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The week began at the Rotterdam campus with events focusing on internationalisation and innovative teaching approaches. One key insight was clear: universities today do not merely work for society, but increasingly collaborate with it – they develop solutions together with partners from industry and society. This approach was brought to life through a wide range of activities. At the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab, participants saw how students, researchers and external partners work together to tackle real-world challenges. A visit to the Van Nelle Fabriek – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and symbol of industrial innovation, which has been transformed from an industrial complex into a hub for the creative industries – provided inspiration on how historic spaces can be repurposed to foster innovation and collaboration.
Student projects as part of the Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs), such as ‘Urban Transformation’ and ‘Changing Cities’, demonstrated how international and interdisciplinary teamwork enables students to develop practical and forward-looking solutions. Another highlight of the week was the interactive design workshop ‘Towards Effective Collaboration’, in which participants explored ideas for future partnerships and discussed strategies for building meaningful, long-term collaboration between the institutions. Mittweida University of Applied Sciences was represented by Prof. Dr Pradeep Kumar, who leads the project ‘Strategic Communication for International Business and Sustainable Educational Development: Promoting Social and Economic Growth in Germany and Beyond (STRATCOMM)’ as part of the ‘Internationalisation of German Universities’ initiative. His participation sparked valuable discussions and opened up new perspectives for future collaboration. This participation was made possible thanks to the clear vision and strategic direction of the International Office at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. Special thanks go to the Head of the Department of International Relations, Saskia Langhammer, and the Deputy Head of the International Office, Tim Friedrich, whose support made participation under the Erasmus+ mobility programme possible. Their commitment continues to form the basis for efficient and effective international projects. Looking ahead, further collaboration is already in the pipeline: Prof. Ulrich Buser and Prof. Markus Drowatzky from the Faculty Media Sciences are planning a joint Erasmus+ BIP project with Inholland for the 2026–2027 academic year. HSMW would like to extend its sincere thanks to all the organisers and participants for an exciting and well-organised week. This experience provided valuable insights and strengthened international ties, which will continue to grow in the years to come.
