New partnerships in Namibia for Furtwangen University

Student exchange and academic cooperation

As the former colony of German south-west Africa, Namibia is an important partner country for Germany in south-west Africa. Multiple joint projects and cooperative agreements connect the two countries. HFU has now joined this list. New partnership agreements with universities in Namibia mean that in the future Furtwangen University (HFU) students can spend their semester abroad in Namibia.

Professor Michael Lederer, Vice President International and Executive Learning, and Professor Rütger Conzelmann, Head of the Examinations Office, were in Windhoek for talks with various university partners. HFU has now signed partnership agreements with Namibia University of Science and Technology, and the University of Namibia in Windhoek, meaning students of both universities can study tuition-free at the opposite university. The plan is to organize both student and professorial exchanges so that lecturers in Windhoek can hold lectures at HFU, and vice versa.

"We want to further develop our cooperation with the prestigious Namibia University of Science and Technology and the University of Namibia in Windhoek," explains Prof. Michael Lederer. "Faculty-wide interest in an exchange to the African continent is substantial. This can bring significant advantages on the international labour market."

Semester Abroad as a career kick
International student exchange is an important component of study at HFU. Anyone who studies abroad gains significant intercultural competency skills. Business and research need globally oriented graduates to work in a global market. "Currently approximately 30% of our students across all faculties study or work abroad for at least one semester," added Professor Michael Lederer. Our graduates benefit not only from the knowledge they gain abroad, but also from their excellent  foreign language proficiency, their intercultural skills and the opportunities that open to them in the international job market.