On November 14th, 2024, our first Intercultural Symposium and Company Expo successfully initiated sustainable engagement between five interconnected stakeholders: over 150 German companies located in Connecticut, the German Innovation and Research Institute in New York City, three of UConn’s schools (CLAS, ENGR, and BUS), most importantly the dual degree programs EUROBIZ and EUROTECH, and AdvanceCT, Connecticut’s agency for business growth. Headlined by the General Consul of Germany, Dr. Sonja Kreibich, from the German Consulate in Boston, the event fostered exchange, dialog, reflection and networking for students, faculty, staff, administrators, company leadership and HR alike. Shared below is the Consulate’s LinkedIn post:

“Precision manufacturing and German – why these two go together particularly well, and why Connecticut and UConn provide just the right ecosystem for internationally-minded engineering and business students, was the recurring theme of yesterday’s “Germany on Campus” Symposium and Company Expo event at UConn.

Germany is CT’s #1 economic partner. Many German world leaders in precision manufacturing call CT their home in the US. And the dual degree programs EUROTECH and EUROBIZ at UConn prepare students for a career with these companies.

CK Kreibich was honored to open the company panel with Dr. Christine Benz (TRUMPF North America), Marie-Anne Caye (Henkel), Peter Tolmei (ebm-papst), Jonathan Leach and Dave Gould (MTU Aero Engines North America), Michael Haaser and Will Trickett (Stopa America Inc) and Tom Siemieniak and Sujan Guhathakurta (fischer fixings LLC) moderated by Ted Fisher (AdvanceCT).

Jan Lüdert, Ph.D. of the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York the keynote speech of the symposium on “Transatlantic Innovations: Building Intercultural Citizenship Across the Disciplines.”

Congratulations to the University of Connecticut and Anke K. Finger for putting together such a convincing showcase for EUROTECH and EUROBIZ. “Germany on Campus” is a program of the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C.“

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Lüdert, highlighted innovation, resilience, and empathy as the three most important elements towards intercultural citizenship:

“In Germany and the United States, as in any two regions, we sometimes see things differently—from how we define privacy and security to how we approach sustainability and resource management. Understanding these differences doesn’t just make us better professionals; it makes us better global citizens.

We often talk about resilience as if it’s something you’re either born with or not. But resilience is something you build—every time you navigate a new environment or encounter a perspective that challenges your assumptions. Resilience is both a property and a process!

And that resilience is bolstered by empathy. In our roles, whether as engineers, business leaders, or cultural liaisons, empathy allows us to view challenges from multiple angles, helping us not only solve problems but also anticipate and prevent them.

To be truly innovative, you must see your role as more than a job title or a collection of skills. Each project you work on is a chance to bridge differences and create new understandings. Your studies and experiences here at UConn, combined with the time you spend abroad, will give you a powerful toolkit—one that blends cultural insight with technical know-how.

You’re becoming ambassadors of a shared future, where disciplines intersect, and borders blur. Whether you are working on the next sustainable technology or driving business strategies that respect cultural nuances, you will have a profound impact on the world’s path forward.

Let this be your compass as you navigate the coming years. Seek out new perspectives, build networks here today that span cultures and disciplines, and recognize that every conversation, every collaboration, is an opportunity to strengthen our shared world.

It’s truly a pleasure to be here with you all. Standing before a group of students who are not only dedicated to excelling in your respective fields but are also willing to take on the challenge of immersing in another culture, another language, and another way of seeing the world, I am inspired. “

Evelyn Pazan, a EUROBIZ student, participated in the Symposium and shared impressions on her LinkedIn:

“Today, I had the pleasure of attending the Germany on Campus Symposium and Expo at the UConn Alumni Center. This was an inspiring learning experience and opportunity to interact with well-known companies that operate worldwide. Additionally, I enjoyed spending time with UConn students and staff, practicing my German, and exploring career opportunities.”

The German Studies Section wishes to express a special thank you to all those who contributed to this event’s success: Gerlinde Berger-Walliser, Andreas Weißenbach, Dr. Stefan Hock, Kathy Hendrickson, UConn Center for Career Readiness and Life Skills, UConn Global, University of Connecticut School of Business, UConn College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, UConn College of Engineering.
And thank you to our excellent keynote speaker Jan Lüdert, Ph.D. from the German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York!