Europe

Freiburg, Germany
http://www.uni-freiburg.de/ 
Penn State Global contact:  Alexandra Persiko, assistant director for Europe and Oceania partnerships (1-814-867-5941, axp1225@psu.edu)

History

Penn State and the Albert Ludwigs University of Freiburg have had linkages since 1997, which have grown into a strong strategic partnership.  The first Memorandum of Understanding between the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Freiburg was signed in 2011, laying the foundation for a multidisciplinary undergraduate student exchange. The following year, the partner universities engaged in faculty exchange activities. An agreement between the Schreyer Honors College and the University College Freiburg signed in 2013 established student exchange opportunities on a prominent level. In 2014, the memorandum was renewed and the collaboration was expanded towards a strategic partnership.

From 2016 on, a new Collaboration Development Program was providing seed monies for long-term programs integrating faculty and junior researchers from both universities. In July 2018, the universities cooperatively launched the Penn State - Freiburg Joint Collaboration Center. One of the Center’s goals is to enable stakeholders on all levels to benefit from a strong, successful and mutually beneficial partnership. This includes the highly esteemed alumni from both universities.

In July 2019, Penn State and the University of Freiburg signed an agreement for a large-scale joint venture as part of a Memorandum of Understanding to support research in living materials — embracing biological principles to develop infrastructure for a more sustainable society. Additionally, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed with the College of the Liberal Arts.

Opportunities

The Collaboration Development Fund Program

The Collaboration Development Fund Program, a jointly financed Seed-fund program, was launched to facilitate collaborative research and teaching projects to become sustainable, self-supporting, long-term activities. Penn State and the University of Freiburg committed  Seed funds in 2017, 2018 and  2019.

Virtual Classroom Award

PSU News Press Release: https://news.psu.edu/story/606957/2020/02/05/academics/penn-state-university-freiburg-announce-virtual-classroom-award

Penn State and the University of Freiburg awarded two grants to joint teams in January 2020 to create collaborative, integrated virtual classroom courses between university programs.  The teams  addressed important energy and environmental concerns, challenges and possible solutions for renewable energy systems, on the one, and declines in insect biodiversity and abundance, on the other hand, by providing Freiburg and Penn State students with the opportunity to collaborate through online means.  The two sets of classes strove  to develop a model structure and leverage complementary academic capabilities of the universities to create learning opportunities not possible without the partnership.   

Project 1: Bringing International Experts in Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM) to the Classroom (Professor Natalie Boyle, Entomology)  

Project 2: Solar Energy Integration and Economics (Professor Mark Fedkin, John Dutton E-Education Institute/Energy and Mineral Engineering) 

Key Activities

The partnership with Freiburg is broad, having spanned a large  number ofcolleges and departments at Penn State, both at University Park and Commonwealth campuses. These projects involve both faculty and students and address the missions of the respective universities: research, education and service. 

2017 Seed Funding

2018 Seed Funding

2019 Seed Funding

Penn State and the University of Freiburg funded three projects in March 2019. 

Highlights of the Partnership

• In 2019, Penn State and the University of Freiburg signed an agreement for a large-scale joint venture to support research in living materials
• In 2019, Penn State and the University of Freiburg announced that they would embark on a novel new program in the realm of online learning.
• Penn State and the University of Freiburg collaborate  on a wide variety of initiatives. Some examples can be seen in this video outlining the partnership.
• The Albert Ludwigs University was successfully  granted two Clusters of Excellence in Germany’s Excellence Strategy in 2018.
• In September 2022, University of Freiburg Rector Kerstin Krieglstein presented the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg – University Medal to Martin Trethewey, Penn State emeritus professor of mechanical engineering, for his efforts in forging a global collaboration between the two universities)

Split, Croatia
http://eng.unist.hr/
Penn State Global Contact: Alexandra Persiko, assistant director for Europe and Oceania partnerships (1-814-867-5941, axp1225@psu.edu)

History

Penn State and the University of Split have had connections since the early 1990s. The current partnership began in 2011 when the Eberly College of Science, in conjunction with its Forensic Science Program, established a partnership program with the University of Split in Croatia.  Penn State and the University of Split have an active Memorandum of Understanding. The partnership has allowed for  educational opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and relationships between the faculties of the two universities.  The jointly funded Collaboration Development Program involved 21 projects since its beginnings in 2017.

Opportunities

The Collaboration Development Fund Program, a jointly financed Seed-fund program, was launched to facilitate collaborative research and teaching projects to become sustainable, self-supporting, long-term activities. Penn State and the University of Split  committed these Seed funds for two years in a row between 2017-2019. Additionally, Penn State participated in Erasmus Plus activities in 2019.

Key Activities

The partnership with Split is broad, spanning numerous Colleges and Departments at Penn State, both at University Park and Commonwealth campuses.  These include the Colleges of Medicine, Science, Liberal Arts, Agricultural Science, Education, and Health and Human Development, as well as the University Libraries.  Theprojects have involved both faculty and students and address the missions of the respective universities: research, education and service. 

Highlights of the Partnership

• The Penn State-Split connection goes back to the post-war era in Croatia. Read about the origins of the partnership here: Penn State and Croatia's University of Split deepen partnership.
• In 2016, Professor Dragan Primorac was named Penn State’s first global ambassador: Penn State launches Global Ambassador Program
• In 2017, Penn State Professor Mitchell Holland received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Split. (Video)
• In 2018, Penn State Vice Provost Michael Adewumi received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Split. (Video)
• Penn State and Croatian faculty, including from the University’s partner the University of Split, collaborated on the identification of the remains of Sister Marija Krucifiksa Kozulić (1852–1922), a Croatian nun who is in consideration for beatification by the Vatican