Since 1 January, Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) has been a true hero. Or one of 13 German HEROES, to be more precise. Though not the kind of "heroes" typically associated with the term; here, the acronym stands for "Higher Education for Resilience-Oriented and Empowered Societies". This is a transnational alliance of higher education institutions focusing on promoting the talents of a new generation of EU citizens. With the perhaps heroic goal of strengthening the regional resilience of people, companies and nature.

Ulrike Sauckel, Head of Division Internationalisation at DIT, is very proud to have brought Deggendorf Institute of Technology into this select fold. "The 1.9 million euros in total funding will allow us to get a lot of things done," hopes Sauckel, a DIT employee with vast experience in international university collaborations, adding: "It's about making the university, the teaching staff and the students fit for the future. For a VUCA world, a world shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity." It can even be a transformational process for the university and the region alike, she continues. "As regional networking is the focus of European Uni, the region will also benefit from the university's programmes," Sauckel is certain. These programmes are all the result of close cooperation with local stakeholders such as the city, schools, regional development and, of course, also with companies.

By way of example, new, contemporary teaching formats, such as challenge-based learning, will be a focus at DIT. This will be organised in cooperation with companies, but also with other institutions. "Such creative approaches will enable the necessary future skills to be developed and will bring new impetus to teaching at DIT," says Sauckel, adding that other programmes are intended to create inclusion so that the acquisition of intercultural skills no longer depends solely on the size of parents' wallets.

During the funding phase, DIT will be responsible for creating and maintaining the necessary ecosystem, i.e. for all stakeholder groups in and around a university: from pupils to alumni, from companies to environmental protection organisations. Programmes such as HEROESfriends, HEROESalumni, but also the Student Council or the International Advisory Board will be coordinated by the university.

With the "European University Networks (EUN) – National Initiative" programme, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is lending its support to the EU's "European Universities" initiative. Since the beginning of the year, 13 German universities have been supported in the current and final fifth funding round. They will receive around eight million euros from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) over the next four years in addition to the EU funding. DIT is included in this round.

The European Universities are cross-border university networks that jointly develop teaching and learning formats, new forms of cooperation in education, research and technology transfer and strive for close cooperation with society. They are the brainchild of French President Emanuel Macron and are part of the European Union's Erasmus+ programme.

In the national support programme, the DAAD assists the German universities selected by the EU in setting up European university networks. To this end, the DAAD promotes networking between the universities, helps to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and ensures greater visibility for German universities within the European networks.

The fifth funding round of the national accompanying programme started at the beginning of January 2025. Aside from Deggendorf Institute of Technology, the following German universities will receive up to 600,000 euros in addition to the EU funding over the next four years:

• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
• Europa-Universität Flensburg
• FernUniversität Hagen
• HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences
• Heilbronn University of Applied Sciences
• Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
• OTH Regensburg
• TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences
• Chemnitz University of Technology
• Technische Universität Ilmenau
• Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt
• University of Greifswald

Background European Universities

The European Universities initiative aims to bring Europe's universities much closer together in terms of teaching, research, transfer and innovation. At its core is the vision of a cross-border university. The means to achieving this are especially to involve developing joint study and research programmes, offering cross-campus programmes and the engagement of teachers, researchers and students in intensive dialogue.

Following two pilot calls for proposals, the EU selected the European universities over three funding rounds in 2022, 2023 and 2024. A total of 64 alliances spanning more than 560 participating universities from 35 countries have been established. 66 German universities are represented in a total of 58 alliances. Sustainable funding is currently being negotiated at EU level.

National support programme

Alongside the EU, the DAAD has been supporting German universities on their way to becoming European universities through a national support programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research since 2020. The programme currently supports 63 German universities that have received prior funding approval from the EU. A total budget of some 39 million euros has been allocated to the national support programme for the years 2024 to2027.

On December 4th the »WomenTech Network« announced the winners for the »Women in Tech Global Awards 2024« at »supercomputing24« in Atlanta, USA. Dr. Helena Liebelt, professor of computer science at the Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) and Technical Program Manager for Quantum Computing at Intel was recognized as one of those winners at the largest virtual awards celebration in technology for women, minorities, and their allies. The »WomenTech Network« is the world's largest community for women in tech with more than 9,500 ambassadors in 179 countries.

This year’s competition featured an extraordinary 1,560 contestants representing 128 countries across 21 diverse categories, showcasing the global influence and reach of the Women in Tech Global Awards. Helena Liebelt won bronze in the category "global technology leadership". Prof. Dr. Helena Liebelt has made significant contributions to the advancement of quantum computing and high-performance computing (HPC). She spearheaded the creation of one of Europe’s first Master’s programs in Quantum Computing and HPC, paving the way for technological progress and equipping the next generation of innovators in this cutting-edge field. Beyond academia, Prof. Liebelt is a passionate advocate for accessible scientific communication, bridging the gap between complex quantum computing concepts and the general public. Her groundbreaking work in quantum algorithm development and application has been a driving force in propelling the industry forward, earning her recognition as a true pioneer in the tech world.

“We are honored to be recognized as a winner at the Women in Tech Global Awards 2024,” said Prof. Waldemar Berg, President of DIT. “This prestigious award highlights our dedication to innovation and inclusion within the tech industry, and we are incredibly proud to be celebrated alongside such remarkable leaders and changemakers in this field.”

In addition to honoring tech leaders, the celebration gave nominees, finalists, and guests access to inspiring keynotes by industry leaders, discussions, and opportunities to network virtually with people from all corners of the world. At the celebration, WomenTech Network has been able to shine a light on the most accomplished and inspiring female tech leaders, mentors, and rising stars from around the world.

"On behalf of WomenTech Network, I would like to congratulate Prof. Liebelt and all of our 2024 winners, finalists, and nominees for their hard work and dedication to making positive change within their communities and in technology. WomenTech Network deeply appreciates your ongoing support for our mission to advance gender equality in the tech industry and celebrate the outstanding success of women on a global scale. We are proud that you are part of our outstanding global community", said Anna Radulovski, CEO & Founder, WomenTech Network.

The event served as an inspiring reminder of the importance of investing in education, training, and resources for women and minorities in tech, so they can continue to help drive innovation in the industry.  Some of the success stories from the winners and 700+ influential women in tech will be featured at the world-renowned Women in Tech Global Conference 2025, one of the largest virtual conferences for women working within the tech industry.

About WomenTech Network

WomenTech Network is one of the world's leading communities for women in tech with more than +9500 Global Ambassadors representing 179 countries. +140 000 tech leaders have collaborated with the network to date in order to cultivate a diverse global network that reaches 4.7 million people. WomenTech Network strives to empower women in tech through leadership development, professional growth, and mentorship programs. WomenTech Network hosts regular career networking events and a global tech conference for members to connect with like-minded professionals and learn about job opportunities at leading companies that value diversity.

Learn more about WomenTech Network’s events and programs at www.womentech.net.

About Women in Tech Global Awards

The Women in Tech Global Awards recognize women and organizations making significant contributions to the technology industry through leadership, innovation, and diversity initiatives. Hosted by the WomenTech Network, the awards celebrate individuals and teams driving change and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in tech.

How well are degree programmes set up and how high is the quality of teaching? Insights can be gained from the demand for graduates on the labour market and an analysis of their employment. An expert committee of representatives from universities and the Ministry of Education and Research of the Republic of Moldova is currently working on this issue as part of the UPGRADE project funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme. Delegates visited Deggendorf Institute of Technology (DIT) at the end of November to get to know its service centres and advisory services, which are designed to provide students and alumni with the best possible career prospects.

As an international university, DIT presented itself as a role model for established student offices, alumni work, further education options and support services for those interested in founding a company and for young entrepreneurs. During the five-day visit, the Centre for Studies and the International Office first introduced themselves. Following this, there was an exchange about the work of DIT alumni and the services of the Centre for Academic Further Education. The meeting then continued with the Service Centre for Studies and the Career Service for Cooperative Studies, STEM, and the project coordination for cooperation between faculties and administrative units. Sharing their experiences on internationalisation and integration was also a key topic. Prof. Dr. Marcus Herntrei, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Martina Heigl-Murauer, Vice President for Internationalisation and Integration, took part in a discussion on possible cooperation with the universities from Moldova. Finally, the group addressed the extensive range of support on offer in the areas of start-up and scaling up companies. To this end, the group visited the Startup Campus in Deggendorfer Veilchengasse and the Bavarian Innovation Transformation Centre in Oberschneiding. Here, Vice President for Third Mission Prof. Dr. Veronika Fetzer presented the DIT’s approach to promoting entrepreneurial thinking and action as well as the university's efforts to forge close links with society and business in the region.

UPGRADE pursues the assessment of employability in the national and international environment as well as the improvement of academic education and the provision of information, advice and guidance centres at universities in the Republic of Moldova. So far, the project group has visited several universities and higher education institutions in EU partner countries for surveys, international exchange and discussions on cooperation opportunities. The project aims to develop a concept for a national framework for measuring and improving employability in Moldova to improve the quality of academic education and to deepen international contacts with universities, higher education institutions and companies.

For more information on the UPGRADE project or on cooperation opportunities with Moldovan institutions, please contact Dr. Viachaslau Nikitsin.