Milestone for Ingolstadt: THI receives two doctoral centers

Eleven doctoral centers will be established at Bavarian universities of Applied Sciences (HaW) and Technical Universities (TH). The THI is the only university in Bavaria to have sole responsibility for two of them as a so-called host university. The doctoral centers will be established in the particularly strong research areas of artificial intelligence/computer science and engineering.

Opportunity for the entire region: THI receives doctoral rights (Photo: Pixabay).

Opportunity for the entire region: THI receives doctoral rights (Photo: Pixabay).

In the future, young scientists will be able to do their doctorate directly at the THI. Previously, only cooperative doctorates under the direction of universities were possible. The Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (BayHIG), which came into force in January of this year, has also opened up the right to award doctorates to Bavarian universities of applied sciences (HAWs/THs). In a high-caliber review process, the THI was able to convince with two independent doctoral centers. 

For THI President Professor Walter Schober, it is a special honor that THI is the only Bavarian university that can run two independent doctoral centers. "The award of the doctoral right is the consequence of the research strength that distinguishes our professors at THI. I am pleased that we can thus open up a direct path to a doctorate at THI for our young scientists. The long road to an independent doctoral degree has thus successfully reached its destination for the THI." Professor Christian Facchi, head of the newly created Doctoral School and one of three representatives of universities of applied sciences nationwide on the Science Council, also describes the benefits of this development as follows: "After more than 100 successful cooperative doctorates, we can finally offer independent doctorates. This gives THI a significant strategic advantage that will be particularly evident in staffing and training the next generation of scientists."

Science Minister Markus Blume announced the eleven doctoral centers in a press release today: "Our universities of applied sciences and technical universities have established themselves as outstanding research institutions. It is a logical consequence that they now also receive the right to award doctorates. The quality of the concepts submitted is extremely convincing."

The right to award doctorates is another milestone in the THI's success story. It strengthens Ingolstadt as a science and technology location and provides positive impetus for the entire region.

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