It is an honour and a great opportunity to further advance the internationalisation of Hochschule Bremen (HSB) – City University of Applied Sciences in Europe: it is just one of eight universities of applied sciences (HAW) in Germany that is being funded by the EU to create a European University with partners. In mid-June, the STARS EU project team at HSB invited all university members to a dialogue.
The abbreviation STARS EU stands for Strategic Alliance for Regional Transition European University. The alliance has been in existence for several years - initially it was formerly called ENGAGED. Since November 2023, it has been funded by the EU with 12.4 million euros, initially until October 2027. In addition to HSB, universities in the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Poland and Albania are also involved.
A lot has already happened in recent months and years: New digital and analogue teaching formats are being practised and tested by the nine partner universities. Teachers and students are benefiting from this. New courses and degrees are in preparation – for example: the development of a double degree in the Master's course in Construction and Environment (Infrastructure) together with the Portuguese partner university Polytechnic Institute of Bragança - funded by the DAAD programme HAW.International "Internationalising Practice in Civil Engineering" (I_PaCE).
In research, scientists have the opportunity to apply for start-up funding for project ideas with STARS EU partners. At the regular STARS EU conferences and working meetings, ideas can be developed and taken forward – for example on the topics of energy transition, circular economy, start-ups and innovation or health and how the nine universities can learn from each other. Bremen and the region therefore are benefitting from STARS EU.
At the information event in the foyer of the International Graduate School on Langemarchstraße at the Neustadtswall campus, STARS EU project coordinator Stefanie Eul (on the picture at speakers' desk) and Vice-Rector for Studies, Teaching and Internationalisation Prof. Dr. Annika Maschwitz (on the photo with microphone) explained the project structures behind STARS EU and how you can get involved. It is pleasing to note that more than 50 HSB employees from all status groups are already involved in STARS EU. More are very welcome.
Are you also interested or do you have questions about STARS EU? Please contact the project coordinator Stefanie Eul or her new colleague Anouk Doeven, who is responsible for networking as STARS EU Officer.
Contact: stefanie.eul@hs-bremen.de and anouk.doeven@hs-bremen.de