InternationalizationUniversität Hamburg Delegation Visits Strategic Partner Universities in the United States

15 November 2023, by Newsroom editorial office

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At an Indiana Hoosiers basketball game (from left): Hilary Kahn (interim vice president for international affairs), Hauke Heekeren, Courtney Peltzer-Hönicke (head of Department of International Affairs at Universität Hamburg), Claus Krieger, Silke Segler-Meßner, Konrad Hirschler, Judith Lohner (advisor to Universität Hamburg president), Cathie Carrigan (director of Global Gateway Network), and Miguel Ayllon (associate vice president for international affairs)

Photo: Private

From left: Hilary Kahn, Pamela Whitten (president of Indiana University), Hauke Heekeren, Courtney Peltzer-Hönicke, Judith Lohner, and Miguel Ayllon

Photo: Private

The delegation at Northwestern University with Dévora Grynspan (vice president for international relations, third from left)

President Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren and a delegation from the University visited strategic partner universities in the United States from 6 to 10 November. The focus of the visit to Indiana University in Bloomington and Northwestern University in Evanston was on new international cooperation formats and projects for students, research, and administration.

In addition to President Heekeren, the delegation comprised Prof. Dr. Silke Segler-Meßner (dean of the Faculty of Humanities), Prof. Dr. Claus Krieger (vice dean for research, graduate education and internationalization), Prof. Dr. Konrad Hirschler (spokesperson of the Cluster of Excellence Understanding Written Artefacts), Courtney Peltzer-Hönicke (head of Department of International Affairs), and Dr. Judith Lohner (University Administration).

The US trip provided the delegation with deep insights into innovative collaboration possibilities and the unique spirit of each partner university. With Indiana University, the delegation discussed ideas and the potential for new international teaching and learning formats, particularly for experiential learning, and the positive power of all university members participating in transformation and strategy processes—for example, in the areas of sustainability and digitalization.

In talks with Northwestern University, new and unconventional mobility formats for students were also discussed for the future of internationalization. Week-long trips to partner institutions, which have already been tested between Northwestern University and Universität Hamburg, could open the doors for a larger number of students at partner institutions. The joint work of researchers is to be bundled and expanded also in research—for example, in manuscript studies, education, and the humanities.

Universität Hamburg sees great potential with both partners to expand multilateral international partnerships and establish a network of networks. The trilateral exchange program for administrative staff—which Universität Hamburg, Northwestern University, and Stellenbosch University have been running for 2 years—serves as a model for the future. Exchanging best practices and getting insights into each partner’s circumstances ensure the professionalization of university administration.