Nicole Hegel

Prof. Dr. Nicole Hegel serves as Professor at the Faculty of Social Work, Coburg University of Applied Sciences (HS-Coburg), actively contributing to institutional innovation and regional development initiatives. Her work bridges academic theory with practical industry applications in the Upper Franconia region.

Her research concentrates on personnel development frameworks for higher education transformation, specifically targeting the university of 2030 vision. She investigates how regions with high industrial density—particularly those housing numerous small-to-medium hidden champion enterprises—can reshape university-industry collaboration beyond traditional tourism/gourmet perceptions. Current focus areas include strategic personnel development models for institutional change and leveraging regional industrial ecosystems for academic innovation.

Prof. Hegel leads sub-project management for the IMPETUS initiative (2023-2028), a major institutional transformation program funded through university innovation grants. This project directly addresses structural challenges in positioning Upper Franconia's industrial strengths within higher education frameworks. Her operational role involves designing personnel development pathways to transition HS-Coburg toward its 2030 strategic vision while strengthening ties with regional enterprises.