KhPI Extends Cooperation with Leading Universities in Germany and Belgium

Yevgen Sokol, Rector of NTU “KhPI” paid a working visit to some leading Universities in Germany and Belgium. Negotiations culminated in the signing of cooperation agreements and renewal of already signed contracts. Among the KhPI partners are KU Leuven Belgium, RWTH Aachen University Germany, OVGU Germany and also the European Union Program Erasmus+ . The agreements presuppose joint cooperation in the field of education and science: academic mobility for the students, post-graduate students and teachers, joint research, etc. Special attention was paid to the prospects of the extension of cooperation avenues.   

“We extend and strengthen our cooperation with Magdeburg OVGU embracing all possible avenues, including DSG2 Project that offers a new and unique program of double diplomas for the bachelors. It should be noted that only these two universities with their seats in Germany and Ukraine suggested a comprehensive educational solution for Ukrainian refugees that temporally found shelter in Germany. We have pleasure to inform of the signing of a new agreement on the students’ mobility Erasmus + that presupposes the funding of academic exchanges for our students, teachers and researchers. And it is for the first time when this agreement was signed for the period of five years,” said Yevgen Sokol, Rector of NTU “KhPI”.

The agreement signed with the Belgium University KU Leuven presupposes also the exchange of the students and teachers and cooperation in the field of education and science. And now the Belgium University is ready to receive ten students from the Kharkiv Polytechnic within the framework of the Exchange Program. According to the Rector of KhPI, the Belgium Party assumes an obligation to fund this program.

We continue our cooperation with the RWTH Aachen University Germany. “We signed the memorandum to extend and confirm all our authorities relating to the exchange of the students, post-graduate students, teachers and scientists to carry out joint research. We have a current project realized by the Department for Machine Dynamics and Strength at KhPI and the Department for Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University within the framework of the Erasmus+ Program. Our partners suggested expanding cooperation covering computer sciences, chemistry and power electronics. In addition, RWTH worked out a unique program to train the teachers and academics knowledgeable in the inclusive education. It should be noted that the management of the University promised to translate this program into Ukrainian and send it to the inclusive space Arsenal of Ideas Ukraine/ Space of Ideas: Science&Museums at KhPI”, said Yevgen Sokol, rector of NTU “KhPI”.

During the meeting with the management of European Universities, Yevgen Sokol, Rector of NTU “KhPI” presented the leading scientific developments of the Kharkiv Polytechnic. And the excursions were organized for him to have an idea of University campuses.

It should be noted that RWTH Aachen actively participates in the Program worked out to render assistance for Ukraine. The charity collection on the part of the employees of the University almost reached the mark of 1 million euro. In addition, many companies that are University partners donated the equipment and medicines in the amount exceeding 10 million euro.

Reference: RWTH Aachen University is a higher institution of education in Aachen, Germany. The University was founded in 1870 and it is on the TU 9 lists, i.e. the association that includes 9 top engineering universities in Germany. The Aachen University includes the following departments: Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences; Architecture, Civil Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Georesources and Materials Engineering; Electrical Engineering and Information Technology; Arts and Humanities; School of Business and Economics and Medicine. It gives training to about 30 000 students.

OVGU University is Otto-von- Guericke University Magdeburg that was founded in 1993 and it is one of the youngest universities in Germany. OVGU gives training to about 14 000 students at nine departments. These include the Department for Computer Sciences, the Department for the Economics and Management, the Department for Liberal Sciences, Math Department, the Department for the Medicines, the Department for Natural Sciences, the Department for Mechanical Engineering, the Department for Processes and Engineering Systems, the Department for the Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies. It is named after the physicist (and the Mayor of Magdeburg) Otto-von-Guericke famous for his physical experiments (Magdeburg hemispheres).

KU Leuven University is one of the ancient Universities in Europe. And it is a Catholic Research University in the city of Leuven, Belgium. It was founded in 1425. Today KU Leuven gives training to more than 60 000 students that study at different campuses in Leuven and beyond the city. In 2021 it ranked 42nd according the Times Higher Education Rankings and it ranked 70th according to the QS World University Rankings. Among the avenues presented at the University are the Group of Liberal Sciences (The Department for Theology and Religion Science, Higher Institute for Philosophy, Law and Criminal Sciences, Economics and Business, Social Sciences and Arts, Psychology, Pedagogical Sciences, etc.) and the Group of Science and Technologies (Engineering Department; Biotechnology; Engineering Technologies; Architecture, etc) and the Group of Biomedical Sciences (Medical Department; Pharmaceutical Sciences,   Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Doctor’s School for Biomedical Sciences).

The inclusive education at Ukrainian and German Universities is realized within the framework of cooperation between the NTU “KhPI” and the Otto-von- Guericke University, Magdeburg that closely cooperates in partnership with different KhPI Departments. Such program anticipates the coordination of the curricula of both Universities and taking the exams at these Universities. Participating students are supposed to have good marks in appropriate subjects, have a good command of German, at least level B2 and participate in the conferences held in German. The post-graduate students can also pass an internship at the Magdeburg University.

Yevgen Sokol, Rector of NTU “KhPI” paid a visit to Belgium and German Universities throughout the period of October 04 -18, 2022.