In September 2005 The Presidents of the University of Applied Sciences of Frankfurt and the Wiesbaden University of Applied Sciences agreed to a strategic partnership of the two Universities of Applied Sciences of Frankfurt and Wiesbaden. This was due to the changes in the German higher education system (Bachelor / Master) and thereby increasing competition between colleges, universities, and vocational colleges. On 14 September 2007 a steering group was set up by the President by issuing a paper for the merger of the two Universities of Applied Sciences as Hochschule Rhein-Main – University of Applied Sciences. However, on 12 December 2007, the merger was rejected by the Senate of the University of Applied Sciences Frankfurt am Main, although it had already been approved by the Senate of the Wiesbaden University of Applied Sciences.