Master Summer School Social Work – California State University, Long Beach
From 1 to 6 June, Nancy Meyer-Adams, Jason Plummer and Keyon Anderson from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) were on site for the third time as part of a summer school. Together with 35 master's students from CSULB, they spent a week in Berlin followed by a week in Hamburg. In dialogue with HAW Hamburg students and professors Daniela Ulber, Silke Betscher and Sabine Stövesand, they discussed the topic of ‘Social Justice and Human Rights’ and visited social institutions. The guests were particularly impressed by the Youth Migration Service (JMD), which supports young people with a migration background through counselling, educational and leisure activities and provides long-term support on their educational and professional path. Keyon Anderson was part of the summer school for the first time and was impressed by this organisation: "What stood out to me was the dignity embedded in their approach. It’s a model that speaks to what’s possible when systems center people over process, and care over control.I found myself reflecting on the gaps in our own systems - especially the inconsistent support for immigrants and marginalized communities. JMD felt like a blueprint for what’s possible when the state plays a proactive role in welcoming, resourcing, and empowering all people."
Master Class Data Analysis – University of Rhode Island
Natallia Katenka from the University of Rhode Island was also in Hamburg in the week from 1 to 6 June. In her tenth year in Hamburg, she held an interdisciplinary Master Class on quantitative data analysis. With the topic ‘Global stock markets in response to exogenous shocks: Updated models of market response’, this year our Master of International Business (MIB) students explored state-of-the-art analytical models that capture how exogenous shocks propagate across international markets and reveal new patterns of volatility, contagion and recovery. Natallia Katenka, teaching alongside Natalia Ribberink and MIB alumnus Lucas Pagel de Souza, summarised: ‘It has never been more important to understand how global stock markets react to unexpected external disturbances ranging from pandemics to geopolitical conflicts.’
Aeronautical Engineering - Virginia Tech
The third university represented in Hamburg in the first week of June was Virginia Tech. Ella Atkins, Head of the Department of Aerospace & Ocean Engineering, was visiting as part of the Department of Automotive & Aerospace Engineering's ISAP project* to get to know the university and network with colleagues. The programme put together by Jutta Abulawi also took her to Airbus and the Centre for Applied Aeronautical Research (ZAL), giving her the opportunity to get to know Hamburg as a centre for aviation expertise. She was particularly impressed by the Hamburg Centre of Aviation Training (HCAT) and the English-language courses in cabin and cabin systems for exchange students. ‘My visit to Hamburg taught me a lot about studying aircraft construction at HAW Hamburg and I will definitely encourage my students to take cabin courses during their semester abroad.'
German-American International Business Workshop – California State University, Long Beach
CSULB professor, Mona Zanhour, and 13 US students took part in the German-American International Business Workshop with Natalia Ribberink and 22 students from HAW Hamburg during the week of 16-20 June 2025. It was the conclusion of the COIL module ‘Exploring how AI is reshaping the future of work and HR, looking at the differences between Germany and the US - from HR innovations to labour market transformations.’ From April to mid-June 2025, students from both universities worked virtually in international teams to analyse transnational trends in human resource management. The course ended in Hamburg with a workshop in which the students visited globally active companies in Hamburg in addition to the lectures. Tim Haarstrich took part in the workshop in both Hamburg and Long Beach and summarises his experiences: 'The workshop gave me an absolute change of perspective. Since then, I've been looking at tasks and problems with a broader perspective. And I have learnt that it is the way you communicate that is important. I have become more tolerant and considerate in project work. Ego has no place in successful teamwork.'
Film Workshops – California State University, Long Beach
As part of the ISAP project* in the Department of Media Technology with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), US professors Alicia Dwyer, Sharri Hefner and Kent Hayward were in Hamburg from 25 June to 2 July 2025 to lead film workshops for HAW Hamburg Bachelor's and Master's students. In collaboration with Marco Grimm, Joachim Friedmann, Christina Becker and several student tutors there were lectures and practical exercises on the topics ‘Creative Producing’, ‘Pitching your film idea’, ‘Documentary Filming’ and ‘Green Filmmaking’. The students also produced their own short films with the support of the professors and presented them at the end of the workshop. Sharri Hefner summarised: "I was very impressed with what the students achieved in such a short time. They had great ideas and worked long hours on their films. The quality was really good and it was a pleasure to work with them."
* ISAP: Grants from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the development of strategic university partnerships.
Text: Ingrid Weatherall
