Prof. Dr. habil. Rainer Beurskens is Academic Dean at the University of Applied Sciences for SMEs (FHM), where he is responsible for the strategic development, quality assurance, and governance of a multi-campus study portfolio with more than 6,000 students. In this role, he shapes institutional transformation processes, develops performance- and impact-oriented management systems, and systematically aligns academic programs with societal, regulatory, and labour market requirements.

Previously, he served as Dean and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Psychology, Health & Social Sciences, where he was responsible for the further development of study programs, accreditation procedures, the evaluation of teaching performance, and the leadership and development of professors and academic staff.

His academic career has taken him, among other institutions, to the German Sport University Cologne, the University of Potsdam, and into international research collaborations such as the Univesity of Texas at Austin, TX and the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. He completed his habilitation in Training and Movement Science and earned his doctorate in Sport Science.

In research and higher education development, he combines evidence-based scholarship with institutional strategy, knowledge transfer, and capacity development. A particular focus of his work lies at the interface of science, healthcare systems, and education, especially in building sustainable structures for health and qualification systems.

With more than 50 peer-reviewed publications, extensive third-party funding acquisition, and many years of leadership experience, he represents a consistently impact-oriented integration of research, teaching, and higher education management.