Delegation from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança visits TH OWL – Focus on cooperation

On July 2 and 3, 2025, a four-member delegation from the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB) in Portugal visited the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Applied Sciences. The aim of the visit was to explore opportunities for cooperation in the areas of research, teaching, and knowledge transfer—particularly with regard to the close integration of science and practice for which THOWL is known.

Front row, from left: Professor Michael Blauth, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, Professor Uta Pottgiesser, Vice President for Culture, Communication, and International Affairs, James O'Reilly, Head of the International Office, and Frauke Bauer, Advisor to the Vice President, in conversation with the Portuguese delegation.

The delegation was welcomed at InnovationSPIN in Lemgo by Professor Dr. Uta Pottgiesser, Vice President for Culture, Communication, and International Affairs, Professor Dr. Michael Blauth, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, and James O'Reilly, Head of the International Office at THOWL.

The IPB delegation consisted of Prof. Dr. Vera Ferro Lebres, Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Prof. Dr. Paulo Leitão, Head of the Research Group for Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics, Prof. Dr. José Alberto Pereira, Head of the Mountain Research Unit – Food and Agriculture, and Dr. Susana Araújo, representative of the Collaborative Laboratory and Head of the Food and Agriculture Department.

The Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (PIB) is a public university with around 8,000 students and 500 teaching and research staff. The university has strong international links: around 30 percent of its students come from abroad.

As part of its internationalization program, IPB enables the mobility of over 900 students and 300 teachers every year—with great success. The discussions therefore focused on the desire for a student exchange program and closer interdisciplinary cooperation with THOWL.

The Portuguese delegation showed particular interest in the Master's programs in Information Technology, Sustainable Landscape Design and Development, and the Bachelor's program in General Engineering. Both sides also see great potential for cooperation in the fields of biotechnology, SmartFactory, and in the context of the Institute for Industrial Information Technology (inIT).

On the second day of the visit, the Creative Campus in Detmold was on the agenda. During a tour of the campus and discussions with representatives from the Detmold School of Design and the KreativInstitut.OWL (KIO), the Portuguese guests gained exciting insights into the creative and design focus of TH OWL in cooperation with other colleges and universities in the region.

Professor Dr. Uta Pottgiesser concluded on a positive note: “Considering the size of the universities, their range of courses, and their strengths in research and knowledge transfer, IPB and TH OWL are an excellent match. A partnership promises valuable impetus—both at the European and regional level.”