexible degree programs and continuing education options make higher education accessible to students in a variety of life situations. Its five faculties conduct a wide range of theoretical and applied research in their subject areas of Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology, Mathematics and Computer Science, Economics and Business Administration, and Law. The FernUniversität's teaching concept is based on a blended learning approach, which combines printed, multimedia, and online study materials with optional in-person seminars and events. This allows students the flexibility to learn when and where they want. At the same time, students receive support through personal advising and mentoring, study groups, and seminars on the Hagen campus and in regional centers throughout Germany and abroad. The FernUniversität ensures the high quality of its education through a variety of measures including wikis to provide practical support with planning and implementing teaching and learning scenarios, funding programs to promote innovative approaches to teaching and learning, evaluation and analysis of study programs, and extensive in-house training and support for teaching staff with a focus on instructional design in e-learning and distance teaching.