Accompanied by Dr. Stephanie Krinner and Katerina Zafirova, the excursion gave students the opportunity to visit international institutions and research organizations while exploring the course topics from different perspectives.
The first stop on the itinerary took the group to the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Vienna), where the students were welcomed by Prof. Kavita Surana and Prof. Behnam Zakeri from the Institute for Data, Energy, and Sustainability, as well as by Sajjad Khan from the Institute for Information Management and Control. In addition to gaining insights into current research projects, the students received an overview of WU Vienna's international master's programs. The open discussions opened up new academic opportunities and sparked genuine curiosity among many students about pursuing further studies at WU Vienna.
Valuable insights into the UNIDO
A particular highlight of the excursion was the visit to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The group was welcomed by Dr. Shtefi Mladenovska from the Directorate of Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Industrial Development. Following a guided tour of the UNIDO headquarters, the students gained valuable insights into the organization's mission of promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development worldwide.
In her presentation, Dr. Mladenovska combined her extensive international professional experience with personal insights into her own career path, including her experience as a startup founder. She illustrated the important roles that innovation, entrepreneurship, and policy frameworks play in addressing global challenges. In particular, she emphasized the importance of understanding local contexts and building international partnerships to drive successful transformation processes. One message especially resonated with the students:
"The solutions indeed exist – we just need to get up, get together, and act to make them a reality."
Gerd Müller, Director General of UNIDO
The excursion concluded with an interactive European Parliament Role Play Game, in which students took on the roles of European stakeholders to simulate the legislative process of the European Union (EU). While the intense negotiations over policy proposals kept everyone engaged, the summer heat ensured participants were literally working up a sweat. This simulation offered valuable insights into the complexities of European decision-making and effectively rounded out the excursion's content.
"The future is yours to shape"
Beyond the many professional and academic insights, the excursion also strengthened the sense of community within the international student group at TUM Campus Straubing. Their network grew closer, and at the same time, new connections were forged with researchers and international institutions, providing participants with valuable inspiration for their future academic and professional careers.
Armed with these valuable experiences and broadened perspectives, the group returned to Straubing feeling motivated – true to the motto: "The future is yours to shape."
