# Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin

The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (German: Alice-Salomon-Hochschule Berlin, or ASH) is a vocational university for social work, public health and early childhood education in Berlin, Germany. Located in the district of Berlin-Hellersdorf, ASH is a state-run institution that focuses on applied sciences with a strong emphasis on social responsibility, equality, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
With around 3,000 students, ASH Berlin provides a practice-oriented education that combines research, innovation, and real-world application. The university is known for its commitment to social justice, inclusion, and diversity, fostering an academic environment that encourages critical thinking and professional development. ASH maintains strong partnerships with social institutions, healthcare providers, and international organizations, allowing students to gain practical experience and engage with global social challenges.

## History

The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin) has a rich history intertwined with the evolution of social work and social reform in Germany. Its origins date back to 1893 when social reformers and feminists in Berlin established the Girls and Women's Groups for Social Aide Work, initiating systematic training for social work through one-year courses. Building upon this foundation, in 1908, Alice Salomon founded the Social School for Women in Berlin-Schöneberg, offering a two-year curriculum that integrated theoretical and practical training. This institution became a model for social work education in Germany, emphasizing interdisciplinarity, the integration of theory and practice, and an international perspective—principles that continue to define ASH Berlin's programs today.
Though students were mostly from Germany, the school admitted some foreign students, like Rayna Petkova, who would become one of the first professionally trained social workers of Bulgaria. The curricula included both theoretical training and required practical experience. Among the courses offered were family problems, pedagogy, population analysis and change, psychology, social health organization, social work as a profession, youth services, among others. Some of the teachers of the courses, besides Salomon, included Käthe Bonikowsky, Margarethe Freiin von Erffa, Elly Heuss-Knapp, Hilde Lion, Elisabeth Nietzsche, and Helene Weber, among others.
It admitted only women applicants until 1945. It was renamed the Alice Salomon School in 1932 in commemoration of Salomon's 60th birthday. In 1933, the Nazi Party came to power and Alice Salomon was banned from the school and a large number of instructors of Jewish descent were fired. In 1937, Alice Salomon was expelled from Germany and emigrated to the United States. It was not until 1954 that the school reinstated the name "Alice Salomon School".
The school was recognized as a State University of Applied Sciences for Social Work and Social Pedagogy in 1971 and was granted the right to confer degrees, although it once again lost the name "Alice Salomon". In 1991, the 'Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences' was established as the official name of the university.

## Today

The Alice Salomon University is now Germany's oldest and largest training institution of higher education in social work. It is recognized as one of Germany's most research-intensive universities of applied sciences in the social field. One of the cornerstones of the university is applied research.
The modern university building is situated in the district of Berlin named Hellersdorf, nicknamed "Helle-Mitte" (Bright Centre). The square on which the building is located is named after Alice Salomon. Cooperation between the university and the district of Hellersdorf include community projects involving children and youth and the issue of urban development.

## Study Programs

Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin) offers a comprehensive range of study programs focused on social work, health, and education. The university provides nine undergraduate bachelor's degree courses and four consecutive master's degree courses that build upon these.
Bachelor's Programs:
* Early Childhood Education: This program prepares students to work with young children, emphasizing developmental psychology, pedagogy, and inclusive education practices.
* Healthcare and Nursing Management: Designed for future leaders in healthcare, this course covers topics such as healthcare policy, management principles, and quality assurance in nursing.
* Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy: Students gain practical skills and theoretical knowledge to support individuals in improving their physical functions and daily living activities.
* Social Work: This program trains students to address social issues, providing them with the tools to support diverse populations through various social services.
* Social Work Online: Tailored for employed students, this online program offers flexibility while covering the same curriculum as the traditional Social Work bachelor's degree.
Master's Programs:
* Management and Quality Development in the Health Sector: This course focuses on developing leadership skills and strategies for quality improvement in healthcare settings.
* Practical Research in Social Work and Early Education: Students engage in applied research projects to advance practices in social work and early childhood education.
* Public Health: This program addresses public health principles, epidemiology, and health promotion strategies to prepare graduates for roles in health policy and community health initiatives.
In addition to these, ASH Berlin offers various continuing education master's programs, some of which are conducted in English, such as "Biographic and Creative Writing," "Intercultural Conflict Management," "Clinical Social Work," and "Social Management." These programs are designed to provide advanced professional development opportunities for individuals seeking to enhance their expertise in specific areas.
ASH Berlin also offers preparatory pre-study programs for international and refugee prospective students who have not obtained their educational qualifications in Germany and are not yet able to apply for a regular course of study at ASH Berlin.

## Campus

The Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin) is situated in the Hellersdorf district of Berlin, with its main building located at Alice-Salomon-Platz. The campus encompasses several facilities designed to support the academic and practical training of its students. In addition to the main building, the university operates a facility at Fritz-Lang-Straße 5, which houses skills labs for the Bachelor's program in Nursing, professors' offices, and seminar rooms. Another location at Janusz-Korczak-Straße 8 accommodates administrative offices and project spaces. The campus is well-connected to public transportation, providing easy access to various parts of the city.