This year’s tour will focus on the cooperation of German universities with industry.

Germany has a long tradition of a close cooperation of universities with industry, especially in engineering. There are different levels of cooperation, one being the creation of affiliated institutes, funded by industry associations and companies. This close cooperation can contribute to a speedy transfer from theory into practical applications. It allows for a practice-oriented study program, which opens interesting job perspectives, but it may also raise the challenge of ensuring the independence of researchers from company interests. Furthermore, university industry cooperation provides access to a broad spectrum of internships and is a valuable asset in international cooperation. The Germany Today program addresses cooperation at the regional and the national level and pinpoints the specific strengths of the different institutional types.

The Germany Today 2023 tour offers participants the opportunity to exchange best practices, effective methodologies, and lessons learned between the German hosts and the North American guests.

The tour includes on-site visits to a variety of higher education institutions, research institutions, and companies in Bielefeld, the Ruhr area, Aachen, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Bonn.

The program will be interactive: our hosts will provide valuable insights into their activities, and you will be asked to share your perspectives and expertise with them. North American participants in this program are typically senior administrators at leading universities in the U.S. and Canada (such as provosts, deans, vice-presidents, or heads of international offices), policy makers in federal and
state/provincial governments or associations and other experts in the higher education field or in the respective research topics.

The program will be in English. Program-related costs in Germany (accommodation, domestic travel, most meals) will be covered by DAAD. The program officially starts in Bielefeld on Sunday afternoon, June 11, 2023, and ends with a dinner on Friday evening, June 16, 2023, in Bonn. The night from Friday, June 16, to Saturday, June 17, is also booked and covered by DAAD. Intercontinental travel is at the participant’s expense.

North American participants in this program are typically senior administrators at leading universities in the U.S. and Canada (such as vice presidents for international affairs or heads of international offices), policy makers in federal and state/provincial governments or associations, and other experts in the higher education field.

Applicants must have U.S./Canadian citizenship or permanent residency. They should have a demonstrated interest in Germany and transatlantic co-operation, and a relevant professional position. They should not have recently participated in another information trip to Germany.