Purdue University delegation visits TU Braunschweig First exchange on a joint dual-degree program

Last week, a delegation from Purdue University in the United States visited TU Braunschweig. The visit focused on discussions about a new joint dual-degree program in aerospace engineering.

The six-member Purdue delegation, led by Tamara Kinzer-Ursem, Associate Dean of Graduate and Professional Education, and Marisol Koslowski, Associate Dean for Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships, was warmly received at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering by Professor Georg Garnweitner, Dean of Studies at the Faculty. Afterwards, the group split up and visited various TU Braunschweig facilities—including BRICS, LENA, the Institute of Microbiology, and the Institute of Space Systems. During these tours and exchanges, the delegation members took the opportunity to discuss existing and planned research collaborations with their colleagues at TU Braunschweig.

The delegation also visited the International House. Back row (left to right): Joseph Tort, Francesco Ducatelli, Prof. Gerhard Klimeck Middle row (left to right): Prof. Amy Marconnet, Prof. Tamara Kinzer-Ursem. Front row (left to right): Prof. Marisol Koslowski, Prof. Neer Jain, Prof. Georg Garnweitner. Picture credits: Simone Fürst/TU Braunschweig

At the joint lunch that followed, Knut Baumann, TU Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, welcomed the guests to campus and took the opportunity to discuss various aspects of the collaboration and get to know them personally.

In the afternoon, a hybrid meeting was held, with additional participants from the U.S. joining remotely to discuss a potential joint dual-degree program in aerospace. Alongside the U.S. guests, Professor Georg Garnweitner, Dean of Studies at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; Professor Simona Silvestri, Head of the Institute of Space Systems; Professor Markus Böl, Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; Professor Sabine Langer, Head of the Institute of Acoustics; and Francesco Ducatelli and Ute Kopka from the Mobility Office of the International House took part. Both sides expressed their interest in a joint double-master’s degree and exchanged initial ideas on how to implement it. They also reviewed existing student exchange models and gathered suggestions for their expansion.

“With Purdue University, we have maintained a long-standing partnership with an established student‐exchange program in aerospace engineering. As one of the leading U.S. universities in STEM, Purdue is a highly attractive partner for us—and also a very appealing destination for our students to spend a semester abroad,” emphasized Garnweitner. “I was delighted to welcome our colleagues from Purdue and hope that we can further deepen our collaboration.”

More than two decades of transatlantic university partnership

Purdue University and TU Braunschweig have been successfully collaborating for more than 20 years. What began as a regular student‐exchange program deepened when TU Braunschweig joined Purdue’s Global Engineering Alliance for Research and Education (GEARE) and began regularly hosting Purdue students for a semester abroad.

From 2009 to 2013, both universities also partnered in TU Braunschweig’s Summer School program, which regularly welcomed faculty and students from West Lafayette to Braunschweig.

Each year from early May through late July, TU Braunschweig hosts Purdue students for three‐month research projects at the university and at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Conversely, master’s students in TU Braunschweig’s aerospace engineering program undertake one‐ or two‐semester study abroad stays at Purdue.

In addition to their student-exchange collaboration, they maintain long-term research partnerships in various fields, including fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, life-cycle engineering, and aerospace.