India is considered an important strategic partner for science and Business Studies. A delegation from Fachhochschule Dortmund visited the South Asian country in mid-November to deepen existing cooperation and pave new paths for exchange.
The anchor point of the six-day trip was the 9th International Conference on Computational Systems and Information Technology for Sustainable Solutions (IEEE - CSITSS) at the RV College of Engineering in Bangalore. The renowned conference under the umbrella of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is now being co-organized by Fachhochschule Dortmund for the second time. Prof. Dr. Stephan Weyers, Vice-Rector for Teaching, Studies and Internationalization, opened the conference with a keynote speech. He was accompanied by an interdisciplinary group from various Faculties: Prof. Dr. Vinod Rajamani (Faculty of Mechanical Engineering), Prof. Dr. Tim Gruchmann (Faculty of Business Studies) as well as Prof. Dr. Sonja Kuhnt and Prof. Dr. Judith Jakob (both Computer Science).
"India is a key partner for us when it comes to sustainable engineering, digitalization and applied research," emphasized Stephan Weyers. "We want to make our collaborations not only academically, but also socially and economically effective - for example through exchange programs, joint research projects and the transfer of innovative ideas into practice. This strengthens our position as a globally networked university."
From start-ups to language support
In addition to science, networking with Business Studies was also on the agenda. At the "Bengaluru Tech Summit", Asia's largest technology event, Prof. Weyers and representatives of business development intensively discussed artificial intelligence, deep tech and semiconductor technology. The direct line to Bangalore's dynamic start-up scene offered exciting points of contact for future projects.
Another important component of Fachhochschule Dortmund's internationalization strategy is the preparation of international students. This was underlined by the visit to the URH language academy in Bangalore, which cooperates with Fachhochschule Dortmund. It prepares Indian pupils specifically for studying in Germany. "This linguistic and cultural preparation is an important key to successfully entering university," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Vinod Rajamani. "Our partnership with the URH ensures that students are not only well prepared for life and studying in Germany in terms of their subject, but also on a personal level."
Specialists for the German market
Another highlight of the trip was the visit to PSG College of Technology, one of India's leading technical universities and a partner in the German University Consortium for International Cooperation (DHIK). Through the so-called "3-1 program", Indian prospective engineers study for three years in their home country and transfer to Fachhochschule Dortmund for their final year. Prof. Dr. Vinod Rajamani, subject coordinator for the Automotive Engineering study program, presented vehicle development at the UAS: "This model is a win-win situation. The students receive a first-class education in both worlds, and we gain excellently qualified graduates who enrich the German job market." The Faculty of Computer Science also took the opportunity to explore opportunities for cooperation with PSG College.
The delegation also visited the National Institute of Engineering (NIE) in Mysore, a strategic partner of the UAS, to promote research projects and student exchanges.
Around 110 students from India are currently enrolled at Fachhochschule Dortmund. The aim of the university management is to further increase this number. The delegation trip therefore also served to find new partners from industry and politics. "We not only want to exchange knowledge, but also actively work on training and attracting young talent for the German labour market," Stephan Weyers concludes.