The University of Freiburg has an Updated Partnership Concept

President Prof. Dr. Peter Høj of the University of Adelaide and Rector of the University of Freiburg Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein with the signed partnership agreement. Photo: Klaus Polkowski / Universität Freiburg

An important milestone in internationalisation work at the University of Freiburg is the partnership concept for 2023-2026 which was updated by the International Office in March 2024; it takes into account not only the strategic process for the university as a whole but also the internationalisation concept of the University of Freiburg.

The Partnership Concept 2023-2026 primarily lays down guidelines for the expansion of university-wide international cooperations. A particular innovation is strengthening a selected group of university partnerships which are known as ‘enhanced partnerships’. Underlying these, along with the university strategy and the internationalisation concept, are inclusion criteria. At the same time, the university partnerships are intended to intensify the focus on key areas, which are laid down in the overall strategy of the University of Freiburg. Therefore, multi-year operating plans and shared monitoring will be a permanent element of the partnership agreement, guaranteeing greater transparency and making it possible to regularly review developments. This enables a gradual and flexible common approach and ongoing development of the partnership. Since November 2023, Penn State has been joined as an ‘enhanced partnership’ by Nagoya University, and since mid-May 2024 also by the University of Adelaide. Seed financing is provided for the partnerships, in order to support open participation by departments which are interested in the partnerships.

“Good, close partnerships with international universities always mean enrichment,” says Prof. Dr. Melanie Arndt, Vice Rector for Internationalisation and Sustainability at the University of Freiburg. “We’re delighted to be strengthening cooperations with two of our most research-oriented partners with the newly revised partnership concept. Through our cooperation we can build international and intercultural potential and synergies through new links in research, teaching and ongoing development of the universities and thereby focus resources together as well as expanding greater global visibility.”

University of Freiburg Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Melanie Arndt and Dean of the Medical Faculty Prof. Dr. Lutz Hein taking part in the roundtable on biomedical research during the University of Adelaide’s visit. Photo: Klaus Polkowski / Universität Freiburg

New partnership agreement with the University of Adelaide

The Executive Board of the University of Freiburg has resolved to expand the group of ‘enhanced partnerships’ to include Australia’s University of Adelaide. A delegation headed by Prof. Dr. Peter Høj travelled to Germany in mid-May for the new partnership agreement with the University of Freiburg. Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein welcomed the representatives from research, professorates and the administration of both universities to the leaders’ meeting. Following discussion about the future direction of the partnership and its shared goals and activities, Høj and Krieglstein sealed the cooperation with a new partnership agreement.

This agreement consolidated the bilateral relationship with the University of Adelaide that has existed since 2016. The long-standing, close cooperation in the fields of medicine and pharmacy will in future be intensified and cooperative potential will be increasingly expanded in the field of sustainability research.

Group picture of the delegations from both universities during the visit from the University of Adelaide. Photo: Klaus Polkowski / Universität Freiburg

Renewal of the partnership agreement with Nagoya University in November 2023

Back in November 2023 a delegation from Nagoya University, Japan, visited the University of Freiburg to renew the existing partnership agreement and enlarge it into an ‘enhanced partnership’. The President of Nagoya University Prof. Dr. Naoshi Sugiyama and Krieglstein confirmed their joint objectives: the University of Freiburg and Nagoya University will in future strengthen their ongoing cooperation in research, to increase the global visibility and effect of their shared research cooperation. Both partners are dedicated to promoting shared projects in the field of teaching and learning, as well as in bilateral exchange. Existing special cooperations, especially in medicine, chemistry, physics, economic and environmental sciences will continue to be a focus of developments. 

Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, Rector of the University of Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Naoshi Sugiyama, President of Nagoya University during Nagoya University’s visit to Freiburg. Photo: Jürgen Gocke / Universität Freiburg

Signing the partnership agreement: for Nagoya University Vice President Prof. Dr. Norimi Mizutani and President Prof. Dr. Naoshi Sugiyama and for the University of Freiburg Rector Prof. Dr. Kerstin Krieglstein, Vice Rector of Teaching and Learning Prof. Dr. Michael Schwarze, former Vice Rector of Internationalisation and Sustainability Prof. Dr. Daniela Kleinschmit, and Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Prof. Dr. Stefan Rensing (r to l). Photo: Jürgen Gocke / Universität Freiburg

Contact:
Kathrin Jehle
University of Freiburg
Central University Administration
International Office
79085 Freiburg
email: kathrin.jehle@zv.uni-freiburg.de