Charlotte signs partnership with German university

UNC Charlotte and the Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Science in Germany have signed a collaborative agreement that will expand opportunities for Charlotte students and faculty in the William States Lee College of Engineering to study and research in Germany.

The agreement was officially signed by UNC Charlotte Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber and Hochschule Niederrhein President Thomas Grünewald at a ceremony on Charlotte’s campus Monday, Oct. 24.

“This partnership will not only enrich the students’ academic and personal lives, it will also strengthen our ties with our regional German industrial partners,” said Rob Keynton, dean of the W.S. Lee College of Engineering. “It will enhance the college’s educational and research knowledge and expertise in our key growth areas including advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, smart cities and transformational energy.”

There are nearly 240 German firms based in the Charlotte region.

Hochschule Niederrhein, which has about 14,000 students and campuses in Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, is one of the largest and most well- regarded universities of applied science in Germany.

While on campus, the German visitors met with faculty from the Department of Languages and Culture Studies and toured several labs including the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center’s HighBay Laboratory and Duke Energy Smart Grid and Flexible Energy labs, the Center for Precision Metrology and the Alan D. Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory.

In addition to Grünewald, the Hochschule Niederrhein delegation included Norman Lupa, dean of the faculty of mechanical and process engineering; and Marion Halfmann, internationalization officer and professor of business administration. They were accompanied by Krefeld Mayor Frank Meyer and other Krefeld city officials. Charlotte and Krefeld are celebrating 35 years of their Sister Cities relationship. Hochschule Niederrhien has two campuses in Krefeld.

UNC Charlotte, through the Office of International Programs, has relationships with more than 50 global partner institutions in 19 countries.