Background of the Project

For many years, the Chair of Business Informatics, particularly Processes and Systems, has maintained a close academic partnership with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the renowned Stellenbosch University in South Africa. The collaboration includes joint research projects, visiting lectureships, and a structured student exchange program. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Norbert Gronau is a long-standing Research Fellow at Stellenbosch University and regularly teaches in the “Information and Knowledge Management” master’s program. Several researchers from both institutions have completed research stays in the respective partner country. The collaboration focuses on topics such as knowledge management, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on work processes and professional development. Since 2019, successful student exchanges have taken place between the University of Potsdam and Stellenbosch University. Despite pandemic-related restrictions, digital exchange formats were established, and joint research projects and publications were carried out. Both universities plan to continue in-person exchanges, with visits scheduled to resume as early as 2025. Students from both universities were able to benefit from courses offered by the respective partner university.

Goal of the Project:

The ISAP Stellenbosch-Potsdam 2025–2029 Scholarship Program will enable the exchange of Bachelor’s students in Business Informatics for four years through scholarships, sending three students to Germany each year. Similarly, three students from South Africa will receive scholarships to complete one exchange semester per year at the University of Potsdam.

• To foster sustainable networking, a joint alumni program is being developed to promote exchange and connections between former and current scholarship recipients.
• Each year, at least two joint teaching formats—such as block seminars or hybrid courses—will be developed and implemented by faculty members from both universities.
• A regular faculty exchange will be established, within the framework of which, among other things, a joint block seminar will be developed. To expand the range of courses, virtual exchange formats and hybrid courses may also be introduced.
• In addition, an exchange of administrative staff will be implemented to strengthen internationalization strategies and share knowledge about the administration of international programs.
• In addition, special incentives will be created in the future for students from South Africa to encourage their participation in the exchange program.
• Finally, cooperation with Stellenbosch University will be further strengthened through the joint development of a master’s program in “Socio-Informatics.” This program will combine interdisciplinary content with practice-oriented modules, thereby uniting technical and social perspectives in information science. This will specifically prepare students for the challenges of an increasingly digitized and globalized workplace.

Coordination and further details about the Project