Harrisburg expands global reach with international academic partnerships

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Penn State Harrisburg continues to advance global academic collaboration with new and renewed international partnerships with educational institutions worldwide. Over the past year, the college has forged several partnerships showcasing its commitment to fostering global connections and enriching educational opportunities for students and research collaboration for faculty. These agreements extend the college's record number of partnerships established in recent academic years, totaling 15 agreements with 17 universities in Asia, Europe and South America.

Among the new partnerships are articulation agreements with Nitte in Mangalore, India, and Fergusson College in Pune, India, that aim to facilitate seamless transitions for students pursuing academic programs between Penn State Harrisburg and these institutions. In addition, since 2008, Penn State Harrisburg has had a student exchange agreement with Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in Germany.

The college has initiated collaboration with five institutions in India that will begin this fall. Additionally, partnerships with leading institutions such as Universite De Technologie De Compiegne in France; OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, which is a consortium of four German universities; Universidad Politecnica De Madrid (UPM) in Spain; and University of Vale Do Itajai in Santa Catarina, Brazil, will continue.

"All of these partnerships signify our dedication to cultivating global perspectives and enhancing academic excellence through collaborative teaching and research and expanded student opportunities," said Penn State Harrisburg Chancellor David Callejo Pérez.

The renewal of the college's existing partnership with Darmstadt and the new partnership with UPM, both internationally recognized research universities, aim to expand faculty collaborations, develop dual master's programs in STEM fields and offer robust student exchange options. New relationships with OWL and Compiègne will expand these efforts as well.

"We are not only opening new doors but also solidifying existing relationships and reconnecting with longtime collaborators," Callejo Pérez added, emphasizing the importance of these partnerships in advancing the college's global initiatives. He said that he is grateful for the instrumental role that Penn State Global has played in supporting these efforts.

The college also will welcome visiting faculty members from University of Vali Do Itajai this fall. Also, this fall, the college is set to launch a joint seed funding proposal, in collaboration with several European universities, aimed at fostering joint research initiatives and bolstering academic cooperation in joint masters degrees.

Callejo Pérez added that as Penn State Harrisburg continues to expand its academic footprint globally, these partnerships "stand as testament to its commitment to fostering a vibrant international community and providing students with unparalleled opportunities for academic and personal growth."

For more information about Penn State Harrisburg's international academic partnerships, please visit harrisburg.psu.edu.