ERASMUS+ Staff Exchange at Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences (AUS) Strengthens longstanding institutional Partnership with University of Lille

Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences (AUAS) recently welcomed Ms Aurélie Millet, a representative from the personnel unit of Fasest (Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales et des territoires), the Faculty of Economics, Social Sciences and Geography from the University of Lille, one of the long-standing ERASMUS+ partner universities in France, for a one-week staff visit. The visit was organised within the ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility for Training framework and coordinated by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Angress (AUAS) and focused on job shadowing, professional exchange, and deepening the cooperation between the two institutions. 

AUAS colleagues from different units hosted Ms Millet from the University of Lille: The programme of her job shadowing visit featured in-depth meetings with representatives of Human Resources Department of AUAS including a meeting with the chancellor Dr. Heide Klug, Vice-President for International Affairs Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer and representatives of the International Office and Career Service, Prof.Dr. Kristina Balleis and team members from the Equal Opportunity, Family and Diversity Office, as well as members of the Faculty of Business and Law and TH Academy. 

The meetings on AUS campus provided valuable insights into organisational structures and current initiatives at both partner institutions and was a good opportunity to revisit the collaborative achievements stemming from the close partnership between the two institutions since 2011. 

This academic year marks another milestone: the first MIM student from AUAS university has just graduated successfully from both universities while in the coming summer term, the first incoming double-degree student from the University of Lille will be studying at AUAS. 

Three years ago, a delegation of the University of Lille, among them Ms Aurélie Millet, was at AUAS to finalise the joint establishment of a double degree between the two MA course programmes International Management (AUS/Management of European Affairs (University of Lille). At AUAS Prof. Dr Alexandra Angress is the academic coordinator for the Double Degree programme and established it with her counterparts of the University of Lille supported by the International Offices of both institutions. 

The ERASMUS+ staff mobility not only reinforced administrative collaboration but also strengthened the commitment for future joint initiatives, including expanded staff mobility, enhanced student support structures, and the continued development of the dual-degree pathway between both faculties and institutions. 

Aurélie Millet summarises her stay at AUAS:

"I was warmly welcomed and am very grateful for that. I had the opportunity to meet many people from different departments, each of whom showed great attention and remarkable patience in communicating with me in German.

This week also allowed me to discover new practices, such as end-of-year culinary traditions. I also experienced some touching moments, notably the Christmas parties organised for the students' children and the faculty staff."

Lead image, from left to right: Bettina Arnold, Dr. Julia Glaser, Corinna Härtling, Aurélie Millet, Dr. Heide Klug, Jessica Albert, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Angress