Digital globalisation: THWS.Global project launched
With the new THWS.Global project, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) is continuing its internationalisation strategy: the aim is to digitally network practice-oriented research and teaching with five strategic partner universities from India, Taiwan, Jordan, and the USA.
The project is being funded with 550,000 euros by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) as part of the 'HAW.international' funding programme. From 2026 to 2028, THWS will collaborate more closely with Auburn University (USA), Christ (Deemed to be University) (India), RV College of Engineering (India), National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology (Taiwan), and the German Jordanian University (Jordan), thereby setting new standards for the development of intercultural competence.
Since 2014, THWS has been systematically expanding its international profile and driving forward the internationalisation of education, research, and knowledge transfer. Through international, intercultural, and transnational programmes, as well as digital and practice-oriented teaching and research environments, THWS is establishing a global network. Within Europe, THWS has been a member of the UNINOVIS European University Alliance since 2025, and beyond Europe it maintains strategic partnerships spanning three continents. As a result, the proportion of international students has risen from four per cent in 2014 to more than 25 per cent in 2025 – and the trend is set to continue upwards. THWS.Global contributes to this international profile by consistently expanding and structurally embedding its non-European partnerships.
"THWS.Global is the strategic upgrade of our success story to date: the qualitative leap lies in the shift from one-off programmes to lasting, deep structural integration," explains Professor Dr. Achim Förster, Vice President for Internationalisation and Teaching and project lead at THWS. "Through digital teaching formats and virtual labs, we are embedding top-class binational teaching and practical collaborations directly and flexibly into the curricula. This is a milestone for our University’s global orientation."
Five pillars for global networking
In terms of content, THWS.Global is built on five strategic pillars that interlink digital innovation, academic excellence, and intercultural practice:
- Global.Network: Expanding and deepening the strategic network of partner universities
- Global.Teaching: Development and piloting of innovative, digitally supported teaching formats, complemented by mobility programmes under the leadership of the Faculty of Computer Science and Business Information Systems
- Global.Skills: Developing intercultural skills and internationalisation in administration, research, and teaching
- Global.Labs: Development and piloting of collaborative activities with laboratories, supported by mobility programmes under the leadership of the Faculty of Business and Engineering
- Global.Vision: Further development of internationalisation skills through the collaborative creation of sustainable knowledge products and their provision to all member groups within the University
"The five areas of focus at THWS.Global are not isolated, individual measures, but form a closely interlinked ecosystem," emphasises Juan Pablo Juárez Castro, project coordinator and coordinator for strategic partnerships at THWS. "What makes this so special is the combination: whilst Global.Teaching and Global.Labs bring global collaboration directly into the day-to-day life of the faculties, through Global.Skills we simultaneously equip our students and staff with the necessary intercultural skills. In doing so, we are creating a modern, borderless campus experience and firmly embedding internationalisation throughout the entire University."
Global.Network oversees the qualitative expansion of the five partner collaborations and is managed by the International Office and the International Projects Unit. These central coordination points oversee THWS-wide networking, ensure internal knowledge transfer, and establish structures for the smooth exchange of staff internationally.
Building on this foundation, Global.Teaching forms the first part of the project's operational core: under the leadership of Professor Dr. Peter Braun from the Faculty of Computer Science and Business Information Systems, innovative co-teaching formats and video-based courses are being integrated directly into new online degree programmes in close partnership with Christ (Deemed to be University) in India. To create an interactive learning experience, telepresence robots and virtual reality applications are being used, whilst real-time translations powered by artificial intelligence minimise any language barriers.
Under the leadership of Professor Dr. Peik Bremer from the Faculty of Business and Engineering, in cooperation with Auburn University in the US, Global.Labs aims to create a pioneering virtual lab infrastructure: the THWS's in-house SimCar learning environment and the US-based Tiger Motors Lab will be digitally linked. With the help of digital 360° tours, students will test complex production systems under conditions close to reality across continents and in location-independent teams, in cooperation with an industry partner.
"THWS.Global lays the foundation for a future-oriented, digitally networked approach to internationalisation, from which students, teaching staff, and international partners alike will benefit," says Juan Pablo Juárez Castro, looking to the future.
About THWS
The Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Bavaria and has driven teaching and applied research since it was founded in 1971. With about 9,200 students, a diverse range of more than 60 degree programmes and two graduate schools, THWS covers a broad spectrum from technology, economics and social sciences to languages and design. THWS is not only rooted in the region, but also has a strong international focus, which is reflected in numerous collaborations and exchange programmes worldwide and also in diverse English-taught degree programmes.
Contact:
Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
THWS.Global Project Coordination
Juan Pablo Juárez Castro
Münzstr. 12
97070 Würzburg
strategic-cooperations[at]thws.de
Press contact:
Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
Angela Kreipl
Münzstr. 12
97070 Würzburg
+931 3511-8354
