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Projects

The strong international orientation of Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences is reflected in its extensive involvement in the acquisition and implementation of third-party funding and/or mobility projects of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) or the European Commission. At present, the following projects are carried out centrally (in the International Office) or decentrally (in the faculties) at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences:
 

ERASMUS+ with Programme Countries

Like most public universities in Germany, Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences participates in the European Union's ERASMUS+ programme (KA103). Expressions of this participation are a valid ERASMUS Charter for the programme period 2021-2027 and the so-called ERASMUS Policy Statement, which explains the orientation of ERASMUS activities at Schmalkalden University. Through the "ERASMUS+" programme, domestic students can study abroad and domestic lecturers can teach at one of our partner universities in Europe; they benefit from scholarships on the one hand and from a clear process flow on the other. KA103 projects are carried out regularly and the contact person for ERASMUS mobility is the university's ERASMUS coordinator. The ERASMUS code of the university is "D SCHMALK01" and the PIC is "953813611".
 

ERASMUS+ with Partner Countries

In addition to the KA103 line relating to ERASMUS programme countries, the higher education institution has also acquired two KA107 projects in the European Union's ERASMUS+ programme, enabling ERASMUS mobility from/to two ERASMUS partner countries: (a) Until 2023, mobility between Schmalkalden University and partner universities in Ukraine, Azerbeijan, Tunisia and Austrailia can be financed. The mobility programme relates to students and teachers at the partner universities; priority is given to double-degree students of the Faculties of Computer Science and Mechanical Engineering. (b) Mobilities between the Kazakh-German University and a German consortium of partner universities coordinated from Schmalkalden University can also be funded until 2023. The contact person for both projects is the head of the International Office.
 

DAAD Projects: DKU/KGU

The Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences has been the sponsor of the DKU project since 2017. Through this project, the German Foreign Ministry supports the development of the Kazakh-German University (KGU/„Deutsch-Kasachische Universität“, DKU) in Almaty through the DAAD. The DKU is one of the few binational universities to be supported in this way and is Germany's most important science policy institution in Central Asia. The project office at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences works closely together with its colleagues on the Kazakh side. Among other things, the assignments of German guest lecturers at the DKU are planned and organised jointly, the further development of the study programmes is coordinated, academic networking with German universities is promoted and students are supervised within the framework of various mobility programmes. Students from Germany, for example, have the opportunity to take part in individual courses in German or English at the DKU as part of the "Study Modules in Central Asia" programme. Watch a summary presentation of the DKU and its goals as well as the contents of the project funding by Professor Heinz-Peter Höller, Project Manager of the Kazakh-German University at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences.

DAAD Projects: German University Projects Abroad

Within the framework of the DAAD programme "German University Projects Abroad", two scholarship projects are located at the Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences, through which students of the Kazakh-German University (DKU) are financially supported. Since the DKU is a private university, it charges quite high tuition fees. Within the framework of one project, good applicants or students are supported by fee scholarships. In addition, students who do not live in Almaty - the seat of the DKU - have the opportunity to receive a scholarship to cover part of their accommodation costs at the place of study. Within the framework of the second project, scholarships for a stay in Germany are awarded to the best DKU students. This enables them to participate in one of the seven double-degree programmes. The contact person for this project is the DKU project office at the University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden.
 

DAAD Projects: Ostpartnerschaften

The DAAD's "Ostpartnerschaften" programme uses funds from the Federal Foreign Office to promote university relations between German universities and universities in Central Eastern, Eastern and South Eastern Europe as well as the countries of the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The project's impact logic is that the short-term mobility of students or university staff - e.g. specialist courses, workshops, study visits etc. - intensifies the respective university relationships, that the German language is increasingly in demand at the partner university and that a deeper, intercultural dialogue is initiated. The Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences is executing such a project from 2021 to 2023, involving partner universities in Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Lithuania and Russia. The contact person for the project is the head of the International Office.
 

DAAD Projects: STIBET I

The DAAD programme "STIBET I" uses funds from the Federal Foreign Office to promote the improvement of support for international students at German universities, among others. The aim of the STIBET project at Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences is to introduce students to their studies abroad in a structured way, to inform them about the host country, to avert intercultural conflict situations and to strive for stronger networking between domestic and international students. A permanent buddy programme, excursions into the country and intercultural workshops are an expression of this goal. In addition, the DAAD Prize, endowed with 1,000 euros, is awarded once a year within the framework of the programme line and honours outstanding international students and their commitment. The project is acquired annually; the contact person is the head of the International Office.
 

DAAD Projects: Welcome

The DAAD programme "Welcome" is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Its aim is to prepare refugees who are fit to study for a degree in Germany and to integrate them in the best possible way at the university location. To this end, up to two student assistants work actively on counselling and caring for refugees and on developing new ideas and initiatives for "Welcome". Concrete projects relate to the public relations work of the university, which has been tailored to the target group in various language versions, as well as support and advice on specific questions of university access and integration into university life through language courses, encounter festivals and networking excursions. The Welcome Project is the responsibility of the head of the International Office. Questions will be answered by the Welcome Team at the International Office.

 

DAAD Projects: PROMOS

Through the DAAD's "PROMOS" programme, Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences uses funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research to finance study-related stays abroad for its students. The additional financial expense associated with a stay abroad is one of the main obstacles to mobility. If ERASMUS funds cannot be used to finance studies abroad, an application for a PROMOS scholarship is possible twice a year. The incoming applications are examined and evaluated by a specially established commission and the result is a decision on the awarding of the scholarships. Students will find the announcement and application form in the section "Outgoing Students". The project is recruited annually and the contact person is the head of the International Office.

 

DAAD Project: HSM.InternationalER (Module B)

After a previous grant in Module A in 2021/2022, Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences is now also being funded in Module B of the DAAD programme HAW.International, financed by funds from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The HSM.InternationalER project, which will run until the end of 2025, is another step in fulfilling the goals of the university's internationalization strategy. In three sub-projects a new level of the progressive internationalisation of the university is achieved: (a) University internationalisation also means university cooperation. Together with partners from abroad, double degrees are to be reactivated and the new double degree "Digitization, Law and Management" founded. (b) Sub-project 2 "Thuringia.Works.Abroad" is a direct extension of the measures from Module A and enables students to gain valuable practical experience abroad. (c) In sub-project 3, a system of changing digital guest lecturers is to be integrated into the curriculum of the university in order to ensure sustainable international teaching. The contact person for the project is the head of the International Office.

 

DAAD-Project: HSM.InternationalER 2023-2024

The DAAD programme "HAW.International", funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, strategically supports the internationalisation of Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences (SUAS) and ties in with previous grants in Module A in 2021/2022 as well as a grant in Module B, ongoing until 2025. This new project is running until 2024, while its fields of action are designed to correspond to modern university internationalisation in line with the SUAS Internationalisation Strategy and the SUAS strategy "Retaining Professionals Internationally” and is processed in separate sub-project structures: (a) Advisory.International, focusing on the organisational development for a qualified, English-speaking and low-threshold study advisory service for international students, (b) Short-Term.International, meeting the mobility needs of engineering and continuing education students through practice-oriented short-term mobilities, and (c) Cross-Faculty.International, implementing the structural organisational development of a cross-faculty teaching unit with focus on language and intercultural key competences. The project is led by the Head of Department 1 – Studies and International Relations.