The Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology of the Hochschule Niederrhein is now an official member of the "Association of Universities for Textiles" (AUTEX), a worldwide network of universities with a strong textile orientation. AUTEX was founded in 1994 and, with 42 members from 29 countries, covers a large part of the international universities with the right to award doctorates and a strong research profile in this field.

As one of the largest places of study for textile engineers in Europe, it was obvious that the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology of the Hochschule Niederrhein would also participate in this network. Up to now, membership failed because the universities of applied sciences in Germany did not have the right to award doctorates, which is an important criterion for admission to AUTEX. However, since The Hochschule Niederrhein has also had an independent right to award doctorates since November 2022 through the NRW Doctoral College, this last hurdle has now also fallen.

After submission of the application for membership and a personal presentation by Prof. Dr. Lutz Vossebein (Dean), Prof. Dr. Mathias Beer (Dean of Studies) and Prof. Dr. Maike Rabe (Head of the Research Institute for Textiles and Clothing and herself also a member of the Doctoral College), the faculty was welcomed as a new member at this year's AUTEX General Assembly during the ITMA trade fair in Milan.

The membership is intended to achieve even closer cooperation between the Hochschule Niederrhein and the other universities in the network in the future, for example by mutual application of the respective activities and achievements, promoting the mobility of students and staff between the universities, organizing conferences or applying for joint research projects.