iMERGE

Sponsoring organization: German Academic Exchange Office (DAAD)

Funding programme: Transnational Education (TNB) - Study programmes of German universities abroad

Duration: 2024-2027

Grant: 667.189,00EUR

Project leader: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sven Hellbach

Partners: Business and Technology University (BTU) and University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ)

• The Bachelor's degree programme in Computer Science with a focus on Artificial Intelligence has been developed and successfully structured in line with the practice-oriented degree programme at WHZ, taking into account the requirements of the Georgian market 

•    The link between the degree programme and the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau has been strengthened 

•     A concept for financial independence and sustainability has been developed and implemented 

•     The Bachelor's degree programme in Computer Science with a focus on AI is marketed on the Georgian education market as an international degree programme with a strong connection to Germany 

•     The exchange between the foreign and German partner universities as well as non-university stakeholders  

The project aims to intensify the cooperation with the Business Technology University (BTU) in Georgia and to consolidate further international involvement of the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ) in the countries of the post-Soviet region. The subject of the project is the development of the WHZ's computer science degree programme at the BTU with a focus on artificial intelligence. The medium-term goals of the project include the recruitment of students, a methodological and didactic exchange with Georgian lecturers, students and staff as well as the development of a new market for the export of the WHZ's educational offer abroad and its digitalisation. The overarching goal of the project is to train high-performing professionals in the fields of software engineering and artificial intelligence for the German and Georgian labour markets. Targeted support for high-performing students is intended to increase their career prospects.

The project aims to design a degree programme that enables students to acquire conceptual knowledge that allows them to apply their theory- and research-based knowledge to a wide range of technologies. The degree programme extends over a period of four years (eight semesters). After the fourth semester, students have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at WHZ.  In the first four semesters, the software development modules are taught by WHZ lecturers. Teaching at BTU takes place once per semester through the ‘Flying Faculty’ and the ‘Immersive Learning Metaverse’ (iMERGE), which is currently being developed. This requires the installation of software and hardware at BTU in order to implement the immersive learning approach. Teaching is to be digitalised using the e-technologies already established and proven at WHZ. Furthermore, it is planned to expand VR and AR for the immersive learning approach (iMERGE), to evaluate it and to use it for suitable courses in order to design interactive courses. The BTU lecturers complete further training programmes at the WHZ in order to be able to implement the concepts developed at the WHZ in teaching under the expert guidance of the German lecturers.  As part of the degree programme, compulsory German language training is included to prepare students for a period of study at the WHZ in terms of language, culture and study organisation. The target language level is B2. The subject and language teachers receive further training in higher education didactics. The degree programme is to be accredited during the course of the project.

The following measures are planned as part of the project:

•     Development of the computer science degree programme with a focus on artificial intelligence iMERGE (iMmersive lEaRninG mEtaverse)

•     Accreditation of the degree programme by an internationally recognised agency

•     Development of an evaluation concept based on the Evasys evaluation system and TAP evaluation

•     Support for teaching at the BTU through the Flying Faculty and iMERGE by the German lecturers

•     Formation of German-Georgian student teams in iMERGE as part of the ‘Project in Software Development’ module

•     Further training of Georgian subject and language teachers at the WHZ (in presence and iMERGE)

•     Realisation of the kick-off workshop

•     Establishment of XR classrooms for immersive teaching at BTU and their integration into the BTU campus

•     Development of an iMERGE concept to support teaching at BTU

•     Coordination of the financing of the degree programme through the income from tuition fees and its use

•     Establishing partnerships with schools with extended German lessons (PASCH/DSD schools, German schools abroad)

•     Creation of a marketing concept (internet presence, creation of an image video, flyers and posters in paper/digital form, development of a degree programme logo, open days, student internships)

•     Development and implementation of the student journey concept