USC Upstate welcomed 15 computer science students and two faculty members from the University of Applied Sciences Landshut (UAS Landshut) in Germany to its campus on March 31. The visit marked another milestone in the longstanding partnership between USC Upstate and UAS Landshut, which dates back to 2011.
As part of efforts to expand academic collaborations, USC Upstate and UAS Landshut have reworked their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to create greater opportunities for students from both institutions to engage in international learning experiences across multiple disciplines.
“UAS Landshut has been one of our strongest partners. We’ve had a good number of student and faculty exchanges, along with some research projects that have connected the global industry with our students here and in Germany,” said Dr. Alexander Lorenz, director of global engagement and associate professor of German. “This partnership is not only between our institutions, but really a partnership between our two countries as well.”
Addressing the visitors, Lorenz emphasized the importance of cross-cultural exchange.
“Sharing values and education is essential to overcoming global challenges and building peaceful collaboration. Academic and professional exchanges play a key role in strengthening these ties between our countries. As future leaders and professionals, you will shape the next generation of transatlantic relations.”
USC Upstate Chancellor Bennie Harris also welcomed the group, highlighting the mutual benefits of international collaboration.
“I love the cultural exchange, international programs, and internationalization opportunities for USC Upstate students. Equally important is bringing our countries together and sharing values so we can learn from each other,” Harris said. “We strengthen those relationships, which is why it’s so important to welcome others to USC Upstate and to send our students to other places.”
Harris also spoke about the university’s growing focus on applied sciences and technology.
“You are an applied science and technology university, and we are increasing those opportunities at USC Upstate, like our new industrial engineering program. The opportunities and partnerships between our country and Germany are well pronounced and visible here in the Upstate, creating opportunities for our students and for you as well.”
Dr. Jeannie Chapman, dean of the College of Science and Technology, echoed this sentiment.
“This is a really exciting time,” Chapman said. “We took a harder look at our programs and decided there were more opportunities for collaboration than we had previously. I think that will continue to grow as we add more programs here.”
During their visit, the students participated in academic and cultural activities, engaged with USC Upstate faculty and students, and gained valuable insights into the field of computer science from a global perspective. They attended classes at the George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics and visited the Watershed Ecology Center to explore environmental sustainability initiatives.
A highlight of their visit was attending an iconic American baseball game at the brand-new Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg, where the Spartans faced off against their town rival, Wofford, in the stadium’s inaugural game.
For Landshut student Fabian Lorenzen, the unique experience of visiting USC Upstate and Spartanburg was especially meaningful.
“It means a lot to me being here. It is my first day in America, and it’s kind of cool,” Lorenzen said. “I like to visit universities because I only know of them from movies, and being here in real life is an honor. It was amazing to witness the baseball game — in Germany, we don’t have university baseball teams, so not only is it my first time in the U.S., but it is also my first baseball game and my first time at an American university.”
USC Upstate remains committed to strengthening its international partnerships and promoting cross-cultural exchange. The university was proud to extend a warm welcome to its guests from UAS Landshut and looks forward to further collaboration in the future.
To find out more about UAS Landshut, please visit their website.
More photos can be found on our Flickr album.