Since 1994 Achim Osswald is Professor at todays Cologne Technical University (University of Applied Sciences) appointed for "Applications of IT in Library and Information Science". During his time at Cologne Technical University he was in charge as Dean, Deputy Dean and Director of an Institute for Further Education. Since 2002 he is Manager of a Master´s program for Library and Information Science professionals (MALIS). This study program is held parallel to professional employment, combining brief on-site lectures with e-learning modules preparing it´s participants for leadership positions in libraries and other information centers. Connected with this qualification issues have always been in his focus. His fields of interest are library automation, digital publishing including open access, research data management and digital preservation. During the last years his professional focus was on Personal Digital Archiving. From his point of view this topic connects his professional knowledge with every day´s life in a very practical way.Since 2007 he was and is an active member of nestor, the competence network for digital preservation in Germany. With nestor, he co-organized yearly School events on digital preservation issues. At present he is co-manager of the nestor working group on Personal Digital Archiving.
During winter term 2006/7 he was visiting scientist at DRTC - which was the beginning of ongoing connections to DRTC and some Indian Universities.
