The global networking of research and teaching is more important today than ever before. A delegation led by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal and Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Lars Hahn, accompanied by Moses Joseph from the International Office at Hof University of Applied Sciences, sent a clear signal of the university’s international orientation. The goal of the multi-day trip to India was to strengthen existing partnerships and establish new collaborations in research and teaching.
A key part of the program took the delegation to Ichalkaranji to visit the DKTE Institute, with which Hof University of Applied Sciences has maintained close ties since 2017. This long-standing collaboration is evident, among other things, in the fact that numerous students from the institute have come to Hof or Münchberg for study visits in recent years.
On site, the guests were warmly welcomed and given a comprehensive tour of the laboratories and technical facilities. The modern capabilities of the DKTE Institute highlighted the great potential for joint research projects. The subsequent discussions focused not only on further deepening the exchange in the textile sector—a traditional strength of Hof University of Applied Sciences. New prospects for cooperation in other disciplines were also explored. In particular, the openness to interdisciplinary exchange on the Indian side opened up exciting new avenues.
Stops on the trip: Mumbai, Jalandhar, and Delhi
From Ichalkaranji, the trip continued to the Mumbai metropolitan area to the Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute, to Jalandhar to the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, and finally to the capital, Delhi, to the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
A consistent picture emerged at all the institutions visited: the response to the outreach was consistently warm and positive. The India Office of Hof University of Applied Sciences made a significant contribution to the success of the trip, providing key support for the organization and coordination of the demanding program.
Expanding Cooperation and Student Exchange
The next step is to further expand the established contacts. In parallel with the professors’ direct discussions, intensive work is currently underway in collaboration with the International Office to concretely develop the new partnerships.
“A central element of this next phase is student exchange: In the future, not only will Indian students come to Hof, but German students will also have the opportunity to complete part of their studies at the Indian partner institutions and acquire valuable intercultural skills.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal
Kickoff for an even stronger presence in Asia
The trip by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claus-Ekkehard Koukal and Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Lars Hahn marks the starting signal for a targeted expansion of German-Indian university cooperation. By combining established relationships—such as those at the DKTE Institute—with new initiatives from Mumbai, Jalandhar, and Delhi, Hof University is sustainably strengthening its position in the Asian region.
