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Strengthening European Ties: New Double Degree with ISCAL Portugal

V. l. n. r. : Prof. Dr. Alexandra Angress (Auslandsbeauftragte Fakultät WR, TH AB), Prof Dr Joao de Assis (Vizedekan, ISCAL), Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro (President, ISCAL), Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer (Vizepräsident Studium, Lehre und Internationales, TH AB) , Natacha Ornelas (IO, ISCAL), Maique dos Santos (International Office, TH AB)

TH Aschaffenburg and ISCAL Porto extend their ERASMUS Collaboration with the launch of an international Bachelor-Programme in Business Administration.

Last week TH Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences proudly welcomed a delegation from ISCAL – Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto (Portugal) for a visit on campus to launch a new double degree programme in Business Administration at Bachelor’s level, which will be open to students from both universities for the first time in the 2025/26 academic year. This marks a significant milestone in the deepening academic partnership between the two institutions.

  • Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro, Präsidentent vom ISCAL, und Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Vizepräsident für Studium, Lehre und Internationales (TH Aschaffenburg) bei der Unterzeichnung des Kooperationsvertrags

    Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro, President of ISCAL, and Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Vice President for Studies, Teaching and International Affairs (TH Aschaffenburg) at the signing of the cooperation agreement.

  • Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro, Präsidentent vom ISCAL, und Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Vizepräsident für Studium, Lehre und Internationales (TH Aschaffenburg) bei der Unterzeichnung des Kooperationsvertrags

    Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro, President of ISCAL, and Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Vice President for Studies, Teaching and International Affairs (TH Aschaffenburg) at the signing of the cooperation agreement.

  • Prof. Dr. Joao de Assis (Vizedekan, ISCAL) bei einem Vortrag an der TH Aschaffenburg

    Prof. Dr. Joao de Assis (Vice Dean, ISCAL) during a lecture at the TH Aschaffenburg

  • V. l. n. r.: Prof. D.r Pedro Pinheiro, Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Prof. Dr. Antje Wendler, Natacha Ornelas, Prof. Dr. Marc-Oliver Banzhaf, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Angress, Maique dos Santos, João de Sousa

    From left to right: Prof. D.r Pedro Pinheiro, Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Prof. Dr. Antje Wendler, Natacha Ornelas, Prof. Dr. Marc-Oliver Banzhaf, Prof. Dr. Alexandra Angress, Maique dos Santos, João de Sousa

The delegation of ISCAL – ISCAL President Pedro Pinheiro, Vice-Dean João de Sousa Assis, and Natacha Ornelas from the International Office – engaged in intensive discussions with TH Aschaffenburg’s academic leadership, faculty members, and administrative staff to finalise the academic and logistical frameworks for the new dual degree. Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro and Prof. Dr. Ivo Schäfer, Vice President for, Studies Teaching and International Affairs, then signed the cooperation agreement.

„Our dual degree partnership is a strategic milestone for our institutions, offering students an enriching international experience while strengthening academic and institutional cooperation between Portugal and Germany. It reflects our shared commitment to create the leaders of tomorrow.“

Prof. Dr. Pedro Pinheiro, president of ISCAL

The Double Degree Programme

The programme offers students from both universities the opportunity to earn degrees from both institutions by studying for one year at the respective partner university. During this year, they gain 60 ECTS credits and benefit from a structured double degree (Dual degree, DD) curriculum, international exposure, and the recognition of credits in accordance with the standards of the European Higher Education Area. It was initiated and elaborated by Prof. Dr. Alexandra Angress and Prof. João de Sousa Assis with colleagues in the respective international offices. The Double Degree-programme was granted approval by the respective faculty boards in spring 2025.

With the programme, the two universities are underlining a shared commitment to fostering international academic excellence, intercultural competence, and employability in a globalised labour market.

„The double degree with ISCAL gives our students the chance to develop a truly European academic, professional and personal profile. We are proud to offer this opportunity with our partner ISCAL/Lisbon Polytec that combines academic quality with practical international experience.“

Prof. Dr. Eva-Maria Beck-Meuth, President of TH Aschaffenburg

ERASMUS+

The visit also served as a platform to enhance collaboration in faculty mobility and joint teaching initiatives. In particular, the institutions agreed to intensify their cooperation within the ERASMUS+ Blended Intensive Programmes (BIPs) framework. 

The collaboration between TH Aschaffenburg and ISCAL Portugal represents a shared vision of a more interconnected, innovative, and inclusive European Higher Education Area. Students and staff from both universities can now look forward to more structured opportunities for academic exchange, professional growth, and above all intercultural dialogue.