Feasibility studies are designed to help assess the market situation and opportunities before launching a project. Given the complexity of the issues involved, the experienced consortium—comprising rheform GmbH, CHE-Consult GmbH, and Büro Bergmann GmbH—and its experts examined the areas of higher education and program development and conducted an independent assessment of the World Heritage Site from the perspective of historic preservation. In addition to TH OWL, the study was jointly funded by the District of Höxter, the City of Höxter, Corvey gGmbH, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Volksbank Brakel, Volksbank OWL, and Sparkasse Höxter.
Of course, feasibility studies always involve hopes and aspirations. “Unfortunately, the result is less encouraging than expected and hoped for,” summarizes Professor Dr. Jürgen Krahl, President of TH OWL. “For the planning, renovation, and conversion under historic preservation regulations, as well as the relocation of our faculties from Wilhelmshöhe to the World Heritage Site of Corvey Abbey, a timeframe of approximately ten years from the date the contract is awarded must be assumed. The total costs would amount to at least a quarter of a billion euros.”
According to CHE Consult GmbH, a consulting firm specializing in strategic higher education management, the number of students would also not grow accordingly given demographic shifts and the resulting increased competition for young people. According to the study, the potential for incoming freshmen is in the single digits for most degree programs. Projections were made not only for the existing degree programs at the Höxter campus but also for new ones in Corvey.
“One obstacle identified by the study’s comprehensive analysis is Höxter’s poor accessibility for students,” explains TH OWL Vice President Yvonne-Christin Knepper-Bartel. It remains unclear how international students will be able to live and reside in Höxter. Another finding of the study is that transportation access to Corvey is hardly any better than to Wilhelmshöhe.
“As a result, a complete relocation of our degree programs to Corvey does not make sense. We are not burying our heads in the sand, but are using the study as an opportunity to develop solutions for TH OWL. We are in dialogue with the city, the district, and the state. Minister of Science Ina Brandes has announced her visit for February. The ‘Campus Corvey’ concept remains very attractive! I am far from giving up on the idea,” emphasizes Professor Krahl, well aware that viable ideas still need to be developed.
Höxter’s Mayor Daniel Hartmann adds: “We awaited the results of the feasibility study with great interest and looked with pride upon our city’s long tradition of higher education—a tradition that has been part of our identity for 160 years and which we recently celebrated in style with many companions and guests. Even if not all of the goals we originally hoped for are feasible, we should continue to look ahead together. We must now carefully examine what options are available to us and how we can continue to strengthen the university as the heart of our knowledge and innovation landscape.”
And District Administrator Michael Stickeln adds: “I deeply regret that the vision of a large Corvey campus is not feasible. However, the present feasibility study has clearly demonstrated this. The project—just like our new Education Campus for Skilled Trades—could have contributed to further strengthening our entire educational region in the Höxter district. We will now continue to work together to the best of our ability to design and expand TH OWL’s academic offerings so that young people will continue to recognize and take advantage of them as attractive opportunities for their personal and professional development.”
“I have supported the ‘Campus Corvey’ project from the very beginning,” explains Viktor Herzog von Ratibor and Prince of Corvey. Studying at a World Heritage site would, on the one hand, be a clear USP, making the TH OWL’s campus in Höxter more attractive and contributing to its long-term security. On the other hand, the sustainable use of certain areas would preserve the Corvey World Heritage Site as an important monument for future generations. “Since—in any case—a long-term solution must be found for both, combining these two goals would result in a win-win situation.” From the Duke’s perspective, the project is entirely feasible despite the higher costs and the longer time required for coordination.