6 colleagues, 3 universities, 1 joint mission in Bella Italia

„We visited three universities in four days, a marathon of meetings with lots of new input, demonstrations of innovative teaching and learning methods and a joint exchange on innovation at universities as well as integrity and quality assurance in research. It was very enriching to see that we all have very similar problems and the different solutions that the respective universities have chosen. In line with our understanding of quality, we also tried out different restaurants, bars, cafés and hotels and realized that the Italian cuisine alone would have been worth a visit.“

„I had the opportunity to participate in a university staff exchange trip to Italy, which focused on innovation and start-ups at the universities in Turin, Genoa and Florence. The exchange provided valuable insights into the best practices of these renowned universities, which proved to be extremely positive and inspiring. Particularly impressive was the open culture of collaboration and innovation promotion that is cultivated at these universities. Through the personal exchange, new ideas and approaches were gained that could also prove to be very valuable for our own institution.“

„The staff mobility to Italy was a stimulating experience. The discussions with colleagues in Turin, Genoa and Florence made it clear that we have common concerns and opened up opportunities for new collaborations, be it in research and development, in higher education or in the further development of support services for researchers and graduates. And the warm hospitality left a lasting impression.“

„At least they were mutual expressions of contact for the future – but presented with a lot of commitment and “heart and soul”. I would like to further pursue two projects: Technology transfer with Turin; knowledge transfer with Florence. It would be cool if I could also link the new “Institutional Research” position I initiated internationally with research projects, for example in the area of occupational field research and knowledge transfer.“

„From our delegation trip to Turin, Genoa and Florence, I took away a lot of inspiration and great personal encounters and learned how other universities approach the topics of ethics and innovation. It was inspiring to live the European idea and at the same time get to know my own colleagues better. Traveling and talking connects – thank you very much for this great experience!“

„Scientific integrity and innovation are extremely important topics that place special demands on teams in an academic environment. Sharing insights and experiences in an international context is very valuable for the future development of the academic landscape. Intensive discussions combined with Italian lifestyle lead to numerous ideas on how we can further adapt our academic future.“