Delegation visits partner universities and Kleve’s sister city in the United States (press release)
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences strengthens ties with Ferris State University and Fitchburg State University
Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences is very interested in strengthening its existing partnership with Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts, USA, which is why it recently sent a delegation of officials, accompanied by Heinz-Joachim Schmidt, the first deputy mayor of the city of Kleve, to Fitchburg for sit-down meetings with the university’s administration and top city officials.
Leading up to this visit, the delegation, which consisted of President Dr. Heide Naderer; Professor Dr. Philipp Schorn, Vice-Dean for International Affairs of the Faculty of Society and Economics; and Dr. Joost Kleuters, the Head of the University’s new International Center, took the opportunity for a short visit to another partner university in the US, Ferris State University in Michigan. The goal of this initial visit was also to strengthen the existing partnership between the two universities.
Joined after this leg of the journey by the first deputy mayor and Dr. Klaus Hegemann, Professor of General Business Management Studies, the delegation then continued on to Massachusetts. The first deputy mayor was delighted by the warm reception after the group’s arrival in Fitchburg: “Good relationships between people form the solid foundation needed for future collaboration. Fitchburg’s mayor Stephen L. DiNatale, whom I got to know during my visit, is someone who is very interested in reinvigorating our cities’ partnership and supporting the ongoing collaboration between our two universities.”
In addition to expanding the current academic exchange of students and professors, Rhine-Waal and Fitchburg State are also planning new joint initiatives, for example in e-learning and new exchanges between the sports and music departments. Dr. Heide Naderer sees clear benefits in the continued exchange between the two partner universities and cities. “Collaboration between universities and cities is mutually beneficial for everyone involved, whether in terms of better mobility and academic exchange, or in ever-important regional development,” said the President. The visit indeed bore fruit: Fitchburg will be sending a delegation of its own to Kleve later this year.