Through the externally funded project HLF R/NK tW – Open University for Control Centres, Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services, Ostfalia’s Faculty of Health Sciences is expanding its commitment to part-time continuing professional development. The research and development project will run from 1 June 2026 to 31 December 2028 and will develop transdisciplinary continuing professional development programmes for emergency care and civil protection. Funding is provided through the NBank’s “Opening Up Universities” programme, using funds from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the State of Lower Saxony.
For emergency response personnel from control centres, fire brigades and ambulance services
The aim of the project is to develop and (partially) trial a flexible, modular, transdisciplinary continuing professional development programme. This is aimed at emergency response personnel from control centres, fire services and ambulance services and is designed to facilitate the transition from the workplace to higher education. At the same time, it addresses the socially highly relevant field of emergency care and disaster management.
Over the course of the 2.5-year project, the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences, Wolfsburg Campus, is working with regional partners to develop a scientifically sound, part-time continuing professional development programme. Participants include the Centre for Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine Education, the Interdisciplinary Unit for Emergency and Disaster Management at Hannover Medical School, and the Fire and Disaster Management Department of the City of Wolfsburg. The project is led by Prof. Dr Ilka Benner, Prof. Dr Melanie Lietz and Prof. Dr Sandra Tschupke.
Six modules are being developed as part of the project:
Community paramedics in the context of low-code operations
Paediatric emergencies in emergency medical services
Advanced pre-clinical practice
Operational incident management in the context of major incidents
Operational incident management in the context of CBRN incidents
Practical training in emergency response/firefighting
The project responds to the existing need for in-depth further training in this field. At the same time, it helps to open up the university to target groups working in systemically important, non-academic professions. This is achieved through the close integration of theory and practice, practical development in the spirit of lifelong learning, flexible learning formats and the sustainable provision of academic qualifications.
