Bielefeld University (German: Universität Bielefeld) is a public research university in Bielefeld, Germany. Founded in 1969, it is one of the country’s newer universities and among the largest institutions of higher education in northwestern Germany. In terms of student numbers, Bielefeld University is the eighth largest university in Germany; as of winter semester 2016/2017, it had 32,088 students enrolled. The university offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in a wide variety of subjects. It is noted for its research in sociology and cognitive science.
The University was founded on 3 April 1969 by then Minister of Education Hans Böckler following intense discussions between the city government of Bielefeld and representatives from business and politics. After being allocated funds by West German federal parliament (Bundestag), construction work started on site during the same year. The first students were admitted to what was then called “Ostwestfälische Technische Hochschule” (Eastern Westphalian Technical College) on 1 February 1971 with 84 registered students; these were all male as women were not accepted until 1973. As part of an initiative to expand technical education at universities throughout West Germany during that time, several new departments were established over subsequent years: Department II (mathematics, natural sciences and engineering) opened in September 1972 followed by Department III (humanities and social sciences) a year later.
In 1977 the college was renamed “Technische Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe” (Eastern Westphalia-Lippe Technical College). That same year its president Volker Mehrmann reached an agreement with Minister Böckler whereby technical colleges such as those at Aachen or Braunschweig would be allowed to call themselves universities while retaining their status as part of the German system of higher education; this right was granted retroactively to Ostwestfalen-LippeTechnical College with effect from 1 January 1978. As part of a nationwide reform program aimed at improving scientific working conditions, further expansion ensued: In 1981 two new departments (“Department IV – Electrical Engineering/Information Technology” ) and “Department V – Economics”)were added followed by “Department VI – Educational Sciences”in 1984 which made use of existing premises on campus previously used by department II.- By 2006 all departments had been moved into purpose-built structures;-the last move occurred prior to summer semester 2007 when department I (“mechanical engineering”) vacated its former main building now occupied by department V.-(This building subsequently underwent extensive renovation work before being reopened for teaching purposes.)