The results are impressive. With the two-year InTransfer project, Ostfalia University has succeeded in expanding its international orientation in teaching, research and transfer in a targeted manner. Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the HAW.International programme, the project aimed to prepare students for international careers and establish sustainable transfer structures with European partner universities.
Project manager Kai Hillebrecht: "The DAAD-funded project has given us the opportunity to work with our partner universities in France, Portugal and Finland to further develop the basis for joint study programmes in the field of robotics and interactive systems as well as formats for international knowledge transfer." Matheus Lara Pereira from Brazil presents an example of this in the video (external link, opens in a new window): the development of a robotic assistance dog for the blind.
Filling international collaborations with life
Other key components of InTransfer were language and communication programmes and a wide range of opportunities for personal encounters and practical experience. Excursions and workshops took students and staff to places such as Toulouse, Paris, Tampere and Setúbal, as well as to international companies such as Alstom and Volkswagen, where they gained insights into industrial practice, research and transfer.
Video: Matheus Lara Pereira shows his everyday life at Ostfalia (external link, opens in a new window)
Delegation trips, for example to the Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal (IPS) in Portugal or the Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland), also strengthened cooperation in teaching, research and entrepreneurship and opened up new perspectives for joint projects. And: Ostfalia Master's graduate Christopher Peters travelled to the "International Conference on Social Robotics + AI" in Naples, where his publication was nominated for the Best Paper Award.
Video: Top 5 nomination in Naples for Christopher Peters (external link, opens in a new window)
Practice, culture and intercultural exchange
The promotion of intercultural skills was a top priority. Formats such as international workshops, the International Week of Computer Science, intercultural cookery, museum visits and creative activities such as a drum circle offered participants from different countries space for exchange, networking and joint learning. Special attention was paid to accessibility so that all interested parties could participate. These personal encounters complemented the academic content and contributed significantly to an open international university culture.
More information: Concrete impressions can be found in the blog (external link, opens in a new window)
Lasting impact beyond the duration of the project
InTransfer was jointly implemented by the International Relations Office, the Faculty of Computer Science and Knowledge and Technology Transfer. The networks, study structures and transfer formats established in the project are to be continued and further developed beyond the two-year term. The aim is to anchor international study programmes, practice-oriented teaching and European cooperation at Ostfalia in the long term.
Project InTransfer - Brief information
Duration: 01.01.2024 - 31.12.2025
Funding:
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
HAW.International funding programme
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
Project volume: approx. 500,000 euros
Project management:
Kai Hillebrecht (International Relations Office / Knowledge and Technology Transfer)
Reinhard Gerndt (Faculty of Computer Science)
Participating institutions:
International Relations Office (IRO)
Faculty of Computer Science
Knowledge and Technology Transfer (WTT)
International partner universities (selection):
UPSSITECH - Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse (France)
Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal (Portugal)
Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland)
Thematic focus:
International practice-integrated teaching
Double/joint degree in robotics and interactive systems
International industrial internships
Intercultural competences and transfer formats
