Innovation based on tradition is the motto of the Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen/University of Applied Sciences (formerly Fachhochschule Giessen-Friedberg), which was founded in 1971, comprising primarily engineering-based faculties. The historical predecessors of the Fachhochschule, the schools of Engineering, date back into the late nineteenth century. Today, classical engineering disciplines (e.g. Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering) are offered just as disciplines, that have developed out of the classical engineering courses (e.g. Energy Systems, Biotechnology, Information and Communication Engineering, Informatics). Teaching takes place in small groups and is oriented towards future professional life.