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The University of Hildesheim Foundation emerged from the Teacher's Training University of Lower Saxony (founded in 1946), and currently has four divisions: "Educational and Social Sciences," "Cultural Studies and Aesthetic Communication," "Linguistics and Information Science," and "Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Economics, and Computer Science." The number of students enrolled at the University of Hildesheim has increased steadily since 2000 to approximately 7,500 in the Winter Semester of 2015/16, of which 73 % are female. Women also comprise 43 % of the faculty, above the national average. Indeed, gender equality and equal treatment for those from different social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, as well as educational integration in general, are essential parts of the University's mission. Interdisciplinary work and narrowing the gap between theory and practice are essential components of the University of Hildesheim's research and teaching profile. Its well-designed and tested educational studies programs and cultural studies, and applied linguistics are the traditional strength of the University of Hildesheim. Psychology, Childhood Education, Diversity Education, Translation Studies, Intercultural Communication, Environmental Studies, and Business Information/Computer Science programs are also in high demand. Since 2003, the University of Hildesheim has been a foundation under public law, and therefore enjoys a comparatively high degree of autonomy. Among other things, it can award professorships and approve its construction projects. Annual third-party funding has increased sevenfold since the foundation was created. Three major construction programs have followed (Main Campus, Marienburg Culture Campus, and Bühler Campus) and several other foundation projects and ten innovative endowed professorships. As a public foundation, the University of Hildesheim maintains close relationships with civil society and a strong network of affiliation with educational, scientific, and cultural institutions and economic and business organizations. Students at the University of Hildesheim are active partners in the teaching and learning processes. They are encouraged to be involved in the development and improvement of teaching and study. Through its scholarship programs (such as the College of Minerva and Lore-Auerbach Scholarships), the University of Hildesheim supports especially-capable and socially-committed students. Moreover, regular course evaluations show that most students are "mostly satisfied" or "delighted" with their courses, and students particularly appreciate the faculty's engagement and commitment. Accreditation reports have also noted the high level of teacher commitment and motivation among university faculty and the personal atmosphere between students and professors. The University of Hildesheim became a university in its own right in 1978 and a Foundation under Public Law in 2003 – one of its kind in Germany. The range of subjects covers study courses in Educational and Social Sciences, Cultural Studies and Aesthetic Communication, Linguistics and Information Science, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Economics, and Computer Science. In cooperation with more than 250 partner schools, Teacher Education students can relate basic theory to practical experience from an early stage of their studies. Studies like International Communication and Translation, Double Degree programs in Culture Management (France), and International Information Engineering (South Korea) contribute to its international profile. The University of Hildesheim cooperates with more than 180 universities or tertiary education institutions in about 50 countries and makes more than 400 student exchange places available annually. The University received the European Quality Label in 2007 and again in 2011, the European Language Label 2011 and was the sole German University to be honored by the European Union for its Erasmus success story in 2010. Students appreciate the compact campus with approx. Seven thousand four hundred students and over 470 academic staff members in four faculties. A very personal atmosphere of learning with first-class tutoring and theory and practice are closely combined, the latter being a guiding principle of the University Foundation. The importance of the international exchange of students and lecturers has grown enormously as a result of globalization. It has now become a requirement for cutting-edge universities, their research projects, and innovation. The University of Hildesheim has reacted to this development to enhance its international activities, giving the University an internationally oriented and cosmopolitan reputation. There are now 150 international cooperations, and Hildesheim University holds one of the top places in the table of percentage outgoings for all of Germany. View full university