Zentrum für Internationales und Sprachen
Zentrum für Internationales und Sprachen
International cooperation between higher education institutions is essential for fostering a global perspective. It helps to ensure that the quality and relevance of degree programmes are maintained in today's increasingly globalised research and working environment.
Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences has a diverse network of partner universities with which it facilitates exchanges of students, teaching staff and administrative staff, while also seeking to establish strategic partnerships. Strategic partnerships are characterised by broad and robust collaboration at many levels and across disciplines, resulting in mutual benefit. A strategic partnership represents sustainable, long-term win-win relationships in teaching, research and knowledge transfer.
Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (THB) and TecnoCampus Mataró, a university centre of Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in Mataró, Spain, have taken an important step towards internationalisation by signing a strategic partnership agreement on 1 December 2025. The agreement builds on many years of close cooperation and paves the way for a deeper, more comprehensive partnership in the areas of teaching, research and institutional development.
Both universities share a strong focus on practice-oriented and competence-oriented education and internationalisation. They recognise that collaboration between universities is essential for fostering a global perspective. Their academic strengths lie in key areas such as economics, management and entrepreneurship, computer science, media, video games, as well as engineering and health/medicine – fields that play a crucial role in preparing graduates for the rapidly changing professional world.
Press release of Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences in German
Press release of TecnoCampus in English
The TecnoCampus Foundation is a charitable organisation whose mission is to strengthen links between the academic world and society, in particular with businesses and with technological, scientific, research, healthcare and cultural institutions. It is also responsible for the running of a science and innovation park, which is aimed at the university community, businesses, organisations, institutions and the general public.
These tasks include, amongst other things: the development of a training programme accessible to all sections of society; the promotion of research, its application and transfer; support for entrepreneurial initiatives aimed at setting up businesses or innovative enterprises; providing further education and postgraduate training; offering consultancy services, technical assessments and industrial testing; and acting as a hub for interaction between businesses, the university and the Mataró region and its surroundings. These objectives may be pursued directly by the foundation or in collaboration with other public or private organisations.
With this new strategic partnership agreement, both universities now aim to further deepen their collaboration. It promotes excellence and innovation in teaching, research and applied sciences. Through the mutual exchange of knowledge, intercultural experiences and interdisciplinary projects, the THB and TecnoCampus Mataró are creating clear added value for students and staff. Together, they are enhancing the quality, visibility and appeal of their academic programmes and services. Furthermore, the partnership strengthens the international competencies of both universities and serves as a model for building a growing global network.
The partnership agreement provides a solid framework which, by actively promoting the exchange of knowledge at various levels, facilitates the joint application of expertise and institutional innovation. In this way, both institutions aim to foster synergies and new solutions that will help tackle the regional and global challenges of the future.
The strategic partnership began with a series of teaching collaborations, which were developed and are being implemented in partnership between teaching staff at TecnoCampus Mataró and Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences.
International Media Camp
Teaching project led by Professor Stefan Kim of the Department of Computer Science and Media at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, and Professor Francisco José Pinel Cabello from the School of Cultural Industries at TecnoCampus MataróAt the International Media Camp, students from the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences and TecnoCampus Mataró explore cultural aspects of both partner regions through media projects. The overarching aim of the International Media Camp is to develop intercultural and communication competencies. From a technical perspective, students acquire the competencies needed to produce media projects as part of a team.
International Entrepreneurship
Teaching project led by Professor Dr Martin Wrobel, Department of Business and Management at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, and Ester Bernadó PhD, lecturer in entrepreneurship at TecnoCampus Mataró
The aim is to develop and conduct a joint course on the topic of start-ups, which is to be delivered across national borders and – if successful – on a permanent hybrid and/or online basis. Students from Germany and Spain will work in pairs on business ideas, which they will present and discuss critically at the end of the semester. The best teams will qualify for a reciprocal visit to foster personal interaction and intercultural exchange.
Vulnerability Assessment / International Cybersecurity Week
Teaching project led by Professor Dr Michael Pilgermann, Department of Computer Science and Media at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, and Professor Pere Tuset Peiró from TecnoCampus Mataró
After ten weeks of online seminars on applied cybersecurity, the participating students are gathering in Mataró to take part in a cybersecurity challenge. The challenge, which features ‘capture-the-flag’ events, is designed to develop the students’ skills and test them under pressure as part of a new team.
Both universities are pursuing this strategic partnership through joint activities and collaborative initiatives. The areas listed below represent key priorities that can be further developed within the framework of the partnership. At the same time, both universities are deliberately leaving room for new ideas and innovative approaches in order to continually strengthen the collaboration and keep it dynamic.
Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (THB) and the German Jordanian University (GJU) have signed a memorandum of understanding at THB to explore the potential for a strategic university partnership. Building on the existing partnership for student exchanges, the new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aims to further consolidate the long-standing collaboration on the digitalisation of cultural heritage and to explore new opportunities for collaboration in teaching, research and knowledge transfer.
Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences and GJU share a commitment to application-oriented teaching and research, and to promoting entrepreneurship and collaboration with businesses and industry.
Press release on the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in German
The German Jordanian University (GJU) is a state university with its main campus in Madaba, modelled on the German university of applied sciences concept. With more than 5,000 students and over 20 degree programmes, GJU offers a wide range of subjects and disciplines, including Computer Science, Logistics Sciences, Business Intelligence and Data Analytics, Energy Engineering, and Game Design and Media Informatics.
GJU students complete a year in Germany, which consists of one semester of study at one of more than 100 partner universities in Germany and one semester of work placement at a German company.
Website of the German-Jordanian University
The aim of the new memorandum of understanding is to explore joint opportunities, topics and formats, building on the long-standing, trusting cooperation between the two universities, with a focus on strengthening the partnership. This includes, for example, synergies and pilot initiatives in the areas of teaching, research and innovation.
One specific plan, for example, is a long-term collaboration on the topic of transnational education. The aim here is to provide Jordanian students with an education in Germany, partly with a view to integrating them into the local labour market against the backdrop of the need to secure a skilled workforce.
The memorandum of understanding builds on existing initiatives and opens up new opportunities for both universities.
Digitalisation of Cultural Heritage - Teaching Project
For the past five years, GJU and Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences have been conducting joint teaching projects on the digitalisation of cultural heritage. These include projects involving virtual lectures and project weeks in Jordan or Germany. Most recently, a group of Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences students visited Jordan in October 2025 to carry out 3D scans and develop interactive applications for museum visitors, in collaboration with lecturers and students from the GJU and the Jordan National Museum.
UNESCO Chair on the Digitalization of Cultural Heritage in Middle East and North Africa Crisis-Affected Regions
Furthermore, GJU is a key partner in the UNESCO Chair on the Digitalisation of Cultural Heritage in Middle East and North Africa Crisis-Affected Regions, which was newly established at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences in 2026. The Chair operates at the interface between Computer Science, Engineering and Business and Management, as well as Archaeology and Architecture, and collaborates with numerous partners in the Middle East and North Africa.
Together, GJU and Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences intend to explore opportunities for expanding and embedding their joint activities within institutional structures. To this end, GJU and Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences are cooperating in the following areas:
September 2026 | Exchange between the GJU Business School and the Department of Business and Management at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences
This text was created with the support of AI.
How can the Business School of the German Jordanian University (GJU) and the Department of Business and Management at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences strengthen their partnership? This question was the focus of the visit by Dr Bassam Maali, Dean of the GJU Business School, to Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences on 21 September 2026. Together with Prof. Dr Thomas Rennemann, Dean of Studies in Business Administration, and Prof. Dr Katrin Blasek and Prof. Dr. Andreas Johannsen from the Department of Business and Management, they discussed opportunities for closer cooperation in student exchanges, teaching and research.
The GJU and Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences have already been working together successfully for many years. Every year, around ten GJU students complete their German Year at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences. Conversely, Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences also offers GJU students an exciting opportunity to gain experience abroad: a state-of-the-art campus, a range of degree programmes with a practice-oriented focus, and university-wide English-language curricula across all degree programmes.
The discussion focused in particular on further developing the collaboration between the GJU’s Business School and the Department of Business and Management at Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences. Both institutions share an interest in integrating internationalisation with the development of specialist skills for students on economics degree programmes. The possibilities discussed included, amongst other things, intensifying student and academic staff exchanges, as well as exploring areas of common interest, for example for teaching collaborations or research projects.
The next meeting is already planned for November 2026 in Jordan. As part of German Week, Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences will be represented there alongside numerous other German partner universities of the GJU.
May 2026 | Delegation Visit
In early May, Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences welcomed a seven-member delegation from TecnoCampus Mataró, led by the Vice-President for Internationalisation, Prof. Carlos Martínez Gaitero. Through expert discussions, laboratory tours and working meetings, the group and THB colleagues explored joint projects, teaching collaborations and funding applications in greater depth – all with the aim of further expanding their strategic partnership. The visit took place alongside the International Media Camp and provided important impetus for teaching, research and knowledge transfer. Find out more on the Department of Computer Science and Media’s website
May 2026 | International Media Camp 2026
From 4 to 8 May, students from Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences and TecnoCampus Mataró worked in mixed teams on creative media projects at the International Media Camp (IMC) focusing on cultural perspectives from Brandenburg and Catalonia. Workshops, campus and city tours, and a visit to the Industrial Museum complemented the programme. The return visit to Mataró took place in the second half of May. The IMC strengthens intercultural competencies, teamwork and practical relevance, and is a living example of the strategic partnership. Here is the press release about the visit.
October 2025 | Project Week Jordan
With a joint teaching project led by Prof. Julia Schnitzer, Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences (THB) continued its activities in the field of Digitalisation of Cultural Heritage during the winter semester 2025/26. As part of a week-long field trip, more than 40 participants – lecturers, students and experts – gathered in Jordan from 24 to 30 October. In addition to the German Jordanian University, the Jordan National Museum also joined the project as a cooperation partner this time. During the project week, the students had the opportunity to scan objects in the museum, conduct interviews and develop creative ideas. Here is the press release about the project week.
