International networks
The UA Ruhr universities cooperate with universities and research institutions around the globe. In order to expand their international relations, the three partner universities set up their first joint liaison office in New York back in 2004. A wealth of programs promote international exchange, while the number of degree programs offered in English is also rising. The International Advisory Board provides guidance to the UA Ruhr on matters of strategy.
UA Ruhr Liaison Offices
To promote international cooperation, the UA Ruhr has set up two liaison offices for the regions of Eastern Europe/Central Asia and North America. In 2013, the UA Ruhr universities adopted a mission statement for the joint liaison offices, in which the tasks and objectives of the liaison offices were agreed. The primary aim of the work of the EECA and North America Liaison Offices is to represent the three partner universities of the UA Ruhr in the respective regions, to make the Ruhr region more visible and better known locally as an innovative research and science location and to promote international exchange.
Liaison Office North America
871 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Phone: +1 (212)-758-3384
E-Mail: office@uaruhr.de
Liaison Office Eastern Europe/Central Asia
Phone: + 49 (0) 234 32 27374
E-Mail: info.eeca@uaruhr.de
International Advisory Board
The UA Ruhr’s International Advisory Board (IAB) is made up of renowned researchers and research management experts from Europe, Asia and North America who hold or have held prominent positions at their universities or research institutes.
The IAB’s core functions include:
- advising the University Alliance Ruhr in its long-term strategy planning
- international benchmarking
- supporting the expansion of international networks.
Members of the International Advisory Board:
- Prof. Dr. Daniel Diermeier, PhD (USA),Chancellor of Vanderbilt University, Nashville
- Prof. Dr. Louise O. Fresco (The Netherlands), former President of Wageningen University
- Prof. Dr. Makoto Gonokami (Japan), President of RIKEN, former President of the University of Tokyo
- Prof. Susan M. Kauzlarich, PhD (USA), Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Davis
- Prof. Dr. Martin Stratmann (Germany), former President of the Max Planck Society
- Prof. Rocky Tuan, PhD (Hong Kong), Vice-Chancellor and President of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
International mobility programs
The UA Ruhr offers a wide spectrum of international mobility programs for all career stages. They range from pre-university preparatory courses to summer schools for students all the way to research stays for doctoral candidates, postdocs and experienced researchers.
Studienbrücke
The Studienbrücke (Study Bridge) preparatory course enables young people from non-EU countries to embark on a degree program at the UA Ruhr as soon as they have finished school. It focuses on STEM subjects and economics/business administration. The program was launched by the Goethe-Institut and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in cooperation with the UA Ruhr. It is coordinated by the Liaison Office Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA).
Transatlantic Ruhr Fellowship Program
Each year, UA Ruhr students can develop their transferable skills during a summer school as part of the Transatlantic Ruhr Fellowship Program. Then they can gain practical experience in an internship while learning about American company culture in the New York metropolitan area. This program is coordinated by the North American liaison office.
Ruhr Fellowship Program
Each year since 2012, up to 20 students from partner universities in the US have taken part in the Ruhr Fellowship Program run by the UA Ruhr. The eight-week program includes academic and cultural components plus an internship at a company in the Ruhr area. This program is coordinated by the North American liaison office.
Future's Fellows Program
The Future's Fellow program is designed for UA Ruhr early career researchers whose work is aligned with the four research centers’ focus areas. Starting in 2024, they can apply for funding for a research stay in the US. This program is coordinated by the North American liaison office.
Research Explorer Ruhr
Research Explorer Ruhr (RER) is a program for international early career researchers interested in exploring life and the research landscape in the Ruhr area. It is designed for doctoral candidates in the final stage of their degree and early post-doctoral researchers. The program is coordinated by the Research Academy Ruhr (RAR).
KWI International Fellowship Programmes
The KWI International Fellowship programmes are six-month scholarships at the Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities (KWI) in Essen. The scholarships are designed for excellent international researchers from the humanities, cultural studies and the social sciences with a completed doctorate plus up to six years of post-doctoral experience.
International Senior Fellowship Programme
The College for Social Sciences and Humanities of the UA Ruhr offers excellent international researchers in the social sciences and humanities the opportunity of a six-month fellowship commencing in the spring or autumn. The programme invites up to 20 visiting scholars per year who collaborate closely with fellow researchers from the UA Ruhr in tandem partnerships.
International degree programs
With around 60 international degree programs, the three UA Ruhr universities offer a wide range of options for students from all over the world who have completed their bachelor’s. Most classes are taught in English, or in a few cases in other languages such as Dutch, French or Spanish.
The UA Ruhr’s first joint Master’s degree launched in 2013. Today, there are four joint UA Ruhr Master’s programs, three of which are taught in English.
Institutes for international studies
Mercator Institute for China Studies
Ever since its establishment in 2013, the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin has been an affiliated institute of Ruhr University Bochum and University of Duisburg-Essen. It was initiated by the Stiftung Mercator for the purpose of enhancing knowledge and discussions about China in Germany and Europe.
Alliance for Research on East Asia
Founded in 2016, the Alliance for Research on East Asia (AREA Ruhr) is a joint research institution of UDE and RUB. With more than 20 professorships, it is one of Europe’s largest research alliances for East Asian studies.
