At the end of August, Ines Hatira from Tunisia will complete her study visit in Schmalkalden: She was the first participant in the DAAD-funded KOSPIE program, in which the university has been participating since this year. KOSPIE stands for “Combined Study and Practical Placements for Engineers from Developing Countries” and enables advanced students in engineering and the natural sciences from selected partner countries to complete a practice-oriented stay in Germany. Funding for the program is provided to the DAAD by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
During her study and research stay between March and August 2026, Ms. Hatira received academic guidance from Prof. Dr. Erwin Neuhardt of the Department of Computer Science and, as a DAAD scholarship recipient, was also supported by the university’s International Office. She used this time and the academic opportunities available to prepare her thesis—the development of an interactive chatbot—at the renowned INSAT Institute of Technology. Next summer semester, a student from Tunisia will also study and conduct research in Schmalkalden as part of the KOSPIE program.