TWIN-anniversary: THWS remembers the establishment of the first English-taught programmes ten years ago

Long-term strategy to counter the skills shortage in the Main Franconia region: International students enrich life at THWS

An increasing demand for skilled professionals and the parallel population decline: Ten years ago, the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS), back then FHWS, implemented a long-term strategy to meet this challenge by establishing the first English-taught degree bachelor's degree programmes. THWS members recall the start of the TWIN programmes.

When former THWS President Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. Robert Grebner started his first term of office in 2012, the demographic development could already be predicted: "It was already clear then that we would be lacking 18-year-olds from 2016." The first months of Grebner's term of office were thus characterised by developing a strategy to counter this problem. "If you cannot reach this goal with national students, you must include international students to do so," was Grebner's pragmatic approach. In order to meet the regional industry's shortage of skilled workers, the University indicated a growth target of 9,000 national and 3,000 international students. "We are, after all, the only higher education institution of the region with a technical focus," the former president highlights this particular responsibility. This was also what the economy had wished for.

Vision developed during closed-door conference

In January 2013, the deans of the ten faculties met with the university management for the annual closed meeting to turn the internationalisation idea into a strategy. "Even if not all faculties equally felt the need to react to decreasing student numbers, they nonetheless all contributed to the development of the internationalisation strategy," Grebner remembers the pioneering spirit at the time. The preliminary plans were shared with the Ministry of Science in February. In March, FHWS' business advisory board was involved. Already in April, THWS president Professor Grebner presented a preliminary concept to the then Bavarian Minister-President Horst Seehofer. "We just mingled this vision into the agenda for the Minister-President’s visit to Hofheim," smiles Chancellor Stefan Hartmann, back then Head of the Department of Public Affairs and Communications.

In parallel, the University entered talks with the city of Schweinfurt to find locations to put the internationalisation plans into practice. As the withdrawal of the US forces had already been scheduled for the following year, the Ledward Barracks seemed a suitable area for expanding the University's facilities. The city of Würzburg had also heard of these plans and sent a a letter showing great interest in getting international students to Würzburg. The Studierendenwerk promised to provide the new students with accommodation.

TWIN programmes with x-model

Now it became clear that the vision of internationalisation would be widely supported. In July, the university management informed the Ministry of Science of additional details. They presented their final concept of the so-called i-Campus (international campus) in December 2013. By the TWIN programmes, the University intended to establish degree programmes identical in content, that could be studies in German and English. The special x-model would allow students to switch between the German- and English-taught TWIN programme variant in order for them to develop linguistic and intercultural competences. Doing internships and final thesis in cooperation with regional companies should enable students to settle into the Main Franconia region and to integrate into the local job market in the long term.

This marked the go-ahead for the first English-taught degree programmes: Already in the winter semester 2014/15, the Faculty of Business and Engineering was supposed to offer the bachelor's degree programmes Business and Engineering (Wirtschaftsingenieurwesen) and Logistics (Logistik). "Both degree programmes had yet to be approved of," Chancellor Hartmann explains. "The University had less than a year. That is why we could not really advertise - this was quite hastily stitched together. We had been granted funds and posts, which, however, were only allocated in 2016. We had to advance our own funds." Hence, the required additional employees were only sparsely available.

Pioneers enter uncharted territory

Anna-Lena Karsten was among these pioneers. She started her work at the higher education institution in early 2014 and was in charge of international student marketing in close cooperation with the two regional managers Senol Arslan and Nataliya Kudelya. The small team encountered uncharted territory: "Our University was only partially known abroad. No one knew of the TWIN programmes." The target was to acquire 100 students by autumn. In the end, both degree programmes started with a total of 61 international first-semester students. "When we started, we still knew all the internationals by name," Karsten says. The need for support was high, especially in the beginning: "We started our orientation weeks even before the semester start. It was a mix of getting to know each other and the important formalities." Some of the questions of the new students were: How do you open a bank account in Germany? How do you take out health insurance?

The University also assisted students as best possible in terms of accommodation and occasionally had to smooth the waters between international students and landlords: "Sometimes there were also complaints. For example, an electric kettle was ruined because the students did not know how to operate it," Karsten says. "We had never anticipated that this could become a problem." The internationalisation process also involved extra work within the higher education institution and a high need for explanation: "For example, we had to explain to students that they had to submit certificates and other documents in a timely manner. From that we created our intercultural trainings and the idea of mutual understanding and growth," Anna-Lena Karsten explains. Otherwise, misunderstanding was inevitable: "As a new employee without an intercultural certificate, you are not aware of the fact that Indians shake their head when agreeing," says Christine Schmittfull from the Department of Student Affairs.

Support from the city of Schweinfurt

The international students required support in multiple ways – a matter dear to Soraya Lippert, second mayor of the city of Schweinfurt: "For the city of Schweinfurt, the matter of international students was challenge and chance at the same time. Whether concerning the provision of housing or ramifications of the national foreigner law: informal solutions were required, personal contacts benefited the case. A lot of it was pioneering work, yet we were happy about new contacts and the many new perspectives that came with it."

Today, there is no small pioneering team in charge of TWIN programmes at THWS looking after only a few new students. The International Office with its 24 staff members, managed by Dr. Daniel Wimmer, supervises international full-time students and guest students, and supports German students looking to complete a semester abroad. "HSIN has grown with the increasing internationalisation at THWS. Today, we are committed to making THWS members aware of intercultural differences. We also engage in the strategic development of international cooperations and in acquiring third-party funds," Dr. Wimmer explains and adds: "Our international flair and the developed competences are the envy of many colleagues from other higher education institutions."

Two new TWINs from winter semester

The TWIN offers are being continuously expanded. In the winter semester 2024/25, the TWINs Applied Mathematics (Angewandte Mathematik) and Applied Polymer Engineering (Kunststoff- und Elastomertechnik) were established. Professor Dr. Achim Förster, THWS Vice President for Internationalisation and Teaching sees great advantages in offering German- and English-taught programme variants: "With its TWIN programmes, THWS has established attractive international studies offers on several levels. International students can start their studies in English and can develop important cultural and linguistic knowledge for the international and German job market. German students can develop bilingual expert knowledge and are thus optimally prepared for their career in an international environment"

Currently, there are 2,713 international students at THWS, of whom 1,911 are based in Schweinfurt and 802 in Würzburg. So, the target number of 3,000 international students is nearly reached. THWS proudly reflects the past ten years: "When it comes to internationalisation, THWS is among the most successful higher education institutions in Bavaria," THWS President Professor Dr. Jean Meyer emphasises. "This cannot only be measured by our numerous international cooperations but also by the high share of internationals. At the Schweinfurt location, the share of international students amounts to 60 percent. It is our aim to continue this success and establish additional TWIN programmes."