The Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science at Aalen University of Applied Sciences has a new dean: Prof. Dr . Klaus Maier took office in September, succeeding Prof. Dr. Ulrich Klauck. "I am very much looking forward to the new task," said Maier on taking office and added: "I would particularly like to support the further development of practice-oriented teaching and application-oriented research in our faculty."
The Faculty of Electronics and Computer Science at Aalen University of Applied Sciences has a new Dean. Prof. Dr. Klaus Maier succeeds Prof. Dr. Ulrich Klauck. "I thank you for the trust you have placed in me and look forward to developing the faculty together," said Maier after his election. Maier has been working in the electrical engineering degree program at Aalen University of Applied Sciences since September 2020. As a trained computer scientist, he teaches with the aim of inspiring students for hardware-related software development. From March 2021 to August 2024, Maier also served as Dean of Studies, Studies of Studies in Electrical Engineering and, in this role, successfully modernized the electrical engineering programmes offered.
Prior to his appointment for professors; appointment funds, Maier worked for ten years at leading industrial companies in the field (of) Research and Development for software-based electronic products, the last seven years in management positions. "Thanks to my personal background working at the interface between computer science and electrical engineering, I am very familiar with the similarities and strengths of the two fields (of) study," he explains, adding: "This enables me to understand the needs of both fields of study in the faculty and simplifies cooperation, cooperative venture, partnership collaboration with colleagues." As the newly elected Dean, he is particularly keen to promote the further development of practice-oriented teaching and application-oriented research in the Faculty, as well as the transfer of technology and knowledge to society.
A particular challenge for the future dean's office is the declining number of STEM students coupled with an increasing shortage of skilled workers. In order to counteract this trend and do justice to the Faculty's social responsibility, Study Programmes offered in the region will be attractively developed and additional international courses will be added to the existing portfolio. The Faculty's existing skills in the future-oriented fields of artificial intelligence and digitalization will be strategically expanded. Maier emphasizes the importance of the exchange with industry partners in order to prepare future graduates ideally for the working world of tomorrow: "The close collaboration between the academic world and the economy, business and industry is an essential pillar of our successful practical/vocational orientation in teaching and research."
With a view to the excellence of teaching and research, the Information scientist also emphasizes the opportunities of cross-departmental cooperation, cooperative venture, partnership, collaboration within the faculty and at the institution of higher education. Prof. Dr. Harald Riegel, President of the institution of higher education, is also looking forward to the future cooperation, cooperative venture, collaboration: "With Prof. Dr. Klaus Maier, we have been able to gain a committed and professionally strong colleague for the important position of Dean. I am very much looking forward to our future cooperation, cooperative venture, partnership, collaboration, which I already find to be very constructive and appreciative. I wish Professors / Professor Maier all the best in his new role!"
The previous incumbent, Professor Dr. Ulrich Klauck, retired at the end of the 2024 summer semester. His work at the institution of higher education was characterized by an outstanding commitment to teaching, research and academic self-government. Introduction to Computer Science in 2000, for example, was largely due to his student organization.
