Study Tours

On March 1st, 2025, a group of our Master’s students set off for the vibrant and distant land of India. Their journey began in Bengaluru, the capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

After a kickoff session and a delicious welcome dinner, the group traveled on to Mysuru (Mysore), also located in Karnataka. Guided by their local expert Ramesh, the students explored the city and immersed themselves in its rich cultural heritage. The first stop was the iconic Mysore Palace—also known as Amba Vilas—one of the most famous royal residences in India. While visiting the palace, the group had a special encounter with a guru and even got the chance to speak with him briefly.

From there, the students headed to the city’s colorful local market, where spices, herbs, sweets, and souvenirs created a feast for all senses. As the day came to a close, the group returned to the Mysore Palace to witness a breathtaking spectacle: every evening, more than 97,000 lightbulbs illuminate the palace façade, turning it into a glowing golden landmark.

Academic Insights at SDMIMD
The second day brought a new adventure—this time on the campus of our partner institution, SDM Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD). The students were warmly welcomed by the Director, Dr. S. N. Prasad, and introduced to faculty members by Prof. Dr. Mousumi Sengupta.

Following an opening talk by Prof. Dr. Weingart, who spoke about the strong partnership between SDMIMD and HUGS, students attended a series of lectures. Prof. Dr. Mousumi Sengupta and Dr. Mamta Hegde led sessions on ethics, responsibility, sustainability, and business leadership in India. Dr. S. N. Prasad concluded the academic portion with an engaging lecture on Indian history and culture. The students also had the opportunity to meet their Indian peers and explore the beautiful campus together—an enriching and memorable experience for all.

Fun fact: This summer semester, three SDMIMD students will visit us in Germany. We are already looking forward to welcoming them!

Innovation and Diplomacy in Bengaluru
Day three began with a visit to Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), where students gained fascinating insights into how India is shaping the future of global business. A true highlight was the meeting with MBRDI’s CEO, Manu Saale, who spoke about India’s economy, talent pool, and the role of Bengaluru within the global innovation network.

After a lively Q&A session, the group moved on to another highlight: a visit to Achim Burkart, the German Consul General in India. What followed was a captivating deep dive into the world of diplomacy. Mr. Burkart shared insights from his 30-year diplomatic career and discussed career opportunities within the German Foreign Office. The engaging discussion ran well beyond the planned time and ended with a group photo—a perfect close to an exciting day.

Smart Tech at Bosch and a Farewell to Bengaluru
On the fourth day, the group visited Bosch in Bengaluru. After a comprehensive introduction to Bosch’s activities in India, students toured the vast campus, including an impressive Experience Center. One particular highlight was the chance to program their own commands for connected vehicles—for example, changing the ambient lighting from blue to red during braking.

The visit continued with a deep dive into technical areas and production (details remain confidential!), and concluded with a shared lunch—just like any regular workday at Bosch India. Many thanks to Rakesh and the Bosch team for this fascinating experience!

Afterwards, the group headed straight to the airport for the next leg of the journey: Delhi.

Final Stop: Delhi & Lufthansa Cargo
Upon arrival in Delhi, the final company visit of the tour was to Lufthansa. The students received valuable insights into the air cargo business, learned about the Indian logistics market, and explored Lufthansa Cargo’s global role. A big thank you to Swetha, Atul, and Priya for their time and engaging discussions.

In the evening, there was just enough time to explore Delhi, including a final stop at the German Embassy—where the group took one last commemorative photo together.

With that, an inspiring and eventful week came to an end—full of new perspectives, intercultural exchange, and unforgettable moments.

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to visit Mysuru and Bengaluru with a group of fifteen talented students from our Business Master Program HUGS. Our partner institution, the SDM Institute for Management Development (SDMIMD) in Mysuru, India, welcomed us for a week-long program from February 20th to February 28th, 2023. The visit included insightful lectures on “Doing Business in India” and “Cultural Awareness,” as well as company visits to the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) and Würth Elektronik.

Learning about India’s economy, politics, cultural differences, society, values, and interpersonal norms was truly eye-opening for all of us. In addition to the high academic quality and the outstanding hospitality of our colleagues, we were especially impressed by SDMIMD’s commitment to social responsibility in the region. Experiencing the dedication of Indian professors and students to social projects and microfinancing initiatives broadened our understanding and appreciation of India’s approach to development and sustainability.

Together with our Indian counterparts, our students worked on projects related to dairy farming and renewable energy, women’s empowerment, and microfinance, which they then presented to the faculty. We also had the chance to teach SDMIMD’s highly motivated management students about emerging trends in Digital Human Resource Management from a German perspective.

Beyond the academic program, we enjoyed India’s rich wildlife, vibrant culture, and unforgettable cuisine.

We would like to thank NRP for making this journey possible, as well as all of our colleagues and students for their support, collaboration, and warm welcome. This study tour has undoubtedly made a lasting impact on our perspectives and professional lives.

And finally: being able to teach while observing monkeys in the trees outside the lecture hall is a memory we will treasure forever—and a rare privilege that makes us feel truly blessed.

This project began through the personal connections of Prof. Susanne Wilpers, who was seeking partners for a COIL (Cooperative Online International Learning) course as part of the DAAD-funded flagship project INVEST PRO³. Through HHN’s extensive network, the University of Rwanda was secured as a project partner. What made the project truly innovative was the combination of a virtual COIL experience with a real-world study tour abroad.

Student teams were formed, each including members from HHN’s Faculty of Business and Faculty of Engineering, alongside their counterparts from Rwanda. Over the course of two months, these interdisciplinary and intercultural teams developed proposals for products or services designed for the Rwandan market—each aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Great emphasis was placed on working collaboratively and as equals. While students were free to choose their own topics, they were supported with detailed methodological guidance for conducting economic analyses and developing technical innovations.

The teams were supervised virtually by a group of professors: Prof. Susanne Wilpers, Prof. Ansgar Meroth, Prof. Peter Ott, Prof. Jonas Barayandema, Dr. Jean Claude Byungura, Dr. Bernard Munyazikwiye, and Dr. Pierre Bakunzibake. On July 26, 2022, they finally met in person on the University of Rwanda’s Kigali campus. For the next four days, the students worked together to refine their ideas and prepare their final presentations.

During the visit, the group also met with representatives of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and Dr. Thomas Kurz, the German Ambassador to Rwanda. These sessions offered in-depth insights into the partnerships between German institutions and governmental and non-governmental organizations in Rwanda, as well as the country’s history and current political context.

The final project presentations took place at the university’s conference center and were attended by university leaders, GIZ representatives, and organizations from agriculture and public transport sectors. Many of the proposed innovations aimed to improve rural farming practices or public mobility.

Thanks to a successful ERASMUS+ application jointly submitted by both faculties—with support from all international coordinators—funding is now secured for future cooperative projects in the coming years.

The cultural portion of the tour included participation in Umuganda, a monthly community day where residents of a village or neighborhood come together to share news, address public matters, and contribute to the development of their community. In this case, the pedestrian zone of the neighborhood was thoroughly cleaned.

The German and Rwandan students also visited historic sites, museums, and the University of Rwanda’s Huye campus in the south. A particularly moving moment was the visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, commemorating the tragic events of 1994—a powerful reminder of the country’s past and a reflection of how far Rwanda has come today as a welcoming and remarkably clean nation in the heart of Africa.

Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Ansgar Meroth for the original text.

Eighteen Master’s students from the Faculties of Business and Transport and Mechanical and Electronic Engineering spent a week uncovering the story behind “Made in Vietnam.” This label, once associated mainly with clothing and footwear, is now increasingly found on high-tech products—many of which are developed by brands based in Germany.

This semester’s regular cross-faculty Study Week took place in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) as part of a cooperation project with the Vietnamese-German University (VGU), which has maintained a close partnership with Heilbronn University for over ten years. Tomas Benz, Rector of VGU and long-time professor at Heilbronn University, curated a program full of unexpected insights. Through company visits and discussions with the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad (AHK), the German Business Association, and the Goethe-Institut, the group gained a deeper understanding of how German companies operate in Vietnam.

Led by Prof. Susanne Wilpers, Prof. Ralf Dillerup, and Prof. Ansgar Meroth, a joint seminar was held in which students from both universities presented their research. Business students focused on Vietnam as an economic location, while engineering students shared their work in the fields of materials science, mechatronics, robotics, and autonomous driving.

Visits to German companies such as Pepperl & Fuchs (automation technology), Framas (shoe soles), and Tatonka, as well as to the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park, offered insights into working conditions and showcased successful international collaboration.

A sobering visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels, remnants of the Vietnam War, provided historical context, while the final day of the tour brought a more relaxed experience: a boat trip through the Mekong Delta, featuring scenic nature and local folklore.

Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Ansgar Meroth for the original text.

This Study Week is the result of a long-standing student exchange partnership between the Faculties of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering (T1) and Business and Transport (WV) and the universities of Ulsan University, Kyungpook National University (KNU) in Daegu, and Kumoh Institute of Technology (KIT) in Gumi.

A total of 22 Master’s students participated in the tour—coming from the programs Corporate Management and Business Administration in Transport and Logistics (Faculty WV), as well as Automotive Systems Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechatronics and Robotics, Electrical Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering (Faculty T1). The tour included visits to both Seoul and the partner universities.

The group was accompanied by Leonie Kontusch (international coordinator and organizer), Prof. Priska Jahnke (T1), Prof. Roland Alter (supervisor for WV), and Prof. Ansgar Meroth (international coordinator T1 and co-organizer).

The Study Week took place from May 4 to May 12, 2018. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Won-Kyo Jung, Deputy Director of the International Office at the University of Ulsan; Melinda Szappanyos, International Coordinator at the School of Electronics and Information Technology at KNU; and Eugene Park, Head of the International Office. Their dedication and hospitality made this tour possible and were deeply appreciated by all participants.

In late November, ten Master’s students from the Faculty of Business and Transport (WV) and ten from the Faculty of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering (T1) set off for Hong Kong and Xiamen to take part in the “Intercultural Study Week” and meet fellow students from China. Three additional students from these faculties were already on site, as they were spending their semester abroad in Hong Kong and Xiamen.

The group was accompanied by Stefanie Petrick, international coordinator of Faculty T1, Prof. Susanne Wilpers and Prof. Ansgar Meroth, both international coordinators, as well as Prof. Peter Ott, who had initiated the strong partnership with Xiamen almost two decades ago. The first stop was Baptist University in Hong Kong, a long-standing partner of the Faculty of Business and Transport.

The Study Week began with four seminars: one on Chinese philosophy and its influence on economic life, one on establishing foreign subsidiaries in China by the long-standing CEO of Carlsberg Brewery, another on entrepreneurship in China, and a final one by the German Chamber of Foreign Trade on economic cooperation between China and Germany. A behind-the-scenes visit to a shopping mall—including a seminar on real estate investment and mall operations—rounded out the practical part of the Hong Kong program.

The next stop was Xiamen, where the group flew to continue the program at Xiamen University, a long-time partner of Faculty T1. A mini-conference was held, where ten Chinese students and their counterparts from Heilbronn gave presentations in parallel sessions. Both universities demonstrated strong technical expertise, and the high quality of the presentations and excellent laboratory and research facilities on the new Xiang’an Campus were praised. The Master’s students from WV also took the stage, presenting on a wide range of topics related to Chinese life—from education policy to different aspects of the economy. The conference concluded with an intercultural training led by Prof. Wilpers.

Now joined by more than 40 students, the group moved on to the practical business visits: Hongfa, a global leader in relays, and Linde Forklifts opened their doors to the delegation. Culture and history were not neglected either: each member of the German group was paired with a Chinese “buddy,” who guided their guest through “their” Xiamen. The journey concluded with a visit to the centuries-old tulou roundhouses in Yongding/Nanjing—UNESCO World Heritage sites—where the group gained a vivid impression of rural, almost medieval life in the mountainous farming villages.

Special thanks to Prof. Dr. Ansgar Meroth for the original text.

Our first Study Tour took place in 2012 in China and marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition of educational travel. Thanks to the close partnership with Hefei University of Technology, initiated by Prof. Dr. Peter Ott, 20 students from the Faculties of Engineering and Business were able to take part in the tour. On site, we conducted lab experiments, organized lectures, and visited companies such as JAC Automotive, Bosch Siemens Home Appliances, Ebm Papst, and the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone. This interdisciplinary and intercultural journey laid the foundation for our Study Tour tradition.