On November 11, 2024, Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences welcomed guests from its Japanese partner university, Shimonoseki City University. President Prof. Dr. Chang-an Han and Prof. Dr. Hideo Kato chose Ludwigshafen as the first stop on their trip to Europe. The morning began with detailed discussions between the university management, represented by University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller and Vice President for International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Edith Rüger-Muck, and the Deputy Director of the East Asia Institute, Christine Liew. The hosts then gave the guests a tour of the new campus before enjoying lunch together.
In the afternoon, the guests visited the East Asia Institute, where they were met by lecturers from the Japan department, students who had studied at Shimonoseki City University last year and other interested students. The day ended with a lively discussion round, in which topics such as future cooperation and the expansion of the partnership were discussed. At the Degree, Shimonoseki City University extended an invitation for a return visit to Japan.
The partnership between the two universities has existed for twelve years and is primarily characterized by an annual student exchange. Students from the East Asia Institute spend a year in Shimonoseki, while students from Japan regularly come to Ludwigshafen. President Han emphasized that he would like to further promote the internationalization of his university. In addition to the successful student exchange program, he also plans to expand cooperation in the areas of double degrees and research collaboration. He also reported very positive feedback from students on the exchange programs to date.
The guests were particularly interested in the Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences' wine campus, which could serve as a model for future collaborations due to its international success. Shimonoseki is located in a rural region of Japan that is known for the production of sake, the traditional rice wine. In this context, the wine campus could provide valuable inspiration for Shimonoseki City University. The university management at Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences agreed to actively support these ideas.
