STEP-NET

STEP-NET (Strengthening Transnational Education Partnerships – Nations in Education Together) is an international project run by Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, which will be carried out from March 2026 to December 2029 in collaboration with three partner universities in two countries:

• Georgian National University (SEU);
• Odessa National Economic University (ONEU);
• Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU).

The project is funded by the DAAD’s ‘Transnational Education – Strengthening and Excellence through Profile Development (TNB-STEP)’ programme, with funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

STEP-NET links Mittweida University of Applied Sciences with partner universities as part of a long-term transnational educational cooperation. The project builds on more than two decades of experience with the Industrial Management degree programme at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, as well as on the double-degree partnerships that have been in place since 2016.

The aim of the STEP-NET project is the qualitative further development of the ‘Industrial Management’ double degree programme. The study programmes are designed to be financially sustainable and are intended to remain economically self-sufficient and competitive in their further developed form even after the funding period ends. At the same time, they are intended to be visible and attractive to students and non-academic partners.

Furthermore, STEP-NET aims to systematically strengthen the internationalisation of the participating universities in Germany, Ukraine and Georgia by establishing sustainable exchange and cooperation structures. At the same time, the further-developed degree programme is intended to address current challenges and equip students with practical, up-to-date knowledge and skills that are in demand on the labour market.