Mission Statement of the International University of Calw
The mission statement of the International University of Calw, which was developed anew in 2009 and further differentiated, represents a humanistic view of people that centers on the individual as a being that feels, thinks and acts. In addition to maintaining a spirit of openness and innovation, the university strives – by upholding a transparent, supportive, and fair culture of communication – to foster the creation of social environments characterized by respect and conscientiousness. The university is characterized by an atmosphere of mutual recognition based on the principles of respect and dignity. Knowledge regarding the constant change processes in society, culture and the economy is what motivates the university to develop sustainable and innovative concepts, which take into account the interdependencies of human cooperation.
The university perceives creative processes as the fundamental basis for life, health, culture and enterprise. This perception is reflected in the courses of study the university offers, which use interdisciplinary thought and processes to link society, culture and private enterprise, while aiming for an active and healthy lifestyle. In-depth specialized knowledge is communicated across all of our study programs, which makes it possible to be receptive to the latest scientific knowledge and events, while retaining a critical and practical perspective. Equal weight is given to communicating important social, personal and methodological competencies and promoting professional self-reflection. Students are encouraged to actively contemplate a concept for their own professional profile. This should enable them to design and implement change and structural process themselves.
The programs are application-oriented and are accompanied throughout by expert consultations, one-on-one office hours and supervision. The achievement of objectives is also continuously evaluated using written and practical assignments, with particular attention to independent scientific thought and action. Active and regular cooperation spanning many years with private business, clinics, public institutions, and other relevant professional organizations makes it possible to immediately gather feedback, to couple theory with practical experience, and to test individual abilities and learned content in future professional arenas.
The program’s quality is guaranteed by a selection of experienced instructors, who are active in research and in practical capacities, recruited from a variety of professional spheres relevant to the program including cultural institutions, private enterprise, private practice and public clinics. The instructors working at the International University of Calw are also continuously learning and making important contributions to research and scholarship in their specialized fields. An intensive level of exchange between the university’s colleagues is ensured by regularly occurring interdisciplinary team meetings and partial or university-wide conventions.
Interaction with private enterprise, cultural institutions and individuals active in the health sector is promoted via contacts established in the framework of student internships, research projects and social and cultural events. There are close ties between the International University of Calw and regional firms, institutions, clinics and communes, as well as cooperation with other universities and the Federal Academy for Further Education and Personal Development in School Systems. The university organizes symposia, interdisciplinary congresses and special events, invites guest lecturers from different disciplines, and offers guest lectures and seminars at other universities as well as at symposia and other special events.
By way of its current study programs “Intermodal Expressive Arts Therapy” and “Innovative Change Processes (Coaching and Consulting)”, the International University of Calw is active in the arenas of culture, health and private enterprise. In these areas, it enables the implementation of the objectives and basic attitudes expressed in the mission statement. The planned study program “Health and Hospitality” will lead to an expanded spectrum and increased networking of focus areas, which promotes interdisciplinary approaches that link relevant lifestyle, societal and private enterprise issues and reflect the complexity of today’s society while taking into account its interlinkages. Thanks to solid interdisciplinary knowledge, students will be able to appropriately address the increasingly diverse and comprehensive demands and challenges of today’s world and to give their own personal contribution to crafting a healthy world to live in.
