UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State welcomed a delegation of faculty and international office staff from Leibniz University of Hannover, Germany, Sept. 14-16. The visit was coordinated by the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research and Penn State Global, and generated significant interest among faculty and staff at Leibniz and Penn State.  The two universities indicated an interest in expanding collaboration by signing a Letter of Intent.

Leibniz University Hannover is one of the nine leading Institutes of Technology in Germany, with nearly 30,000 students studying in nine departments, and approximately 3,100 researchers working in more than 150 institutes. Established in 1831, LUH is a public higher-education institution located in Hannover, the capital of the Federal State of Lower-Saxony and lies in the heart of Germany.

The visit entailed meetings with Penn State faculty and Penn State Global staff members, as well as an orientation to campus and visits to various labs. Originally planned to take place in 2020, the much-delayed visit brought together a variety of stakeholders across a wide spectrum of disciplines.

According to Shashank Priya, former associate vice provost for research, “Leibniz University brings extensive strength in many technical areas including vibration dynamics, energy harvesting, production engineering, and smart materials.“

Faculty from both institutions in chemistry, mechanical engineering, sports science, law and African and Atlantic Studies spent time together during the visit. The meetings underlined support for the mutual exploration of potential collaborations focused on student and staff mobility, faculty partnership and research.    

“The Leibniz University delegation visit was highly productive for exploring collaboration between our institutions. We look forward to developing new opportunities for global learning as well as research and scholarship that are transformative for both of our institutions “ said Sabine Klahr, associate vice president for Penn State Global. “At Penn State, we seek to develop partnerships that are multidisciplinary and involve students, faculty, and staff.“

A detailed exchange on Global Learning, Education Abroad, Student Engagement, Student and Scholar Advising, Planning and Partnerships and the role of the Penn State University Libraries and the educational office at Leibniz University led to stimulating discussions.

“It was eye-opening to talk about university partnerships with such a like-minded group from Leibniz University,” said Alexandra Persiko, assistant director for Europe and Oceania Partnerships. “The setup of the International Office and their endeavors remind me of where we in Penn State Global put our emphasis.”

The next steps will include a detailed analysis of collaborative opportunities, seizing upon the energy the visit generated. At the conclusion of the visit, Mel White, senior director of Planning and Partnerships, said, “It was exciting to host the delegation from Leibniz and be able to explore where the two institutions see collaborations going that advance the mission of both universities.“   

For more information, contact Alexandra Persiko at axp1225@psu.edu.