GreenTrans-Edu Cluster on tour

The president of TU Ilmenau, Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Kai-Uwe Sattler, welcomed the delegation at TU Ilmenau and highlighted the relevance of international networks and cooperation for the university. The activities took place not only at TU Ilmenau, but also at the University of Technology of Compiègne (UTC), a French partner university of the TU Ilmenau within the European university alliance SUNRISE, the European Commission in Brussels and Erfurt University of Applied Sciences. 

Around 25 scientists and students from six universities in the EU and ASEAN gathered to conduct research on renewable energy, soil quality and sustainability communication. Some of the joint research results will form the basis for an inclusive teaching module on Education for Sustainable Development. The cluster is an EU-funded initiative under the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package, Higher Education Program (SCOPE-HE), which aims to strengthen sustainable cooperation and connectivity between the EU and ASEAN and is implemented by the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education Nuffic and the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD.

Development of common research perspectives 

During the event, the scientists from ASEAN and the EU had the opportunity not only to work together on their joint research project, but also to see research and teaching facilities at their partner universities in the EU. "Personal networks, development of common research perspectives and knowledge of the structure of the partner universities are highly relevant for a long-lasting partnership between universities that have different academic systems and cultures. This is one of the aims we would like to achieve with these activities," said Prof. Dr. Jens Wolling from TU Ilmenau, who chairs the cluster.

Furthermore, the scientists took part in meetings with the international offices and the presidential boards of each university to discuss opportunities for long-lasting cooperation. The group also visited the European Commission in Brussels to discuss the EU's policy-making process. Prof. Dr. Martin Morgeneyer, a member of the cluster and holder of a Jean Monnet Professorship, hosted the activities at UTC and in Brussels. He stressed: 

I think it is important to have first-hand experience of how the EU policy-making process takes place and which values guide it. We had a very active discussion during the visit to the European Commission, and I think it was also good that the Commission received comments on its policy from the perspective of ASEAN colleagues.

"This cluster shows what science diplomacy can look like"

Camar Ameril, an early-career scientist in the field of soil quality from Mindanao State University, said the experience opened up new perspectives in many ways. 

The excursion to the Thuringian Forest was a striking experience for me, since I could see the biodiversity challenges that are currently happening, and how scientists at higher education institutions contribute to solving the problem. It shows the practical relevance of the research we are doing!

He added that working with scientists from other disciplines in this project gave him a new perspective on how important interdisciplinary work is. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Björn Machalett, also a soil scientist from Erfurt University of Applied Sciences, emphasized the opportunity to conduct comparative research in this cluster. 

I already have a research network with President University in Indonesia, and this network offers great potential to expand the research and conduct comparative research in the Philippines as well.

Anna Agustina, Dean of the Faculty of Communication at Universitas Pancasila and also a member of the cluster, hopes that the collaboration between higher education institutions will continue after the project ends in December 2027. 

This cluster shows what science diplomacy can look like. We learn a lot from each other and hope that this connection will contribute to equal partnership between scientists in the EU and ASEAN.

The activities ended with an international symposium on sustainability transformation in higher education, hosted by Erfurt University of Applied Sciences. Member universities of the cluster presented how they integrate sustainability into teaching, research, campus management, and the academic and personal development of student and staff. Several other higher education institutions in Thuringia also contributed presentations. Dr. Mira Rochyadi-Reetz, initiator and project manager of the GreenTrans-Edu project at TU Ilmenau, said: 

Managing an interdisciplinary and intercultural project like this one is challenging. At the same time, it is a pleasure to connect and build bridges between scientists from the Global North and the Global South, which will hopefully lead to a long-lasting partnership.

Impressions

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

Pavel Chatterjee

FH Erfurt

UTC