Protestant profile
The ehs Dresden – an institution of higher education with a protestant profile
The Evangelische Hochschule Dresden was founded in 1991. Its supporting body is the Evangelische Fachhochschule für Soziale Arbeit foundation in Dresden. The Saxon State Ministry of Science and Art, the Lutheran Church of the Free State of Saxony, the Diakonisches Werk of the Church of the Free State of Saxony and the Diakonenhaus in Moritzburg are also involved in this foundation.
What does protestant profile mean?
"Gospel" means "good news". Christians use this word for the message and person of Jesus Christ. They live in the belief that god became man in the person of Jesus Christ and wants to renew the world.
Protestant profile means that we are guided by this good news. Respect for the dignity of every individual and a commitment to human rights issues are thus vital for us. We stand up for a fair share and a caring society. What's more, we also support people in their development and help them live a self-determined and meaningful life.
Respect for individual beliefs and convictions is important to us both in teaching and everyday life at the ehs. This also includes a willingness to listen to and learn from each other.
Do you have to be a member of a protestant church to be admitted to a course at the ehs?
No, you don't. The ehs is open to students of all confessions. Consequently, the ehs has students who are members of a Christian church as well as students who are affiliated to other religions or have no religious belief. What is important for us is respect for personal convictions. At the same time, a basic condition for studying at the ehs is that you are open to the theological contents in the different modules and are thus prepared to come to terms with the theological impulses. An application to study at the ehs should also include an individual justification as to why the applicant wishes to study at a protestant institution of higher education.
hich professors cover theology and ethics in their teaching?
- Dr Viola Balz, professor for psychology (focus on nursing ethics)
- Dr Ralf Evers, professor for practical theology and generational relationships
- Dr. Ulf Liedke, professor for theological ethics and diaconal science
- Dr. Frank Oehmichen
The staff also includes the following emeritus professors:
- Ulfrid Kleinert, professor for diaconal science and the first rector of the ehs
- Dr Ursula Pfäfflin, professor for gender studies and contextual theology
- Dr Karl-Wilhelm Dahm, professor for social ethics and lecturer at the ehs
- Pastor Andreas Nehls M.B.A, lecturer for business ethics, graduate of the ehs
Which seminars deal with theological and/or ethical topics?
All of the ehs' course modules have an interdisciplinary structure. Theology and ethics are thus included in the teaching content of different modules. The theological and ethical topics relate to the foci chosen for the respective course of studies.
Apart from the dedicated modules of each course of studies, there is a studium generale field where seminars are offered for all interested students. Two studium generale events with a theological content are offered in each semester. One is a block seminar held in the week before the lecture period starts. The other theological seminar is offered during the regular lecture period.
Are there any other teaching offers with a theological content?
The ehs offers in-depth theological and diaconal science studies. This allows students to deal with theological and diaconal issues in a more intensive way. The aim of this specialisation is to apply theological impulses to practical professional issues in the church, diaconal services and society. Students are awarded a special certificate and holders of this certificate are considered to be particularly skilled for work within the framework of the church and diaconal services. Apart from the regular modules with a theological content, students who choose this specialisation have to attend three additional theological seminars within the scope of the studium generale. Furthermore, they are also expected to submit a written paper on a theological/diaconal topic of their own choice.
Find out more about the theological in-depth specialisation for the individual courses of studies here.
How does everyday life at the ehs reflect the protestant profile?
Church services.
The ehs begins and ends each of its semesters with a church service. The church service at the beginning of each semester is held at 9:00 on the Monday of the first week of the lecture period. The church service at the end of each semester is celebrated in the ehs' prayer room on the Thursday of the last week of the lecture period. There is an additional ehs church service on the second Sunday of the peace decade that is celebrated at the Dresden Kreuzkirche. The ehs students help organise the different services.
In the middle of the day.
There is a prayer meeting in the ehs prayer room every Monday at noon during the lecture period.
Prayer circle.
Furthermore, students also meet for a prayer circle every Tuesday between 9:45 and 10:15 during the breakfast break.
There are also numerous other events that reflect the ehs' protestant profile such as graduation celebrations, specialist conferences and discussion circles.
A working group put together from students and lecturers is currently working on re-defining the ehs' protestant profile. Anyone who is interested can join in. Simply contact: Ulf.liedke
ehs-dresden.de