Strengthening Ties: Delegation Visit to UNINOVIS Partner THUAS
In early June, a diverse delegation from THWS, consisting of university management and faculty representatives, visited our UNINOVIS partner institution, The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) in the Netherlands. The visit focused on the signing of key cooperation agreements as a foundation for further deepening the partnership, alongside strategic, academic, and research-focused discussions. It marks a significant milestone for the cooperation between both institutions, which is set to flourish across various fields in the future.
Setting the Foundation for Future Collaboration
At the heart of the visit were high-level meetings and strategic discussions between university leadership: THWS President Prof. Dr. Jean Meyer, alongside Vice President for Teaching and Internationalisation Prof. Dr. Achim Förster and Vice President for Research and Entrepreneurship Prof. Dr. Jan Schmitt, met with THUAS Vice President Arend Hardorff, Head of Team Strategy Advice and Partnerships Jacqueline van Marle, and Strategic Advisor International Partnerships Sabine Amft to outline the future of the partnership.
Key Highlights:
- Official signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which serves as the cornerstone for expanding the bilateral partnership. Furthermore, the finalisation of the Erasmus Inter-Institutional Agreements establishes THWS and THUAS as official exchange partners, paving the way for enhanced student and staff mobility.
- Exploring joint initiatives within the European University Alliance UNINOVIS, particularly in the areas of micro-credentials and research cooperation.
- Discussions on Double and Joint Degree programs on a bilateral level to offer students highly internationalised curricula.
- A visit to the Dutch Innovation Factory in Zoetermeer spurred concrete discussions on potential collaborations with the THWS Technology Transfer Centers (TTZs) and entrepreneurship initiatives.
Wide-ranging Exchange across Faculties and Research Institutes
While institutional bonds were solidified, the trip also kicked off academic connections across various disciplines. A large cohort of faculty representatives traveled to The Hague to meet their direct counterparts face-to-face, exchanging ideas and discussing precise opportunities for faculty-level cooperation in the future.
THWS faculty representatives on site:
- Prof. Dr. Bernd Ankenbrand, Faculty of Business and Engineering
- Prof. Dr. Uwe Sponholz, Faculty of Business and Engineering
- Prof. Dr. Mark Eberspächer, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
- Prof. Dr. Anne Heß, Faculty of Computer Science and Business Information Systems
- Prof. Dr. Sven Warnke, Faculty of Applied Social Sciences
In addition, THUAS and THWS organized a joint, two-day workshop on AI and robotics - a collaboration that emerged from UNINOVIS - Data for L.I.F.E. During this workshop, researchers and faculty members from various European countries had the opportunity to present their research, interests, and ideas. Through pitches, discussions, and working sessions, participants actively worked on new collaborations and potential research projects.
About UNINOVIS:
UNINOVIS brings together eight higher education institutions from across Europe that share a common goal: to promote education, research, and innovation in the field of applied data science in order to address today's societal challenges. The alliance operates under the motto “Data for L.I.F.E.” and focuses on lifelong learning, innovation and integration, promoting ecological and digital change, and European excellence. The alliance contributes to building a data-literate, inclusive, and sustainable Europe where knowledge and innovation serve both people and the planet.
Learn more about UNINOVIS - Data for L.I.F.E.
Funding information: UNINOVIS
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency. Neither the European Union nor National Agency can be held responsible for them.
