Ideas without borders

Worldwide Network

Where different minds come together, creativity takes flight. We celebrate diverse perspectives and thrive on international exchange. Alongside countless research cooperations with institutes from around the globe, Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University maintain liaison offices focusing North America, Latin America and Central Asia together with the University of Duisburg-Essen. Firmly believing that international experience enriches everyone, we not only offer mobility programs for students and researchers but support international academics in feeling at home in the Ruhr area.

Liaison Offices and Partnerships

Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University actively foster international collaboration in research and education through their involvement in liaison offices across five continents—North America, South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, of which the UA Ruhr operates three: the North America office in New York City, the Latin America office in São Paulo, and the Asia office in Beijing. From opening the first liaison office in 2004 to establishing an in-country representative in India in 2025, the Ruhr Innovation Lab has partnered with institutions worldwide, contributing to the development of robust international networks that enrich academic communities globally.

UA Ruhr Liaison Office North America Opened in New York in 2004 under the leadership of TU Dortmund University, the UA Ruhr Liaison Office North America has fostered transatlantic cooperation between the USA and the Ruhr area for more than 20 years. It has supported the partner universities in organizing scientific conferences in New York, cultivating strong relationships with U.S. partners, and establishing unique scholarship programs for students.
UA Ruhr Liaison Office Eastern Europe/Central Asia Founded under the leadership of Ruhr University Bochum in 2009, the UA Ruhr Liaison Office Eastern Europe/Central Asia (EECA) fosters international exchange between East and West to elevate the Ruhr area’s profile as an innovative science and research hub. The office also coordinates the “Study Bridge” (Studienbrücke) program, which facilitates access for students from non-EU countries to STEM and economic studies at UA Ruhr universities.
UA Ruhr Liaison Office for Latin America Based in São Paulo and coordinated by the University of Duisburg-Essen, the UA Ruhr Liaison Office for Latin America aims to enhance academic exchange between the member universities and their partners in the region. By fostering collaboration across diverse fields—from ecology to medical research—the liaison office strengthens international networks essential for addressing global challenges such as climate change and democratic stability.
Ghana-NRW University Alliance TU Dortmund University and Ruhr University Bochum are part of the Ghana-NRW University Alliance, which established a Liaison Office in Accra in 2023, led by the University of Cologne. The Liaison Office aims to strengthen the partnerships and increase visibility of the NRW universities in Ghana focusing especially on student recruitment and research cooperation.
China-NRW University Alliance TU Dortmund University is a member of the China-NRW University Alliance, a consortium of six universities from North Rhine-Westphalia, coordinated by the University of Cologne with a Liaison Office in Beijing. Founded in 2006, this strategic alliance has worked to enhance German-Chinese cooperation by fostering academic partnerships and developing networks for mutually beneficial collaboration between universities for nearly two decades.
In-Country Representative in India In 2025, TU Dortmund University appointed an In-Country Representative for India to promote research collaboration, international exchange, and knowledge transfer with Indian universities. A key focus of the new position is establishing partnerships and assisting with student recruitment.
Liaison Office of the University of Tsukuba In 2023, the University of Tsukuba, Japan, established a Liaison Office at Ruhr University Bochum, strengthening their long-standing partnership. Both universities have previously collaborated on developing joint study programs and connecting researchers and entrepreneurs. The opening of the Liaison Office aims to further enhance collaboration between these two institutions.

Globally connected

UNIC: European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition

Fostering student mobility, enhancing innovative teaching, and creating new perspectives in research and transfer—these are the goals of UNIC, The European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition. Ten universities across Europe collaborate to bring students and educators together through online platforms and international workshops, conferences, and projects. At the heart of all these initiatives are the challenges faced by post-industrial cities. Together, they aim to address these challenges and support each other in teaching and research.

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Worldwide Universities Network: Innovative Research Across Borders

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The most talented researchers and educators are dispersed globally. The Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) makes use of this, bringing together 24 universities that sit in widely diverse geographical and cultural contexts across six continents and forming a partnership with an unparalleled richness of talent and resources to bear on major research problems. The annual competitive WUN Research Development Fund aims at uniting researchers across the WUN to undertake innovative, high-quality research that addresses sustainable development challenges.

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Ruhr Fellowship Program: Building Bridges and Careers

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Since 2012, the Ruhr Fellowship Program has connected up to 20 talented undergraduate students each year from U.S. partner universities—including Harvard, MIT, and Princeton—with Germany’s Ruhr area. This unique eight-week program combines academic courses, cultural activities, and internships at leading companies, fostering intercultural understanding and professional growth. It strengthens global networks and highlights the Ruhr region as a hub for innovation and international collaboration.

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CALSOLV: Inspired by the Cluster of Excellence RESOLV

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RESOLV has a sister research center in the Golden State! Since 2014, UC Berkeley scientists address the intricate details of solvation in close collaboration with the researchers in Germany. The RESOLV/CALSOLV partnership thrives on topics such as X-ray spectroscopy of liquids and solutions, enzyme catalysis, and ab initio calculations of solvated structures and chemical reactions. The RuhrCal collaboration has started to produce multiple joint publications. Scientists of each consortium are constantly seeking a fruitful exchange of knowledge.

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Internationalization at home

European Joint Degree Programs: Bridging Borders through education

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The Ruhr Innovation Lab offers four prestigious European Joint Degree Programs under the Erasmus Mundus initiative, showcasing academic excellence and international cooperation among higher education institutions. At Ruhr University Bochum and TU Dortmund University, students can pursue Erasmus Mundus master's degrees in “International Humanitarian Action,” “Redesigning the Postindustrial City,” “Mechanics of Sustainable Materials and Structures,” and “Particle Physics.” The EU is providing scholarships totaling €18 million for these programs.

Supporting Displaced Scholars and Promoting Academic Freedom

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The Ruhr Innovation Lab supports displaced scholars through the Academy in Exile (AiE) and the Scholars at Risk (SAR) network. As member of the SAR network, Ruhr University Bochum has hosted threatened scholars while promoting safe academic environments. At TU Dortmund University, AiE provides fellowships and guest positions for scholars facing threats due to their research or civic engagement. Through these initiatives, the Ruhr Innovation Lab raises awareness of the challenges faced by displaced academics and fosters inclusive environments that empower them to thrive.

Welcome Services for International Researchers

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Finding your way around a university in a foreign country can be a challenge. At the Ruhr Innovation Lab, international researchers receive support right from the start. The Welcome Services at TU Dortmund University and the Welcome Center at Ruhr University Bochum provide assistance with, for instance, finding accommodation, dealing with the authorities, finding the way around campus, or obtaining information about schools and daycare centers—in short, everything you need to feel at home as quickly as possible.

Offers for International Students: Support and Advice

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Whether it’s for just one semester or the entire degree program: International students receive comprehensive advisory services to help them start their study abroad experience. Thanks to buddy programs, language courses, and leisure activities for international students, everyone can make friends at their host university and feels welcome. And this even extends beyond the study period: With programs such as mycareer@RUB and tandem2job, international students can prepare for their entry into the German job market. In addition, the Ruhr Innovation Lab offers counseling and study-related services specifically for refugee students.