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Students from several engineering and computer science programs at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and at University at Albany conduct experiments on artificial intelligence and develop their own products for the Internet of Things. They exchange ideas in transatlantic teams and give each other feedback on their project ideas.

Since the UAS7 Virtual Academy is a joint project between several institutions, it seeks to bundle and harmonize competencies as much as possible in order to build capacity and ensure that the project has a trickle-down effect throughout the universities and beyond. Experts on evaluation, quality management, and intercultural competence from all participating German universities joined forces to create a joint evaluation tool (questionnaire) for students, in order to measure the impact of the projects.

The mid-point in the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin) and University at Albany (UAlbany)‘s COIL project on corporate governance and corporate social responsibility was marked with a rather unique session that led to students reflecting on a range of cultural and legal aspects.

Back in February 2021, Professor Mechthild Schrooten from the Bremen City University of Applied Sciences (HSB) and Professor Rita Biswas from the University at Albany (UA) started a joint transatlantic teaching project as part of the UAS7 Virtual Academy. On April 12th, the third joint session took place, which was a highlight of the course for teachers and students alike.

As part of the UAS7 Virtual Academy pilot phase Dominik Hammer of Hochschule München University of Applied Sciences (HM) and Martha Asselin of the University at Albany (Ualbany) are co-teaching a virtual course on interdisciplinary leadership with a focus on decision-making processes in crisis situations. On April 7, the transatlantic class was joined by high-ranking experts of both institutions who shared valuable insights into their own leadership experience in crisis situations.

Balancing synochronous and asynchronous teaching; selecting the right technology tool and preparing students for international collaboration – these were just some of the many topics which were covered in the first round of the UAS7 Virtual Academy’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) coaching sessions held in early January 2021.

On December 2nd 2020, the UAS7 Virtual Academy held its inaugural kick-off event. Project stakeholders from both the US and Germany came together virtually to learn more about the plans for the UAS7 Virtual Academy and get to know one another. Almost 50 faculty, project coordinators, e-learning and digitalization specialists as well as senior university members joined the event.

Due to the corona pandemic, not only in Germany has the university system predominantly gone virtual, universities have significantly expanded their digital teaching and learning offerings. This increase in digitalization is also to be anchored in international university cooperation projects. To this end, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) will fund the joint project "UAS7 Virtual Academy" led by Bremen City University of Applied Sciences. The total grant amount is 250,000 euros.