Philosophy and mission

Founded in 1954, the Faculty of Civil Engineering is currently home to programmes in Construction Engineering, Environmental and Construction Materials Engineering, Digital Engineering and Management / Construction, Real Estate and Infrastructure. In addition to traditional and modern engineering methods, the faculty is also influenced by neighbouring scientific fields such law, natural sciences, economics and the social sciences.
This allows the faculty to assume responsibility for the entire life cycle of a built environment and to play a role in its development. A focus on experimental project work is implemented in close cooperation with partners from both the industry and the research field.

Together with the Faculties of  Architecture and Urbanism, Art and Design, and Media, the Faculty of Civil Engineering is one of the four supporting pillars of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar holds a sense of responsibility to uphold the tradition of the State Bauhaus without simply imitating it. The current guiding principle of uniting technology and art while upholding economic and environmental sustainability continues to embrace the State Bauhaus maxim of unity of form and function, artistic design and industrial production. By definition, the Faculty of Civil Engineering is responsible or the majority of mathematical, scientific and technical aspects of teaching.

Designing the Future

Due to its history and unique position, the faculty has a truly distinctive scientific range when it comes to research and teaching. It also has the ability to respond to constantly evolving conditions in the construction industry, environmental technology, the construction materials industry, transport and water management. This includes participating in the development of these economic sectors.

With the turn of the millennium, new trends in politics and the economy emerged, significantly impacting the construction industry and the associated branches in teaching and research. There is a shift towards larger commercial enterprises not only building structures, but also managing their operation. Management, financial policy and contract questions are becoming more and more apparent. The globalisation of construction requires flexible use of resources and manpower, as well as engineering professionals. Global networking makes it possible to solve issues simultaneously around the world. A solid knowledge of foreign languages is becoming a standard requirement.

Research and Teaching

The faculty sees its primary task as training graduates to meet these requirements and it is therefore constantly working on expanding and developing its education and training profile.

This holistic approach — from the initial planning phases through to construction and deconstruction of buildings and other facilities — is becoming more and more of a priority. This has increased the demand for graduates who have the skills to work as flexible generalists. It does not mean, however, that specialists will become redundant; their work will flow into the holistic solving of problems.

In addition to the traditional fields of civil engineering, other related tasks are becoming increasingly important. The faculty is addressing this demand by specifically expanding its course range and continuing education courses. This is established, for instance, through redesignating professorships to new areas of responsibility.

Structure

In order to approach these tasks effectively, use resources and staff economically, and to lighten the administration load, the faculty has started to combine professorships and departments into six institutes. The professorships and departments working together in an institute do joint teaching and research in areas with related content.

The faculty is home to an extremely powerful information technology system. Computer pools outfitted with the latest computing and communication technology are available for study purposes, and all of the workstations in the faculty are interconnected with one another and globally connected. And while this exemplary level has already been achieved, the faculty continues to rapidly expand.

Experiment Bauhaus

Every good theory needs a verification process, and experimentation plays a key role in teaching and research. In recent years, the faculty has been able to establish new laboratories  and expand the existing institutes. Today, the faculty is outfitted with the necessary resources for experimentation in all important fields. In both labs and technical practical course, students are taught the methodology of experimental work. At the same time, the faculty is able to carry out experimental research and analyses on behalf of industry partners. The close connection with the MFPA life cycle material engineering aMaterialforschungs-und prüfanstalt des Freistaates Thüringen offers a particular advantage in terms of knowledge and staff.

The nature of the Faculty of Civil Engineering requires and enables a close connection to the practical world. Joint research projects, practical student work, excursions supported by external partners and professional guest lecturers are the results of these cooperations.