When I heard about the open Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (EMDM) call in January 2024, I saw it as an opportunity to start planning a curriculum leading to a Master’s Degree in International Rehabilitation and Technology, to which we would need partners from both Europe and beyond. When mapping partners, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences (TH Rosenheim) in Germany, was selected as one of the best institutions of higher education. I received enthusiastic reception and TH Rosenheim promised to participate in the call. After receiving the information needed for the project application and a description of TH Rosenheim’s offerings and opportunities, I wanted to get to know both the activities and the people on the site in more detail. Fortunately, I was welcomed and so the exchange week already took place in April. The trip to Rosenheim via Munchen was smooth and I arrived at Rosenheim in the evening, where the temperature was +28. So, I can say that I received a warm welcome.
TH Rosenheim is founded in 1971. In March 2024, there were 32 undergraduate Bachelor’s degree programmes, 3 part-time Bachelor´s degree programmes, 11 consecutive Master’s degree programmes and 6 post-graduate Master´s degree programmes. TH Rosenheim offers studies in technology, economy, design, health and social affairs. The number of students is around 6,400. For now, there are over 100 laboratories and workshops, and new facilities are planned. TH Rosenheim is very famous for wood technology which was shown e.g. in the exhibition in the entrance hall of the Campus.
My host department was the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. Based on my wishes, they had drawn up a very interesting and rewarding programme. In addition to future-oriented project negotiations, I had the opportunity to see different laboratories (Engineering Labs, Medical Technology Lab, Nursing Skills Lab) and simulation situations (Medical Technology simulations) as well as to have fruitful discussions with nursing students. Especially medical technology simulations were an eye-opening teaching situation where students became familiar with the technical and functional characteristics of the equipment and devices. In the design of the equipment, the teachers had used their ingenuity and creativity – great innovations at low cost.
On the last day, I got to know Freilassing and the Dein Haus 4.0 there. It is a residential competence centre at the Freilassing and Rosenheim sites in the administrative district of Upper Bavaria, which reminds a lot of MeWet Home. MeWet is multifunctional environment for Well-being enhancing technology involving SAMK’s and Sataedu’s students. Dein Haus 4.0 combines, among other things, new technologies and their design, sustainable development, economy and accessible health services, especially for the elderly, as well as research.
Bavaria with its beautiful scenery and friendly colleagues left an indelible impression. The international exchange succeeded just as I had hoped, i.e. I learned and saw much, and I created new contacts that make it easy to continue working together. Until next time…
Text and photos: Senior Lecturer Anu Elo