INTERNATIONALISATION

REPORT 2008
 Internationalisation Report 2008
- English Summary -
Foreword by the Rector --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
I. International Students at RWTH Aachen University ------------------------------------------------- 3
I.1 Development of Student Numbers: Enrolled International Students ------------------------ 3
I.2 International Students and their Countries of Origin ------------------------------------------- 5
I.3 Distribution of International Students by Faculties (WS 2007/08) -------------------------- 6
I.4 Doctoral Students --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7
I.5 International Students in Exchange Programmes and Scholarship Students--------------- 9
I.6 International Alumni --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
I.7 Mentoring and Special Programmes for International Students ---------------------------- 11
I.8 International Student Organisations at RWTH Aachen University ------------------------ 11
II. RWTH Students in Study Abroad Programmes----------------------------------------------------- 12
III. Study Programmes with a Strong International Focus ------------------------------------------- 14
IV. International Academic Staff -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
IV.1 Overview of the International Academic Staff------------------------------------------------ 15
IV.2 Support Services for the International Academic Staff-------------------------------------- 16
V. Partnerships of RWTH Aachen University ---------------------------------------------------------- 17
V.1 Erasmus Partnerships ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17
V.2 Worldwide University Partnerships-------------------------------------------------------------- 17
V.3 International Alliances and Networks ----------------------------------------------------------- 18
V.4 Activities Abroad------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18
VI. International Research Collaborations -------------------------------------------------------------- 20

IMPRINT
RWTH International – Internationalisation Report 2008
2nd edition, November 2008

Editors:
RWTH Aachen University
International Office
H. Naderer
B. Piel
Phone: +49-241/80-90660
Fax: +49-241/80-92662
E-Mail: international@rwth-aachen.de

Department of Planning, Development and Controlling

H.-D. Hötte
D. Lutz
Phone: 0241/80-94091
Fax: 0241/80-92103
E-mail: pec@zhv.rwth-aachen.de

Translation : Ralf Pütz

RWTH International - Internationalisierungsreport 2008 2

Foreword by the Rector

Dear partners and friends,

Since 2006, RWTH Aachen University has been issuing a report on key data concerning the
internationalisation of the university. This year, we would like to present to you a brief
English summary. This summary gives you an overview of the facts and figures most relevant
to our partners worldwide. If you are interested in receiving a full report in German, please
contact our International Office.

Our internationalisation report will show you how RWTH Aachen is developing into one of
the most outstanding international universities worldwide and gives you an overview of our
international activities, integration measures and services.

Enjoy!

(Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ernst Schmachtenberg)

RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 3

I. International Students at RWTH Aachen University

With more than 5000 international students, RWTH Aachen University has a distinct international
profile. In recent years, it was possible to keep this number roughly at the same level, which is a good
result, especially in view of the situation at some of the other German universities, where the number
of enrolled international students has dropped dramatically. According to the “Wissenschaft
weltoffen” statistical report, which is published annually by the DAAD and the HIS and offers facts
and figures on international students in Germany, RWTH Aachen University is among the six
universities most popular with foreign students. Right after TU Berlin (Rank: 4), RWTH has the
highest number of international students.

The following tables give an overview of the overall development of the number of international
students at RWTH Aachen University and provide the opportunity to compare it to the development
of German student numbers.

I.1 Development of Student Numbers: Enrolled International Students

Figure 1
International Students at RWTH Aachen University WS 97/98 - WS 07/08
7.000 25,0%
International Students

Percentage of total students 19,0%

6.000
19,7% 19,0% 18,4%
18,1% 20,0%
17,1%
17,1%
5.000
16,5%
14,7% 15,1%
13,0%

Percentage of total students

15,0%
4.000
International Students

3.000
10,0%

2.000

5,0%
1.000

0 0,0%
WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS
97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08

While figure 1 shows the number of international students and their percentage of total student
number, figure 2 shows the development of total student numbers and international student numbers
in a comparison. As in the last reporting period, it can be seen that the share of international students
develops in proportion to the overall student number, with a slight drop in international student
numbers by 7%, mainly due to the introduction of tuition fees.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 4

Figure 2
Number of Enrolled Students at RWTH Aachen University WS 97/98 - WS 07/08

all students
international students
40.000

30.000

20.000

10.000

0
WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS WS
97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08

SelfAssessment International
SelfAssessment International is a web-based consulting system for prospective students
considering to take up studies in a science or engineering discipline in Germany. Supported
by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the automated assessment system was
developed by RWTH Aachen University in cooperation with the other TU9 universities. The
test system, which is in operation since 2007, intends to acquaint international students with
the requirements of engineering and science degree programmes offered by the TU9
universities. By using SelfAssessment International, which comprises several tasks in the areas
of mathematics, engineering, and logic, a language test as well as a motivation and
organisation skills questionnaire, students are enabled to get to know their respective
strengths and weaknesses. The results of the assessment test are automatically evaluated and
returned to the student, who thus gets detailed information to support his or her decision on
whether to take up a study course at a German technical university.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 5

I.2 International Students and their Countries of Origin

Traditionally, RWTH Aachen University has a very high number of students from Asia. The
high number of students from the People’s Republic of China was one of the main reasons
that RWTH Aachen University has established a representative office in Beijing, where
prospective students are being consulted in their own language and provided with
information on RWTH Aachen, courses of study, study requirements as well as admissions
criteria and procedures.

Table 1
Countries with more than 100 Students at RWTH Aachen University WS 02/03 – WS 07/08

RWTH Students WS 02/03 WS 03/04 WS 04/05 WS 05/06 WS 06/07 WS 07/08 Compared to

the previous
year - %
China, P.R. of 667 818 875 884 922 849 - 7,9%
Turkey 426 455 413 440 476 469 - 1,5 %
Luxembourg 163 169 181 195 202 209 + 3,5 %
Belgium 219 217 193 193 194 182 - 6,2 %
Bulgaria 185 226 239 223 208 181 - 13,0 %
Iran 201 206 172 182 183 178 - 2,7 %
Cameroon 161 201 212 205 185 166 - 10,3 %
Russia 125 152 154 159 162 163 + 0,6 %
Greece 239 239 205 181 178 157 - 11,8 %
Poland 180 196 188 207 174 151 - 13,2 %
Spain 143 145 125 129 129 149 + 15,5 %
India 190 258 274 239 195 137 - 29,7 %
Netherlands, The 188 174 151 165 150 129 - 14,0 %
Marocco 257 234 175 175 160 125 - 21,9 %
Indonesia 161 169 174 151 148 121 - 18,2 %
South Korea 143 152 125 120 122 114 - 6,6 %

Students from Asian countries are of great importance to RWTH Aachen University, as they comprise
39% of all international students at RWTH. Compared to the figures of the last survey (WS 2005/06),
the percentage of Asian students has slightly dropped (2005: 40.3% of all international students),
while the percentage of students from the EU (2005: 26.2%), South America (2005:2.7%) and North
America has increased.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 6

I.3 Distribution of International Students by Faculties (WS 2007/08)

In the present section, the distribution of international students by faculties is delineated. As expected,
most students are enrolled at the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Science and
at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. Over 40% of the international students belong to these
faculties.

Figure 3
International Students of RWTH Aachen University by Faculties WS 07/08

Studienkolleg
Fac 10 4%
Fac. 1
Fac. 8 7%
21%
5%
Fak. 7
10% Fac. 2
5%

Fac. 3
3%
Fac. 6
13%
Fac. 4
Fac. 5
20%
11%

Faculty 1: Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Science

Faculty 2: Faculty of Architecture
Faculty 3: Faculty of Civil Engineering
Faculty 4: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Faculty 5: Faculty of Georesources and Materials Engineering
Faculty 6: Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
Faculty 7: Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Faculty 8: Faculty of Business and Economics
Faculty 10: Faculty of Medicine
Studienkolleg: Preparatory Course for International Students

In table 2, the study courses are ranked according to their number of international students in
the winter semester of 07/08, also showing their respective percentage of female and male
students. It can be seen that even though Mechanical Engineering has the highest number of
enrolled internationals students, its percentage of international students of 14% is below the
average percentage of international students. With a quota of 30%, Computer Science has
the highest percentage of international students.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 7

Table 2
Subject Areas with more than 100 International Students, ranked according to International
Student Numbers (WS 2007/08), including Percentages of Male and Female Students

female male
total no of international international international
Subject students students % students % students %
Mechanical Engineering 7.132 1.026 14,4 147 14,3 879 85,7
Electrical Engineering and
Information Technology 2.678 692 25,8 145 21,0 547 79,0
Computer Science 2.149 632 29,4 154 24,4 478 75,6
Medicine 2.153 312 14,5 136 43,6 176 56,4
Architecture 1.500 257 17,1 132 51,4 125 48,6
Metallurgy and Materials
Technology 899 248 27,6 60 24,2 188 75,8
Economics and Business 1.550 245 15,8 154 62,9 91 37,1
Studienkolleg/German
Language Course 217 207 95,4 72 34,8 135 65,2
Chemistry 905 174 19,2 85 48,9 89 51,1
Raw Materials and Waste
Disposal Technology 757 169 22,3 49 29,0 120 71,0
Civil Engineering 1.076 165 15,3 36 21,8 129 78,2
German Studies 1.490 156 10,5 126 80,8 30 19,2
Political Science 581 151 26,0 105 69,5 46 30,5
Physics 1.158 113 9,8 24 21,2 89 78,8
Geography 798 111 13,9 61 55,0 50 45,0
Biology 1.065 100 9,4 58 58,0 42 42,0

I.4 Doctoral Students

Figures 4 and 5 show the numbers of enrolled national and international doctoral students
between the winter term of 1995/96 and the winter term of 2007/08, distinguishing
between the genders. The numbers show a very positive development: within the last twelve
years, there was an increase from 289 doctoral students in the winter term 1995/96 to 788
doctoral students in the winter term 2008/08, which amounts to an increase by 270%. In the
same period, however, the number of German doctoral students decreased from 3,368 in the
winter term of 1995/96 to 3,117 in the winter term of 2007/08 – a slight drop by 7.5%.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 8

Figure 4
International Doctoral Students at RWTH Aachen University, WS 1995/96 - WS 2007/08

International Doctoral Students

900
800
700
600 Female
Quantity

500 Male
400
300
200
100
0
WS WS WS WS WS WS WS
95/96 97/98 99/00 01/02 03/04 05/06 07/08
Semester

Figure 5
German Doctoral Students at RWTH Aachen University, WS 1995/96 - WS 2007/08

German Doctoral Students

4.000
3.500
3.000
Female
Quantity

2.500
2.000 Male
1.500
1.000
500
0
WS WS WS WS WS WS WS
95/96 97/98 99/00 01/02 03/04 05/06 07/08
Semester

Figure 6 shows the countries of origin of the international doctoral students in the winter term of
2006/07. In this figure, only countries sending more than 20 doctoral students to RWTH Aachen
University are taken into account. Again, as with student numbers, China contributes the highest
number of international doctoral students at RWTH Aachen. Further important countries in this
respect are Iran, India, Poland, Russian, and Turkey.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 9

Figure 6
International Doctoral Students of RWTH Aachen University by Nationality

International Doctoral Students WS 06/07 (>20 per country)

120
100
80
Quantity

Female
60 Male
40
20
0
n

Ro yt
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ia
a

Th i a
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sia
d
a
Ira

ec
di
in

ss

an
p
rk

ne
la
la
In

Eg
Ch

re
Ru

m
Tu

ai
Po

do
G

In
Nationality

I.5 International Students in Exchange Programmes and Scholarship

Students
Apart from students who intend to complete a full study course at RWTH Aachen University, there
are also a large number of students in exchange programmes or so-called free movers, who come to
RWTH Aachen University just for one or a couple of semesters but do not intend to graduate at
RWTH.

Table 3 gives an overview of international scholarship holders and students in the various exchange
programmes. The list is ranked according to the importance of the respective programme. The
number of scholarship students is a good indicator of RWTH Aachen University’s international
visibility and reputation, as scholarship students quite frequently choose their host university
themselves.

Table 3
International Students of RWTH Aachen University by Funding Programmes,
Academic Years 2001/02 - 2007/08

Programme 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08

Total 4.536 4.927 5.371 5.612 5.640 5.555 5.183
Out of which
DAAD scholarship 176 231 288 295 298 311 180
holders
Students in EU 350 360 308 288 281 395 442
Programmes*
Partnerships and 145 120 129 120 120 118 125
Foundations

*EU Programmes comprise the Erasmus, Leonardo, TIME, Unitech, and IDEA-League funding
programmes.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 10

I.6 International Alumni

Figure 7 shows the distribution of former international students of RWTH Aachen

University according to their current home or contact addresses. The figure only takes
into account those former students who are still in contact with RWTH Aachen and thus
does not reflect the actual number of international students and graduates of the
university.

Figure 7

Asia Australia
South America
10
195
33

131
573
20
North America

Africa
Europe
Total Alumni Abroad: 962

Alumni* of RWTH Aachen University from Abroad (status: March 2008)

Today, RWTH Aachen University has 20 alumni representative offices in 20 countries:

Egypt
Argentina
Brasil
Chile
China
Great Britain
Greece
India
Indonesia
Iran
Jordan
Luxembourg
The Netherlands
South Korea
Turkey
Tunisia
Taiwan
Thailand
USA
Vietnam
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 11

I.7 Mentoring and Special Programmes for International Students

Adequate mentoring, support and supervision of international students at RWTH Aachen University is
guaranteed through institutionally defined service programmes which contribute significantly to the
visibility of RWTH Aachen University as an international educational institution. In the report period, a
host of measures were tested and implemented which are to extend the university’s already
substantial support services. Some of these measures are introduced in the following sections.

Info Service Centre for International Students and Researchers

Since the winter term of 2006/07, the Info Service Centre of the International Office assists
international students with completing the necessary formalities after their arrival in Aachen by taking
them along to the Residents Registration Office, the Foreign Nationals Office, a health insurance
office and a financial institution where they can open a bank account. The International Office also
organises “Orientation Days” for newly enrolled international students, offering events and
presentations in English and German which are to introduce international students to important
persons of contact and facilitate a successful start to their studies. Further, within the so-called
“Leisure & Pleasure” programme, the ISC organises various events and cultural activities for
internationals students and guest researchers. INCAS, the Intercultural Centre for Students in Aachen,
is funded by and works on behalf of the International Offices of RWTH Aachen University and the
Aachen University of Applied Sciences. It is the aim of INCAS to take care of international students by
organising cultural events and activities as well as by promoting intercultural dialogue between
students from all over the world.

Humboldt Haus
The Humboldt Haus on Pontstraße functions as a lively meeting point for German and international
students of RWTH Aachen University. First and foremost, it is a place where international students
can meet and get to know each other as well as their German fellow students. The activities of the
house are coordinated by a social education worker who sees to it that there is a lively programme of
student activities and events with an international focus and is the first person of contact for the
representatives of the various international student organisations. An advisory board, consisting
equally of students and representatives of the university administration, provides advice on and co-
determines the house’s activities. By hosting events, organising workshops and lectures, the
Humboldt Haus contributes significantly to enhancing the quality of student life in Aachen.

Summer School for Students of Keio University, Japan

In 2007, the first three-week Summer School on Engineering, German Language and Culture took
place at RWTH Aachen University, whose programme was designed exclusively for students of Keio
University, Japan. The programme consisted of courses in engineering and the natural sciences, an
intensive course in German, and a number of cultural and social events which provided the Japanese
students with the opportunity to meet committed German students. A large part of the courses was
offered by the Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), complemented by
seminars held by the Chairs of Process Systems Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Physics, and
Inorganic Chemistry. In addition, the students visited several companies in the region. The intensive
language course provided by the Language Centre of RWTH Aachen University gave the students the
opportunity to improve their German language skills in daily lessons. A comprehensive cultural
programme organised by the International Office provided ample opportunities to get in contact with
German students and enabled the participants to get to know the region of Aachen.

I.8 International Student Organisations at RWTH Aachen University

Currently, more than 5000 students from all over the world are enrolled at RWTH Aachen University.
Many of those students are engaged in various international student clubs and societies, who take
care of international students – especially newly enrolled ones – and contribute to the cultural life in
Aachen and at the university. Currently there are 30 societies registered with RWTH Aachen
University’s International Office, which are eligible for funding.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 12

II. RWTH Students in Study Abroad Programmes

Study abroad programmes contribute in an important way to the internationalisation of academic
studies. The most successful programme enabling students to study abroad is the Erasmus exchange
programme. But there are also other exchange schemes organised at faculty or university level. In this
context, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) must be named as the most important
funding body for scholarships enabling students to study abroad. Table 4 gives an overview of
students participating in structured mobility schemes and study abroad programmes under the
supervision of the International Office. Stays abroad organised by the students themselves (so-called
“free movers”) have not been taken into account.

Table 4
RWTH Students in Study Abroad Programmes, WS 2001/02 – 2007/08

Programme 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08

DAAD Scholarships 100 95 100 95 90 95 90
ERASMUS 243 222 221 354 351 399* 400*
Fulbright 2 2 0 1 2 1 1
ISAP – International Study and 14 12 9 12 12 6 3
Education Partnerships
IDEA League** 2 1 5 3
LEONARDO 0 23 22 14
Otto Junker Foundation 5 5 4 2 1 1 -
T.I.M.E. – Top Industrial 5 10 7 8 11 12 7
Managers for Europe
UNITECH 7 4 5 5 14 32 18
Exchange Programmes with n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 2 2
Japan (Osaka, Sendai, Tokio)
Total Number 376 350 346 479 507 575 538
*ERASMUS outgoings with and without funding support
**IDEA League: vertical mobility/research grant

Short description of the individual programmes:

DAAD Individual scholarships of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Erasmus EU-funded student mobility scheme for EU students. As part of bilateral
partnerships between higher education institutions study abroad periods of 3-
12 months are possible.
Fulbright Support programme for study abroad periods in the USA. Selection of
candidates by the university; final decision made by the Fulbright Commission.
ISAP “International Study and Education Partnerships“ programme, DAAD funding,
partner universities in the USA and in Japan
IDEA League Collaborative network between Imperial College London, the Delft University
of Technology, ETH Zürich, Paris Tech, and RWTH Aachen University.
LEONARDO Funding programme for internships within the EU
Otto-Junker
Foundation Support programme funding study abroad in the fields of Metallurgy and
Materials Science, Electrical Engineering and Information Technology
T.I.M.E. Double degree programme with the École Centrale Paris in the fields of
Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Technology, and Electrical
Engineering and Information Technology.
UNITECH Study abroad plus industrial placement scheme in the fields of Engineering,
Physics, and Computer Science.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 13

Table 5 shows the number of RWTH students who participated in the EU-funded Erasmus exchange
programme in the academic years 2005/06 and 2006/07 by field of study. Stays abroad organised by
individual students outside of formal exchange programmes (“free movers”) have not been taken
into account.

Table 5
Erasmus Students of RWTH Aachen University by Field of Study (Outgoings) 2007

Field of Study Year Number Months funded Total Funding(€)

02 Architecture 2005/06 39 357 43.060,35 €
02 Architecture 2006/07 49 450 65.266,00 €

06 Engineering, Technology 2005/06 102 846 102.836,55 €

Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Materials Technology/Mining
Mechanical Engineering
06 Engineering, Technology 2006/07 138 1117 159.740,50 €
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Materials Technology/Mining
Mechanical Engineering

07 Geography, Geology 2005/06 6 35 4.229,75 €

07 Geography, Geology 2006/07 5 34 4.845,00 €

08 Arts and Humanities 2005/06 14 66 8.079,30 €

09 Literature and Linguistics 2005/06 40 259 31.413,40 €
08 Arts and Humanities 2006/07 14 78 11.225,00 €
09 Literature and Linguistics 2006/07 44 229 42.693,00 €

11 Computer Science and 2005/06 24 201 24.290,85

Mathematics
11 Computer Science and 2006/07 20 151 21.517,50 €
Mathematics

12 Medical Sciences 2005/06 25 184 22.236,40 €

12 Medical Sciences 2006/07 29 174 24.795,00 €

13 Natural Sciences: 2005/06 42 292 35.538,20 €

Physics
Chemistry
Biology
13 Natural Sciences: 2006/07 39 244 35.073,50 €
Physics
Chemistry
Biology

14 Social Sciences and 2005/06 23 163 19.698,55 €

Economics
14 Social Sciences and 2006/07 22 143 20.377,50 €
Economics

15 Communication and 2005/06 2 14 1.691,00 €

Media Studies
15 Communication and 2006/07 1 5 712,50 €
Media Studies

Total 2005/06 323 2452 297.305,00 €

2006/07 370 2754 394.653,00 €
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 14

III. Study Programmes with a Strong International

Focus
Study programmes which involve cooperation with international partner institutions, integrated study
abroad schemes, foreign-language teaching, and joint degree programmes with international partner
universities can be considered an indicator of the increasing internationalisation of studies and
teaching.

In this context, RWTH Aachen University’s bachelor’s programme “Business Administration” can be
named, which includes a mandatory internship or, alternatively, an integrated study abroad scheme
at one of the currently 33 partner universities. Further study programmes with a strong international
focus are those which are devised in close cooperation with partner universities (joint degrees) as well
as the English-taught master’s programmes.

In the winter term of 2007/08, the following English-taught master’s programmes were offered by
RWTH Aachen University:
Biomedical Engineering
Communications Engineering
Electrical Power Engineering
Media Informatics
Metallurgical Engineering
Software Systems Engineering

Further, RWTH International Academy as a private institution offers five further English-taught
master’s programmes:
Automotive Engineering
Combustion Engines
Computer Aided Conception and Production in Mechanical Engineering
Lasers in Dentistry
Production Systems Engineering

In the framework of the IDEA League partnership, a first joint study programme of the affiliated
universities was launched in the winter semester of 2006/07: the English-taught “Applied
Geophysics” study programme was jointly created by the Delft University of Technology, ETH Zürich,
and RWTH Aachen University in order to meet the strongly increased demand for graduates in the
field of applied geophysics. Students stay at each of the partner universities for one semester and
work on their thesis in the fourth semester at a university of their choice.

The „European Master in Informatics (EuMI)“ degree course is being funded by the “Erasmus
Mundus” co-operation and mobility programme of the European Commission. The degree
programme is jointly run by RWTH Aachen University, the University of Trento and the University of
Edinburgh. The Erasmus Mundus programme offers funding opportunities for students from outside
the European Union.

In November 2007, six students from RWTH Aachen University were awarded their master’s degrees
from Tsinghua University in Beijing. These students completed one of the English-taught "Production
Engineering" or "Automotive Engineering" master’s programmes jointly created by the prestigious
Chinese educational institution and RWTH Aachen University.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 15

IV. International Academic Staff

IV.1 Overview of the International Academic Staff

As can be seen from table 6, in the winter term of 2007/08, the faculties 1 to 8 of RWTH Aachen
University employed a total of 594 international academic staff, which amounts to an increase of 6%
by comparison with the last internationalisation report. The greatest increase can be reported in the
category of international professors within the regular budget: their number has increased by 22%,
from 27 in the winter term of 2005/06 to 33 in the winter term of 2007/08.

Table 6
International Academic Staff of RWTH Aachen University (counted in persons)
Faculty 1 to 8 (Status: 31.12.2007)

Regular budget Third party Total

(public funding) funding

International professors 33 0 33
International academic civil servants 9 0 9
International academic employees 148 303 451
International research assistants 35 42 77
International adjunct lecturers 0 24 24

Total 225 369 594

In the current report, statistical data on international academic staff employed by the faculty of
medicine are newly introduced. A total of 136 international academic staff are employed in the field
of medical science. As with the other faculties, most of the international staff employed by the faculty
of medicine is financed through third-party funding.

Faculty 10 - Medicine (Status 31.12.2007) (counted in persons)

Regular budget Third party Total
(public funding) funding

International professors 5 0 5
International academic employees 50 76 126
Total 55 76 136
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 16

IV.2 Support Services for the International Academic Staff

Registering of international Visiting Researchers
Since August 2006, the Info Service Centre of the International Office (ISC) offers a registration form
for international visiting researchers as part of their online services. The ISC offers various services to
registered visiting academics, e.g. advice on visa issues or help with finding suitable accommodation.
Further, the staff of the ISC offers to accompany visiting scholars to the Residents Registration Office,
the Foreign Nationals Office, a health insurance office and a financial institution where they can open
a bank account. Since the introduction of the possibility to register visiting scholars with the
International Office, 245 academics have been registered, which enabled them to make use of the
ISC’s comprehensive service programme.

The Doc.net Network for Doctoral Students

In autumn 2007, RWTH Aachen University has introduced Doc.net, a programme for non-subject
specific mentoring of international doctoral students. Thanks to the support of the German Academic
Exchange Service (DAAD), events and activities such as regular informal meetings of doctoral
students, welcome meetings, German language courses, and workshops in English are on offer.
Further, doctoral students may take up Teaching Assistantships to help finance their studies.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 17

V. Partnerships of RWTH Aachen University

V.1 Erasmus Partnerships
In the spring of 2007, RWTH Aachen University has signed its 500th Erasmus partnership. ERASMUS
is an acronym which stands for “European Region Action Scheme for the Mobility of University
Students”. The programme was created 20 years ago in order to promote the mobility of students
within the European Union. Apart from furthering their academic qualification, students are enabled
to experience a different cultural environment, develop their language skills, and improve their
employability within an international market. Erasmus partnerships facilitate the mobility of students
and lecturers in both directions. The number of partnership agreements in the winter semester of
2007/08 is displayed in figure 8.

Figure 8
Sokrates/Erasmus Partnerships of RWTH Aachen University 2007/08

1/1 8 / 20

9 / 19
1 / 13

1/1
1/1
3/5
2/4

5/5
18 / 36 10 / 23 13 / 25
12 / 29
5 / 15
5/5
57 / 87 5/7
5 / 16 3/4
2/3 11 / 18
37 / 66

3/3
32 / 70 1/1

5 / 13 14 / 21
8 / 20

1/1
1/1

Map legend: first number: partners, second number: agreements. Usually, a partnership agreement is made for
a certain field of study or discipline; therefore several agreements can be signed with one partner institution.
In total, there are 278 partnerships with 532 agreements.

V.2 Worldwide University Partnerships

RWTH Aachen University currently cooperates with more than a hundred partners world wide
through official cooperation agreements. The terms of these agreements vary, but in general they
concern student exchange schemes, the organisation of joint summer schools, and collaboration in
research.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 18

V.3 International Alliances and Networks

International relations are of great importance to RWTH Aachen University. Cooperation and
competition with international top-level universities set high standards for internal development
processes, provide stronger links and mutual benefits between teaching and research, and enhance
the international visibility of RWTH Aachen University as a research, educational, and service
institution. RWTH is a member of several international organisations and networks.

RWTH Aachen University considers IDEA League to be its most significant collaborative partnership.
IDEA League is a collaborative network between Imperial College London, the Delft University of
Technology, ETH Zürich, ParisTech, and RWTH Aachen University, which can be considered the
leading universities of their countries in the fields of engineering and technology. For eight years now,
IDEA League has been promoting the collaboration between the universities through joint degree
programmes, research initiatives, joint strategy papers, and quality management initiatives.

Further networks of RWTH Aachen University are as follows:

ALMA Regional alliance between the University of Liège, Maastricht University, Hasselt University,
and RWTH Aachen University
CESAER Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research
EUA European University Association
IAU International Association of Universities
IDEA League Network between Imperial College London, the Delft University of Technology, ETH Zürich,
ParisTech, and RWTH Aachen University
SEFI Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs
TIME Double degree programme network, coordinated by the École Centrale de Paris
UNITECH Collaboration of leading European technical universities with enterprises to complement
excellent engineering degrees with management skills and intercultural competencies

V.4 Activities Abroad

The projects described in the present section can be subsumed under the heading of Offshore
Activities: not only does RWTH Aachen University participate in the establishment of universities or
faculties abroad, but its study programmes and modules are increasingly being adopted by
international universities. Further, there are partnerships which allow the awarding of national
academic degrees by international educational institutions.
Currently, RWTH Aachen University is actively involved in the following projects:

Beijing Office
In 2006, in order to strengthen and extend the ties between RWTH Aachen University and Chinese
educational institutions, students, and researchers, RWTH has opened a representative office in
Beijing. The liaison office, which was inaugurated in October 2006, is located in the German Centre
Beijing, which is also the home to further German research organisations as well as the German-
Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Apart from strengthening relations with Chinese researchers and
their organisations, the team of the liaison office is dedicated to recruiting top-level students from
China. The office provides information on study programmes and opportunities for doctoral studies,
and it prepares prospective students who seek to take up a study programme at RWTH Aachen
University for their stay in Germany. The office is also the first point of contact for exchange students
of RWTH in China as well as for Chinese graduates of RWTH Aachen. Further, it aims to keep in
touch with Chinese visiting researchers and members of RWTH in China.

German University of Technology in Oman (GUtech)

In Muscat, the German University of Technology in Oman is currently being established, following
the Aachen model of industry-oriented engineering education. Founded on the initiative of their
Excellencies Sheikh Abdullah al-Salmi and Sheikh Saud Bin Ali al Khalili, this technical university will
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 19

enrich and lend a special character to the academic and scientific landscape in Oman. In close
cooperation with the Omanian founders, RWTH Aachen coordinates the establishment of this
university, drawing on its experience in teaching, research and innovation. Special emphasis will be
placed on the creation of links between the worlds of teaching, research and business as it is
established practice at RWTH Aachen University.

In the first development stage until 2012, four faculties with one bachelor’s and one master’s
programme each are envisaged: the Faculty of Sciences (study programme: Information Technology),
the Faculty of Engineering (study programme: Production Engineering), the Faculty of Environmental
Studies (study programme: Urban and Regional Planning), and the Faculty of Earth Sciences (study
programme: Applied Geosciences). A one-year study course which is to prepare students for the
bachelor’s programme is on offer since the winter term of 2007/08.

Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering

Since 1997 RWTH Aachen has been cooperating with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology North
Bangkok, and both institutions have collaborated in establishing the Thai-German Graduate School of
Engineering (TGGS). In the autumn of 2007, the TGGS moved into its own building in the North of
Bangkok. In the winter term of 2007/08, 140 students are enrolled in the "Mechanicals and Materials
Engineering" and "Electrical and Computer Engineering" master's programmes. Adopting RWTH
teaching modules, the study courses on offer in Bangkok since 2002 are taught in English, largely by
Thai lecturers. But also professors from RWTH Aachen are teaching at the TGGS, most often in the
form of block seminars. Apart from teaching, they seek to establish research collaborations and build
relationships with industry in Thailand. At the TGGS, RWTH Aachen University is responsible for
quality management in teaching and research.
RWTH International - Internationalisation Report 2008 20

VI. International Research Collaborations

RWTH Aachen University has a large number of cooperation relations with prestigious universities
and international enterprises, a fact which is made evident not only by several joint projects
conducted in cooperation with international partners, but also by the numerous international patents
taken out by the university. In the period between 2002 and 2007, 40 international patents were filed
by RWTH Aachen.

Apart from being a member of the IDEA League collaborative network, RWTH has close and long-
standing relationships with a large number of educational and research institutions. In six well-defined
research areas, joint research projects are being conducted with the NTNU Trondheim, for example.
In this context, twenty years of cooperation with the Technion, Israel and the Research Centre Jülich
deserve special mention. In 2007, within this collaborative initiative, internal project funding was
made available for the first time in the field of nanotechnology. Further, a joint symposium on
"Future Energy" was held at RWTH Aachen University to great success. Of especial significance is
also the international collaboration in teaching and research based on the Aachen model of industry-
oriented engineering education at the Thai-German Graduate School in Bangkog, Thailand.

Aachen's unique location in the "Euregio" border region is apt to enhance and accelerate research
activities and technology transfer between Germany and the neighbouring states of Belgium and the
Netherlands. As an example, the cross-border cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and
Industry Aachen (IHK), RWTH Aachen University and the Province of Limburg (NL) within the
framework of the "International Clause" can be named. It is the aim of the formal cooperation
agreement to promote the interregional technology and knowledge transfer and to facilitate
cooperation between research and educational institutions and the business community. As a result, a
host of innovative projects have been jointly defined by RWTH Aachen University and participating
companies in the Province of Limburg.

One of the best practice examples of the cross-border collaboration between small-to-medium
enterprises (SMEs) and RWTH Aachen University is the "Kennismakelaar" (knowledge broker)
project. Within this project, Dutch SMEs are given the opportunity to receive innovation vouchers (i.e.
vouchers worth €20,000) which can be used to commission R&D projects to be conducted by RWTH
Aachen University. So far, more than 10 collaborative projects have been initiated.

A further example for the on-going knowledge and technology transfer process within the Euregio is
the "Energy Hills" cluster, a collaborative network of regional energy research and production
companies and educational institutions. It is the aim of the network to offer a common institutional
framework for research establishments, educational institutions and energy producers as well as to
bring together diverse parties and initiatives from both Germany and the Netherlands. RWTH Aachen
University plays an active role in this unique European cooperative venture: not only is the head of
the Energy Hills cluster a member of RWTH Aachen, but several departments and institutes of the
university participate in the activities of the network.

Under the name of ELAT (Eindhoven-Leuven-Aachen Triangle), universities, cities and other players
collaborate to realise concrete research projects and to strengthen the potential of the cross-border
technology region between Flanders, the Netherlands, and North-Rhine Westphalia. In this context,
the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium (Flanders) together with several partners, including the
Entrepreneurship Centre of RWTH Aachen University, has organised a joint master class to promote
entrepreneurship in the high-tech industry, acquainting prospective young entrepreneurs with the
opportunities of setting up a high-tech company within this European technology region.