Fachhochschule Dortmund has a new Vice President for Research and Transfer: The electoral assembly, consisting of members of the Senate and the University Council, unanimously elected Prof. Dr. Michael Boecker on July 7, 2026, to succeed Prof. Dr. Jörg Thiem. His term begins on September 1.
Michael Boecker, born in 1974, was appointed to the Chair of Social Management and Impact-Oriented Social Work in the Faculty of Applied Social Studies(Opens in a new tab) at the university in 2015. Since then, he has held various roles there, including International Affairs Officer, member of the Commission for Internationalization, and, since 2020, Associate Dean for Program Development and Internationalization. He is also a faculty member at the Institute for the Digital Transformation of Application and Living Domains (IDiAL(Opens in a new tab) ) at Fachhochschule Dortmund.
In 2023, the German Science Council appointed him as an expert, and since 2024, he has been a faculty member of the NRW Graduate Center. In addition to other roles, such as Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa), he has served as Chair of the Supervisory Board of the Caritas Association in Hagen since 2020. Before beginning his academic career, Michael Boecker worked there for 17 years as a social worker and deputy director, most recently as head of the faculty “Integration Assistance for People with Disabilities.”
“As a social worker, I had the opportunity to help people make positive changes in their lives. As a researcher, I have always remained committed to contributing to the transformation of social conditions,” says Michael Boecker. This is evident in his numerous research projects both in Germany and abroad. For over 20 years, he has maintained a special connection with universities and nongovernmental organizations in Southern Africa, in the context of development cooperation and projects funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); in particular, he has focused on global sustainability issues aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Research and Knowledge Transfer as Key Elements
“For me, research and knowledge transfer are central elements of my many years of work in academia and professional practice. I have always been driven by curiosity and the desire for social change,” says Michael Boecker, emphasizing: “The current challenges—global networks and multilateral interdependencies, structural changes in society in the context of demographics, climate change, and sustainability—as well as the challenges facing the democratic social and constitutional state—can only be addressed by transcending disciplinary boundaries, with the explicit involvement of civil society actors.”
A sustainable and democratic transformation of our society, coupled with the question of how we can live well together as a community, are central motivations for his work. “For me, this means that research always carries a social responsibility and must address ethical considerations regarding the target groups, products, or services we engage with.” In his view, applied science cannot do without a normative compass.
Fachhochschule Dortmund's Strong Network
“This is exactly where I see the strengths of our university of applied sciences. As a university in the Ruhr region, transformative processes are ‘in our DNA.’ We have a strong network of stakeholders from politics, academia, business, government, and civil society. The diversity of the Ruhr region is also reflected in our student body. That’s what makes us special. Complex societal challenges require complex solutions, strong regional, national, and international networks, and innovative thinking.”
Throughout his professional career, Michael Boecker has realized that his strength lies in bringing people together and creating spaces for innovation and creativity. “I look forward to contributing these skills to our university in the future as Vice President for Research and Transfer.”
"Collective Impact" for Research and Knowledge Transfer
For the University of Applied Sciences, he has envisioned “Campus 2030” as a central hub for “collective impact”—an open space for innovation and transformation where academia, business, politics, government, and civil society can work together on a long-term basis to address the societal challenges of our time. “Such a physical space creates visibility for research and knowledge transfer, fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, and enables genuine co-creation.”
Anchoring “Collective Impact” in a physical space could strengthen the university of applied sciences as a social actor in the region and beyond. “It connects local needs with global issues of the future, makes scientific expertise accessible, and creates new forms of participatory research.” This gives rise to a vibrant ecosystem in which innovation does not arise in isolation within disciplines, but rather through continuous exchange between different perspectives, experiences, and interests.
Such a space at Fachhochschule Dortmund could serve simultaneously as a laboratory for experimentation, a platform for interaction, and a visible symbol of the university—one that consistently promotes research, knowledge transfer, and social responsibility as its core values and brand identity, thereby establishing itself as a reliable partner in the city and the region.