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As part of a trip through northern Spain at the end of April 2025, the Vice-Chancellor for Research at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, Professor Uwe Mahn, visited two long-standing partner universities – the University of León and the University of the Basque Country (Universidad del País Vasco) in San Sebastián / Donostia. The aim was to strengthen existing partnerships in research and teaching, develop new avenues for collaboration and foster personal exchanges with colleagues on the ground.
The visit began with a visit to the University of León, where discussions with the Deputy Director for Research, Santiago Gutiérrez Martín, and other representatives from the Faculties of Engineering Sciences and Biotechnology laid the foundations for future joint activities. A visit to the Office of Technology and Knowledge Transfer (OTC) and a tour of the modern laboratory buildings highlighted the opportunities for deeper collaboration on research projects and the expansion of student exchange programmes. During a tour of the campus in León, the energy-efficient, multi-purpose building ‘Casa del Estudiante’, currently under construction, and specialised facilities – such as those in the field of aerospace engineering – made a particular impression. Discussions with engineering students rounded off the visit and demonstrated the high level of interest in exchange programmes with Mittweida University of Applied Sciences.
The second stop on the trip took Professor Mahn to San Sebastián, where the established dual-degree programme with the University of the Basque Country was reviewed. Recent changes to the curricula at Mittweida have given rise to new requirements, particularly with regard to the language of instruction and the recognition of modules. At the same time, the visit opened up opportunities to expand cooperation within the framework of EU research projects.
A highlight of the visit was the presentation of Mittweida University of Applied Sciences to interested students, as well as a personal discussion with a future dual-degree participant who will soon be starting a semester of study in Mittweida. The visit was rounded off by a specialist lecture by Professor Mahn on non-linear finite element analysis, during which practical examples were demonstrated directly using the ANSYS simulation software he had brought with him.
Conclusion:
This trip highlighted once again that international university partnerships are based on personal contacts and mutual understanding forged on the ground. It is only through direct encounters that long-term partnerships can flourish, trust can be built and concrete projects can be realised – whether in teaching, student exchanges or research.
Text and photos: Prof. Uwe Mahn
