21 July 2025

On 16 July 2025, Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and the care and disability facility Funk GmbH from the Südharz region signed a cooperation agreement to create further practice-oriented study opportunities for students of health and social care.

Representatives from both institutions came together to sign the contract at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences. In attendance were University President Prof. Dr Jörg Wagner, the Managing Directors of Pflege- und Behinderteneinrichtungen Funk GmbH Andrea Funk and Nancy Facius, Prof. Dr Andreas Seidel, Dean of Studies for Health and Social Work and Manuela Kolata, Head of the Social Work and Health degree programme.

The aim of the cooperation between the practice institution and the university is to jointly select and train junior staff as part of the dual/practice-oriented degree programme at Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences and to provide them with in-depth practical knowledge during the course of their studies.

"The new cooperation strengthens the university's efforts to further expand dual and practical study formats and to enable a close integration of theory and practical phases in the degree programme," says Prof. Dr Jörg Wagner.

Prof. Dr Seidel also emphasised the importance of the collaboration: "We are looking forward to a successful partnership and are convinced that both sides will benefit significantly from the mutual complementation and deepening of existing expertise."

This is the first partnership of this kind for the cooperating institution - Managing Director Nancy Facius is delighted about the joint approach and emphasised: "This collaboration means a lot to us. We want to give young talents the opportunity to work closely with people and gain valuable practical experience."

About Pflege- und Behinderteneinrichtungen Funk GmbH

At the privately run Funk care and disability facilities, adults with mental illness or mental disabilities find a home in the special forms of accommodation and in intensively supported living. Nestled in the rural surroundings of the southern Harz region, the facilities offer a place of peace and quiet and enable people to organise their day in a structured way.

Its efforts are centred on enabling people in need of help to lead a largely self-determined life and participate in daily social life.