Strategic PartnershipsThe University of Groningen and Universität Hamburg expand collaboration

20 November 2019

Photo: UHH, RRZ/MCC, Mentz

Universität Hamburg’s international network is continuing to grow: approximately 50 members of Universität Hamburg and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen met to talk about future, more comprehensive collaboration.

There are already numerous academic contacts between the two universities, and they are now looking to identify additional shared research areas. The areas of data science, infection research, marketing, health economics, sustainability, and astrophysics were identified as particularly promising. Both universities will provide approximately €15,000 per year for exchange and the development of new ideas between researchers.

Since 2012, Universität Hamburg’s internationalization strategy has included the development of a strategic network of partnerships with international higher education institutions. The University of Groningen is the third cooperation partner in Europe for Universität Hamburg, after Lund University, and the University of Strasbourg. Partnerships include student exchanges, joint teaching and exchange formats, and research projects, particularly in Universität Hamburg’s profile areas.

Founded in 1614, the Rijkuniversiteit Groningen is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands, and the third largest, with approximately 30,000 students studying in 11 faculties. The university offers 90 English-language master’s degrees and 36 English-language bachelor’s degrees, demonstrating its commitment to internationalization. Prof. Dr. Ben Feringa, who won the Nobel prize for chemistry in 2016 is among their renowned researchers, and alumni include the former President of the of the European Central Bank, Wim Duisenberg. The cities of Hamburg and Groningen also maintain a close relationship. The cooperation agreement, which was extended in April 2019, lists the topics of renewable energy, scholarship and research, urban development, mobility, and health.