Newcastle Business School and Hochschule Kaiserslautern in South West Germany are planning to strengthen their existing partnership and offer even greater student and staff exchange opportunities.
The move mirrors wider international collaboration following the Business School’s rare double accreditation in business and accounting from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Hochschule Kaiserslautern and Newcastle Business School have had a student exchange and research partnership since January 2014. To develop this further, Prof. Susanne Bartscher-Finzer from Hochschule Kaiserslautern has just completed a two-day visit to Newcastle where she met with Dr. Gregory Ludwig, Programme Leader Study Abroad and International Partnerships, Dr. Bridget Major, Programme Director International Development and other colleagues involved with studying abroad.
Dr. Ludwig said: “We were delighted to welcome Susanne and to show her around the Faculty. She was particularly impressed with our international outlook, cutting edge teaching facilities, modern campus and of course the recent AACSB accreditation.
"There are currently four students from Hochschule Kaiserslautern studying here and two Northumbria students studying over there. Following the visit we are looking to explore building on this partnership to offer more student and staff exchanges and research collaboration – all through the Erasmus funding support programme.
“As the only institution in Europe with the double AACSB accreditation in accounting and business, this really is an exciting time for Newcastle Business School. Not only can we develop greater international collaboration, but we can also be selective and work with the very best.
"Just this month, a delegation from the Beijing University of Agriculture visited the Business School to meet exchange students and discuss future partnerships. On September 24, a high-profile delegation from our partner university in Grenoble, UPMF GEA, – one of the top international universities in France visited the Faculty. Another example of excellent relationships and close contact is the Burgundy School of Business in France (ESC Dijon) which is EPAS and AACSB-accredited.”
Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. Anyone wishing to find out more about Northumbria’s business courses can sign up for its open day on October 25 by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/openday
Case study:
Christian Wolf, 24, from Homburg in South West Germany, arrived in September to spend a semester at Newcastle Business School studying on the Combined Business Credits course.
His exchange from Hochschule Kaiserslauten University was funded through the Erasmus scheme.
He said: “I wanted an opportunity to develop my English language skills, and chose a course that would fit in with my studies back home. The links with Newcastle Business School seemed ideal, especially as the Combined Business Credits course will contribute to my overall degree in Germany. Studying at a business school with international recognition will also be very helpful for my CV.
“The whole exchange process has also been really easy. I was met at Newcastle Airport by the Northumbria meet and greet team, which was very helpful and a great welcome. Newcastle is also a really exciting place to be. It has great night life if you want that, but also easy access to wonderful places like Alnwick and Edinburgh.”
Christian jokes that the only part of the move he has found slightly unusual are the taps in the bathroom of his flat. “Back home in Germany we tend to have single taps only so that you can control the water temperature easily. Having two taps with only hot or cold water is different – but I am getting used to it now.”
