UTSA students engage in transatlantic dialogues and explore global dynamics in Germany

UTSA and TU Darmstadt representatives gather in conversation to discuss global order and contemporary issues. Photos courtesy of TU Darmstadt/Patrick Bal.

JULY 30, 2024 — Last week, a group of UTSA students had the once-in-a-lifetime experiential learning opportunity to travel to Darmstadt, Germany, to participate in a series of discussions on global order and contemporary issues in world politics with university, city and consulate representatives from Germany and San Antonio. The Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt), one of UTSA’s strategic global partners, hosted the event.

The experience was part of a study abroad program led by Matthias Hofferberth, UTSA professor of political science and geography, in partnership with Markus Lederer, TU Darmstadt professor of political science. The program, which took place from Thursday, July 18, through Saturday, July 27, offered 10 UTSA global affairs students a chance to be part of an intercultural classroom with 10 TU Darmstadt students.

The participants studied and discussed questions of global order, which refers to the structure and organization of the international system, including the rules, norms and institutions that govern relations between states and shape global politics.

“TU Darmstadt is one of our most important strategic partners and, in fact, are the only partner with whom we have shared an employee housed at UTSA to grow and strengthen our bond.”

On Tuesday, July 23, City of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, TU Darmstadt President Tanja Brühl, and Jennifer DeWitt Walsh, deputy principal officer at the U.S. Consulate General in Frankfurt, joined the students and professors for a panel discussion in response to the student-led joint seminar titled “Global (Dis)Order.”

The discussion focused on the status of transatlantic relations and future challenges for global order. The panelists highlighted the importance of the transatlantic partnership as a key principle of global order, noting its complexity and the need for active engagement at various levels. They also advocated for a global order that is fairer to all and more open to change.

The event concluded with a commitment to fostering fairness and adaptability in global governance, underscoring the strength of the TU Darmstadt-UTSA partnership in promoting international dialogue.

Amy Salazar-Molina, a global affairs major and one of the 10 UTSA students who participated in the dialogues, reflected on her experience.

“I found these conversations to be extremely enlightening because they enhanced my understanding about global order and international relations by taking varying perspectives into account,” she said. “As a person who is interested in pursuing a career in the international relations sector, I believe that these cross-cultural dialogues are extremely important so that we can have a better understanding of the world around us and the diverse people that inhabit it.”

UTSA’s formal partnership with TU Darmstadt began in 2017 following a broader “sister city” alliance to build cultural and educational bridges between San Antonio and Darmstadt. Since then, the two universities have established strong academic and research opportunities for their students and scholars, including student exchanges, joint courses, internships and joint research projects. Collaborations span topics such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, environmental analysis, hydrology and political science.

The collaboration between Hofferberth and Lederer is exemplary of the thriving relationship between the two institutions.

“This event is part of a study abroad which grew out of a collaboration that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and featured two online courses shared between TU Darmstadt and UTSA students,” said Hofferberth. “I have been working on this together with Professor Lederer for the last four years and this is the first instance we have been able to travel there in person. The collaboration with Darmstadt has been phenomenal, and we are very excited to represent UTSA during this historic exchange.”

To conclude the course, the UTSA group took a field trip to Geneva, Switzerland, to visit international organizations such as the United Nations headquarters, the World Trade Organization and the Red Cross. Students engaged with practitioners and were able to solidify their theoretical discussions into practical understandings.

Exchanges between the two institutions have also taken place at the university leadership level. For example, the first delegation from UTSA visited TU Darmstadt in person in Fall 2019, following a delegation from TU Darmstadt to UTSA in the spring of that year. In May 2023, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy visited Darmstadt, accompanied by U.S. Consul General Norman Thatcher Scharpf.

This partnership, shepherded over the last seven years by the UTSA Office of Global Initiatives, exemplifies successful international academic collaboration and the importance of scientific cooperation and student exchange in strengthening ties between Germany and America.  

“TU Darmstadt is one of our most important strategic partners and, in fact, are the only partner with whom we have shared an employee housed at UTSA to grow and strengthen our bond,” said Lisa Montoya, UTSA vice provost for global initiatives. “I congratulate Professor Hofferberth on a wonderful program and thank the city of San Antonio for their longstanding support of this relationship.”

The Global Affairs program at UTSA has experienced significant growth over the last decade. Faculty and leadership from the UTSA Department of Political Science and Geography have been integral to the program’s success.

In Fall 2019, the university launched an M.A. in global affairs to complement its B.A. in global affairs. UTSA’s global affairs programs offer meaningful experiential learning opportunities like study abroad, research practicums and extracurricular activities such as participating in the UTSA chapter of the Model United Nations Society.

UTSA is committed to educating all students to be global citizens, so they are prepared to meet the challenges of the world today and in the future. Studying abroad and other global experiential learning opportunities help students develop important marketable skills — like confidence, intercultural competency and a global mindset — that will give them an advantage in their careers.

— KC Gonzalez