HörHanse: Visit by Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister for Education

How can collaboration between the trades, the medical sector and research help to improve our understanding of hearing and further develop care provision? Dr. Dorit Stenke, Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister for General and Vocational Education, Science, Research and Culture, found out more during a visit to HörHanse e.V. on 1 April 2026 in Lübeck. The founding members include the University of Lübeck, Technical University Lübeck, University of Music, the UKSH, the DHI, hearconcept, the Federal Guild of Hearing Aid Acousticians and the Campus Hearing Acoustic.

“In Lübeck, training, research and practical care come together in an exceptional way – from vocational school through to master craftsman qualifications, university studies and scientific research. HörHanse connects these structures and strengthens the exchange between those involved. The whole of Schleswig-Holstein can benefit from this,” said Minister Dr. Stenke during her visit to HörHanse.
In doing so, she addressed an issue that is also gaining social significance: with an ageing population, the need for professional hearing care is increasing, whilst at the same time technologies and scientific insights relating to human hearing are constantly evolving.

During discussions, Dr. Stenke gained an understanding of the various perspectives of the stakeholders associated with HörHanse. She also gained practical insights into techniques. For instance, teaching staff from the Campus Hearing Acoustic demonstrated the ear scan.

Robin Hartmeyer, Vice-President of the Federal Guild of Hearing Aid Acousticians, emphasized the great importance of Lübeck as a location for vocational training in the audiology and hearing acoustic profession. At the Campus Hearing Acoustic, the Academy of Hearing Acoustics and the Federal Open State Vocational School jointly teach future Hearing Aid Acousticians from across Germany in both theory and practice as part of a learning centre partnership that is unique on an international scale. “At the Campus, high technical standards and highly qualified teaching staff enable training that provides the best possible preparation for future professional challenges,” said Hartmeyer. “HörHanse broadens the Campus’s scope by forging links with other key players in the field of hearing.”

The Science Council also welcomes “the newly founded HörHanse alliance in view of the high standing of hearing care training in Lübeck and encourages […], to make this unique selling point more visible and to tap into transfer and translation potential in collaboration with relevant companies and hospitals”.
HörHanse brings together people who engage with the topic of hearing from different perspectives. These include hearing care professionals, doctors, scientists, as well as teachers and trainers. They continue to work in their respective professions – for example, in patient care, in training the next generation of professionals, or in research and teaching.

Within the network, they gain an understanding of the perspectives of other fields and exchange experiences, questions and potential joint approaches. This allows expertise to be pooled and existing resources to be utilised more effectively. At the same time, connections are formed that facilitate collaboration and strengthen the exchange between practice, training and research.

“In recent years, a network has emerged in which people working in the field of hearing collaborate as equals,” says PD Dr Hendrik Husstedt, Chairman of the Board of HörHanse e.V. “The close link between the trade, hearing care and science is particularly important. Findings from research are directly incorporated into the care of people with hearing problems, whilst experience from clinical practice and hearing acoustics simultaneously provides important impetus for research. We wish to build further on this strong network.”

Over the coming years, the participants plan to further expand their collaboration. Topics under discussion include shared research infrastructure, closer cooperation with companies and international contacts. The association’s role in coordinating the network is also crucial: this creates structures where people from different fields can meet, exchange ideas and develop joint projects.

What this exchange looks like in practice will be demonstrated at the HörHanse Days on 10 and 11 June in Lübeck, where experts from academia and the field will come together to provide insights into current projects and generate interdisciplinary ideas.