Internationalisation: Transatlantic relations

Mittweida University of Applied Sciences (HSMW) is continuing to shape its internationalisation process. One focus lies across the Atlantic, on collaboration with universities in the United States of America. Although the journey is a long one, the two institutions already know each other well. In early April, Rector Professor Volker Tolkmitt and his travelling companions from Mittweida met Professor Martin Anselm, a long-standing academic colleague and friend, at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in the State of New York. He opened the door for them to hold discussions with the management of this renowned university and to establish closer cooperation. The agreements signed in the USA will enable more students from both partner institutions to study, undertake work placements or write their final theses at the other institution.

HSMW and RIT can already look back on a long history of collaboration, which regularly brings together students and lecturers for the ‘Field School on Automotive Electronics’. When it takes place in Mittweida – as it did this May – the programme for the nearly two weeks offers an insight into German engineering education and German automotive engineering – and, in the background, the answer to the question of what ‘Made in Germany’ is all about. This was ensured, amongst other things, by a visit to the Porsche factory in Leipzig. Professor Martin Anselm had come with three fellow professors and 15 students.

Just before the field school, they attended International Week at HSMW, where they met fellow students from another of HSMW’s partner universities, Shepherd University in West Virginia. Twelve students and their lecturers were in Mittweida as part of their ‘Cultural Psychology Lecture Course’ during the conference, which was held under the theme ‘Internationalisation for Sustainability’. There are many parallels between Shepherd University and HSMW. Both universities are roughly the same size, have a similar profile and are located in towns of comparable size. The student exchange programme with Shepherd University, which has been running since 2023, is now being complemented by a staff exchange programme. Agreements on expanded cooperation also facilitate joint research and events, as well as providing relief from the high tuition fees in the USA.

Useful links:

Report on the 2023 Field School in the USA

Interview with Nicholas Olsen, the first exchange student from Shepherd University at HSMW

The livestream from the international campus festival ‘Mittweida Music Clash Vol. 3’ to watch again