RESEARCH WITHOUT BORDERS
In a world where major crises and challenges have global origins, it is also necessary to adopt an international perspective in order to develop the right solutions. Cross-border research at universities plays a key role in this. What projects are Düsseldorf's universities focusing on?
With the international project “MadaCookClean”, the University of Düsseldorf aims to contribute to improving the living conditions of the rural population in Madagascar.
Numerous students and scientists from abroad, collaborations, exchange programmes and research: Sabine Neo, Director of Business Engagement at WHU, emphasises the international orientation of her university.
As an international business school, WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management has always had an international focus. Many of its students and academics come from abroad, and it collaborates with guest lecturers and runs numerous exchange programmes. WHU has a total of 220 partner universities worldwide, including the renowned Kellogg School of Management in the USA. Research also often takes place in collaboration with other institutions around the world. ‘The consequences of the pandemic, artificial intelligence, tariffs and trade relations – our major challenges are global. It is therefore unproductive to examine them at the national level. We need to broaden our perspective to find effective, global solutions. International cooperation in research is essential for this,' explains Sabine Noe, Director of Business Engagement at WHU.
This is exemplified by a research project led by Prof. Dr. Arnd Huchzermeier from the Chair of Production Management. Together with researchers from partner universities in the Netherlands, the USA, and Hong Kong, he is analysing how companies are restructuring their global supply chains in response to the pandemic. A study based on this research provides managers with concrete recommendations on how to make their supply chains more resilient to future crises. Another example of how global challenges are integrated into research at WHU is a project led by Prof. Harm Schütt, Professor of Financial Accounting. In collaboration with the London School of Economics, Prof. Schütt is using AI-supported methods to investigate the dynamics of financial analysis on social media. To date, the analysis has highlighted a central problem in an increasingly digitalised financial world: growing competition on social channels is causing some analysts to produce posts that are less informative and of lower quality.
As Projector for Research and Transfer at HHU, Prof. Dr. Dr. Andrea Icks sets international research priorities in agricultural supply as well as in the areas of AI, sustainability and disease control.
Heinrich Heine University (HHU) also relies on international research to find answers to the big questions of our time. As part of the EU's Erasmus funding programme, HHU maintains partnerships with universities in 30 countries, fostering over 100 collaborations worldwide. Its most important research focus is the 'Cluster of Excellence for Plant Sciences (CEPLAS)' under Prof. Dr Maria von Korff Schmising. She is the head of the Institute of Plant Genetics at HHU. CEPLAS is an association of national partners, including the Jülich Research Centre, as well as international partner universities from the USA, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Portugal and Spain. Together, they conduct research into plant breeding to address challenges in the agricultural supply chain more effectively. This work aims to lay the groundwork for developing and breeding crops that can better respond to current and future phenomena. In the future, these 'smart plants' will primarily benefit regions where traditional agriculture is particularly affected by changing climatic conditions. Prof. Dr. Wolf-Bernd Frommer is also addressing challenges in agriculture. As part of the Healthy Crops Project, he is collaborating with partners from the USA, Colombia, France, Kenya, India, Tanzania and Madagascar to breed disease-resistant rice varieties. This will enable small-scale farmers in Africa and Asia to significantly increase their yields. The project team has developed a toolkit that enables the rapid diagnosis of newly emerging harmful microorganisms.
'Together with our global partners, we conduct research wherever the international community faces enormous challenges. In doing so, we focus particularly on improving agricultural supply in the context of climate change. In addition, our research focuses on AI, sustainability and disease control. The diverse experiences, expertise, and perspectives of our partners are essential for driving forward new developments and technologies that will benefit us all,' explains Prof. Dr. Andrea Icks, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer at Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences (HSD).
The Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences (HSD) has significantly expanded its international focus in recent years. New collaborations have been established, particularly with universities in sub-Saharan Africa. One result of this is the MadaCookClean project, which has been working since late 2024 to promote a sustainable energy supply and forest conservation in Madagascar. The project aims to improve the living conditions of the rural population, from clean cooking to combatting deforestation. In Zimbabwe, the Department of Architecture is supporting the expansion and international connection of an art and culture centre. Meanwhile, the F Life Cycle Excellence (FLiX) research centre is collaborating with universities in Stellenbosch and Cape Town, South Africa, in the field of Industry 4.0. The HSD also maintains close relationships with around 200 partner universities worldwide. The focus is particularly on student exchanges and work shadowing opportunities for staff.
To further promote its internationalisation, Düsseldorf University focuses primarily on the mobility of its staff and students. 'We want to integrate research and mobility even more closely. Both teachers and students are actively involved in international projects. Our sub-strategy “International Mobility” was adopted by the Senate in 2025, and a comprehensive internationalisation strategy is currently under development,' explains Tim Wellbrock, spokesperson for the University of Applied Sciences Düsseldorf. The HSD can also look forward to receiving support at other levels. According to Wellbrock, financial support from successfully acquired projects — e.g. from the EU, federal ministries and the German Academic Exchange Service — has developed positively in recent years.•
Words: Dominik Deden
Pictures: Hochschule Düsseldorf, Kai Myller, Berlin&Cramer, HHU / Lukas Schulze