Bad Säckingen: Start for 64 students in the Waldshut district

There was a sense of optimism at the matriculation ceremony on Friday in the Bad Säckinger Kursaal, when the private, medium-sized technical college welcomed 64 new bachelor’s students. At the Bad Säckingen and Waldshut study locations, they receive training and further education to become specialists, especially in the health and social services sectors. The keynote speakers from local and district politics honored the students and looked at the rapid development of the university in the district and its importance for the regional training of skilled workers.

Training in the health sector has a future

The diversity of social work and the health sector is reflected in the numerous courses that the bachelor’s students took up: They are spread across physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, social pedagogy, management and business administration. In addition, the Fachhochschule des Mittelstandes (FHM) in Waldshut has responded to the strong demand with the Psychology course and is offering training in the newly created courses Rescue Management and Physician Assistance for the first time.

According to the university, the latter qualifies healthcare professionals for medical tasks. This includes interviewing and examining patients, carrying out diagnostic and surgical measures or writing discharge documents. In the past, these tasks were exclusively reserved for the responsible doctor. Physician assistants are now allowed to carry out these tasks independently on patients after receiving authorization from a doctor.

Thanks to former mayor Günther Nufer

Anne Dreier, principal and managing director of the FHM, had “two nice tasks” that afternoon. In addition to welcoming the students, she presented Christopher Grieben with his certificate. The professor of health economics and sports management was officially appointed to the FHM Waldshut team.

University of Applied SciencesThe private FHM has been active in Waldshut with its distance learning center for social professions since 2017. In 2019, the study center in Bad Säckingen was added with a focus on physiotherapy and occupational therapy. In 2021, the cooperation with the Waldshut commercial school started for the first time with the business administration course. The Institute for Health Professions opened in 2021. The FHM in the Waldshut district has already given almost 200 people academic qualifications.

Dreier encouraged the students to remain curious and try things out in difficult times of war and upheaval. She thanked the former Bad Säckingen mayor Günther Nufer from the Academy for Health Professions in Bad Säckingen, the head of the Hochrhein Clinic, Hans-Peter Schlaudt and district administrator Martin Kistler for their persistent efforts and commitment.

Günther Nufer stood “proud and happy” on the Kursaal stage. He was instrumental in founding the FHM in the district and looked back on the spa town’s long tradition of health education. Mayor Alexander Guhl called on those enrolled to form networks and said enthusiastically: “When I took office twelve years ago, I would never have thought I would be standing here and looking at so many young and confident faces.”

District Administrator Martin Kistler saw the rapid development of the FHM in the Waldshut district as “proof that something works in the country and can happen quickly” and emphasized the positive impact of the university on the region: “Thanks to the technical college, the Waldshut district has a medium-sized business .” Attractiveness gained. We are happy when young people decide to take advantage of the advantages of a local university.” The student said: “I have already noted the date for the graduation ceremony.”