Sustainability of Products and Processes in Focus Transcontinental Course with the University of Rhode Island
In an interdisciplinary and international seminar, students from TU Braunschweig and the University of Rhode Island, USA, are working together on the topic of “Sustainability in Management and Engineering” in the winter semester 2024/25. A practical week in Kingston, Rhode Island, served not only as an initial thematic kickoff but also provided students with the opportunity to get to know each other personally.
A total of 16 students – ten from TU Braunschweig and six from the University of Rhode Island – are taking part in the course, which is taught in English. They come from various disciplines in economics and engineering. The aim of the seminar is to teach methods for quantitative sustainability assessment and to apply these in practice using a current case study, using the example of the life cycle of traction systems. Using the example of the life cycle of traction batteries for the automotive industry – a central topic with regard to the mobility of the future – the students deal with relevant assessment methods and also apply them in practice.
Learning together brings people together. TU Braunschweig and the University of Rhode Island are expanding their collaboration in teaching. Picture credits: IWF/TU Braunschweig
Preparing for the international labour market
The joint course is the result of years of collaboration between TU professors Thomas Spengler, Head of the Institute of Automotive Management and Industrial Production, and Christoph Herrmann, Head of the Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, and Professor Manbir Sodhi from the College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical, Industrial, and Systems Engineering at the University of Rhode Island. The researchers have maintained close contact for over 20 years. The two universities are also closely linked across disciplines through a strategic partnership agreement. A central aim of this agreement is to enhance cooperation in the fields of study and teaching. The seminar organised by the Institute of Automotive Management and Industrial Production and the Institute of Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology aims to achieve just that: ‘In addition to the subject-related objectives, the seminar also serves to promote intercultural networking among students, to highlight different perspectives on the topic of sustainability in Germany and the USA and to strengthen cooperation with the University of Rhode Island as a strategic partner in the area of teaching,’ explains Thomas Spengler.
Another aspect is to prepare students who will be future managers to think and act globally, adds Christoph Herrmann: ‘The graduates of our degree programmes will predominantly work in international and interdisciplinary contexts in their working lives. Our task is therefore also to prepare our students for this at an early stage. International courses help to reduce reservations and support our students in developing intercultural and, of course, language skills.’
Kick-off event at the University of Rhode Island
During the kick-off week at the University of Rhode, the foundations were laid for the later group work. Picture credits: IWF/TU Braunschweig
The official kick-off for the seminar took place in the first week of October at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston. In six lectures, the students were given an in-depth insight into the fundamentals of ecological and economic sustainability assessment as well as multi-criteria decision-making. The Python-based sustainability assessment tool Brightway2 was also introduced for the practical part of the sustainability assessment.
Expert talk at the University of Rhode Island. From left: Prof Stephan Krinke, Prof Karsten Kieckhäfer, Prof Michael Hauschild, Prof Christoph Herrmann, Prof Thomas Spengler, Prof Manbir Sodhi. Picture credits: IWF/TU Braunschweig
The week was rounded off with an ‘Expert Talk’, in which professors from the University of Rhode Island and TU Braunschweig were joined by other renowned experts in the field. The students then embarked on the group work phase, which will last until mid-December and brings challenges with it: ‘The time difference between the continents was not easy to organise at first,’ reports TU student Johanna Zöller. ‘We can only meet online, which is why the kick-off event was so valuable, as we were able to get to know each other in person in advance.’
Based on the US university system, students are required to regularly submit assignments to the supervising academic staff, which serve as a means to evaluate their learning objectives. ‘The independent development of our results, in close dialogue within our international team, is not only enjoyable but also provides me with valuable insights into what intercultural cooperation could look like in my future professional life,’ explains TU student Joel Laurent Mrachacz.
Joint teaching course to be continued
On 11 December, the students will present the results of their work at a final online event. However, the collaboration does not end there: All those involved would like to continue the joint course and offer the event once a year in future – the kick-off week is to take place alternately at TU Braunschweig or the University of Rhode Island.
The concept of the course has already been very well received by students at TU Braunschweig: ‘The seminar gives me an insight into a new country and a different culture. At the same time, I can use my English skills and improve them enormously. The course enriches me both in terms of my studies and personally, so I can definitely recommend it to others,’ emphasises TU student Lenja Ottenhues.