October 23, 2020

Prof. Dr. Angelika Altmann-Dieses, Vice-President for International Affairs at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (HsKA), is certain: "This funding will give an enormous boost to the internationalization of our university.” The university was successful with its project application "BA.International@HsKA" and can now implement internationalization measures worth almost 1 million euros over the next four years. 

The project of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is one of 14 model projects selected by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in the second funding line (Module B) of the "UAS.International" program for funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). This program provides additional support to the Universities of Applied Sciences (HAW) in Germany in order to give them an even stronger international orientation. The second funding line focuses on the establishment of practice-oriented study programs with international cooperation partners and the development of innovative and, in particular, digital mobility and exchange formats. 

The project "BA.International@HsKA" of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences provides for the establishment of a study variant "BA.International" with two international semesters for all undergraduate courses, whereby one semester can also be completed virtually. This measure is complemented by the development and implementation of digitally supported English-taught courses with the Taiwanese university alliance "TAItech" and by the introduction of a certificate for international and intercultural competence. The new study option "BA.International" and especially the student exchange with partner universities in Taiwan is supported by scholarships.  

Prof. Altmann-Dieses has no doubt that these measures will further sharpen HsKA’s already distinct international profile. About 40 % of the university's graduates have already completed a study-related stay abroad, and through the "BA.International", the Vice-President is confident that this proportion will increase even further in the coming years. However, according to Altmann-Dieses, the new digital teaching formats in cooperation with renowned foreign partners will also enable an increasing number of students to study internationally at the Karlsruhe campus, with the new certificate creating an additional incentive to acquire international and intercultural skills, be it "at home" or abroad. The university is thus preparing its graduates in the best possible way for the international job market of the future.

Link to the joint DAAD and BMBF press release (in German):  https://www.bmbf.de/de/staerkung-der-internationalen-wettbewerbsfaehigkeit-von-hochschulen-fuer-angewandte-12805.html