Structure and Organisation
The Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University is an institution which qualifies students within a dual system of learning. Employers and state co-operate in a system of higher education system.
A student enrolled at the Baden-Wuerttemberg Cooperative State University is both a student and an employee. Thus, the Cooperative State University has two places of learning. Both partners share the responsibility of qualifying students for their profession: the company or social institution providing 'the centre for on-the-job training', and the Cooperative State University as 'the centre for academic course work'.
Phases of coursework (theory) - normally of 12 weeks duration - alternate with periods of on-the-job-training of equal duration.
The three years at the Cooperative State University are divided into two phases: Foundation courses and basic training cover the firs two years and lead to a preliminary job qualification. The Bachelor degree is achieved after a third year of more specialised studies and training.
