From April 28 to May 9, 2025, a delegation from the Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) in Bangalore visited Bavaria. The group visited various educational institutions, including Hof University of Applied Sciences. The two-week study visit was sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and coordinated by the Bavarian-Indian Center for Business and Higher Education (BayIND).
The visit was a return visit to the BayIND Summer School. As part of this summer school, Bavarian students will visit the Indian partner in Bangalore for the fourth time this year. The stay in Bavaria gave the Indian students an intensive insight into the German university and innovation system and enabled them to discuss economic and social issues.
Science meets practice: Hof University of Applied Sciences as host
At Hof University of Applied Sciences, the delegation was welcomed by University President Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Lehmann personally welcomed the delegation. The International Office and the university’s Graduate School then gave them a comprehensive overview of the international courses on offer. The rest of the program offered numerous highlights: In addition to lectures in applied economics and international economic policy, the agenda included in-depth insights into the German corporate landscape – with a particular focus on the importance of SMEs.
A guest lecture by Dr. K.M. Sharath Kumar (Ph.D.) on “Brain Circulation in India: A new generation of returnee entrepreneurs in Bengaluru” also provided special impetus. Once again, the group gained practical experience during a visit to the “MakerSpace”, the workshop for inventors and developers at the university under the direction of René Göhring. Equally impressive was the exchange with Prof. Thomas Rausch and the team from the student initiative HofSpannung Motorsport e.V., who reported on their projects in the field of energy innovation.
Industry up close: visit to the NETZSCH Group in Selb
Another special highlight was the visit to the NETZSCH Group in Selb. There, the group was welcomed by Dr. Jürgen Blumm (Ph.D.), Managing Director of Analyzing & Testing. The students were given exciting insights into German engineering at the highest level – directly at a leading global company.
BayIND as a bridge builder in international exchange
For BayIND, the visit marked an important milestone in its ongoing efforts to promote intercultural exchange:
We were able to deepen a partnership that has lasted several years, as the Faculty of Management and Commerce (FMC) at RUAS has been a permanent partner of BayIND since 2022!”
Wiebke Dörfler, Managing Director of BayIND
She continued: “A big thank you to Hof University of Applied Sciences, NETZSCH and everyone involved for making this visit such an enriching experience!” The trip showed the potential of international academic exchange.
About the BayIND
The Bavarian-Indian Center for Business and Universities (BayIND) was founded in 2008 at Hof University of Applied Sciences and promotes cooperation between Bavaria and India in the fields of education and business. It serves as a central point of contact for students, universities and companies to support bilateral exchange. In the “India Skilled Workers Strategy” adopted by the German government in October 2024, BayIND, together with Hof University of Applied Sciences, is cited as an outstanding practical example of successful recruitment of skilled workers from India. This underlines the importance of BayIND in integrating Indian students into the German labor market.
