The Master's degree and doctoral programs are based upon the profound experience in optics education distinguishing the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena (FSU Jena).
The university has identified optics and photonics as one of its key profile fields in education and research. ASP's education programs are embedded in a modern research environment belonging to the Abbe Center of Photonics (ACP).
This interfaculty center of the FSU Jena maintains strong bonds with local research institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering, the Institute of Photonic Technology, the Helmholtz Institute Jena and a number of prominent industrial partners.