30 years of success: TU Braunschweig and URI celebrate a strong partnership!

30 years of success: TU Braunschweig and URI celebrate a strong partnership!

30 years ago, in the mid-90s, the foundation for a remarkable collaboration was laid: the partnership between University of Rhode Island (URI) and the Technical University of Braunschweig. This alliance is now one of the most successful at German universities and will be duly celebrated with a festive event in Rhode Island in June 2025. President Angela Ittel and representatives of the TU Braunschweig did not miss the opportunity to be present at the celebrations.

The partnership has undergone impressive development since its founding in the late 1980s. It was initiated by John Grandin and Hermann Viets and saw its first student exchange in 1995. Two years later the cooperation agreement was signed. However, these jubilant 30 years mean not only a look back, but also a forward-looking outlook: together they will initiate new research projects and collaborations in the coming period.

International engineers on the rise

This is one of the main pillars of this partnership International Engineering Program (IEP), a model that provides students with a comprehensive education. In this five-year program, participants not only acquire a bachelor's degree in an engineering subject, but also a bachelor's degree in a language, which opens the doors to international careers for students.

The numbers speak for themselves:100 percent of IEP graduates study abroad for a year, which is simply impressive compared to just 0.1 percent of national engineering students. Over the last 30 years, the exchange has given around 1,000 students the opportunity to gain experience around the world. These are not just numbers, these are stories, hopes and dreams.

As part of the double degree program, the TU Braunschweig now offers the opportunity to acquire two degrees at once: a US and a German master's degree in various engineering disciplines. These include disciplines such as civil engineering, environmental engineering and electrical engineering. The opportunity to complete part of your studies in Germany and part of your studies in the USA is not only very popular with students, but is also seen as a strategic enrichment for both universities.

A look into the future

The roots of this successful cooperation can also be seen in the international university collaborations, which are becoming increasingly important for German universities. According to the HRK (University Rectors' Conference), universities are involved in transnational education in order to develop and position study programs and faculties abroad. The code for German university projects abroad, adopted in 2013, sets out important ethical and academic minimum requirements to which both partners are committed.

With the strategic partnership agreement signed in June 2023, research work will be further intensified. The aim of the cooperation is to put innovative areas such as ocean engineering, sustainability, quantum and nanotechnology and teacher training on the agenda. The Matching Funds program will play a crucial role in supporting these projects.

All in all, it shows that this partnership is not only successful, but also future-oriented - a good hand for global exchange! Looking ahead to the coming years, it will be exciting to see where the journey will lead for these two institutions.