The Hochschule Augsburg reaffirms its close partnership with the National Polytechnic University Odessa

Gordon Thomas Rohrmair receives honorary doctorate

Prof. Dr. Gordon Thomas Rohrmair (center) received the certificate of appointment as an honorary doctor from ONPU and presented it to the Chairwoman of the University Council, Ramona Meinzer (2nd from left), and the Vice Presidents of the Executive Board, Prof. Dr. László Kovács (left), Prof. Dr. Nadine Warkotsch (2nd from right), and Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Krön (right).

Dec 22, 2023

Augsburg/Odessa

For more than two decades, there has been a close connection in research and teaching between Augsburg University of Applied Sciences and the National Polytechnic University of Odessa (ONPU). Now, ONPU has conferred an honorary doctorate upon Prof. Dr. Gordon Thomas Rohrmair, the President of Augsburg University of Applied Sciences.

The National Polytechnic University Odessa (ONPU) is located in the south of Ukraine and was founded in 1918. In 2000, ONPU (then: State Polytechnic University Odessa) and Hochschule Augsburg (then: Fachhochschule Augsburg) entered into an agreement on university cooperation, covering areas such as teaching and research.

Since then, various activities have taken place as part of international cooperation. These include delegation trips to Germany or Ukraine, student exchanges for project work, summer schools, and language courses for students, guest lectures by Augsburg professors at ONPU, and the exchange of lecturers, researchers, and doctoral students within the framework of cooperative promotion. Additionally, some students from Odessa completed their practical semester in Augsburg. The Faculty of Computer Science conducted joint research projects with ONPU. Furthermore, the two partner universities participated in conferences organized by the Bavarian Center for Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe and published joint publications.

In light of the Russian war of aggression, Augsburg University supports students and researchers from Odessa and other Ukrainian universities to the best of its ability. For example, the University of Augsburg has enabled some students from ONPU to come to Augsburg to study. The Executive Board, faculties, the International Office, the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication, university administration, and student representation work closely together in the care and support of Ukrainians.

Due to special merits for the cooperation between the two universities, ONPU recently awarded an honorary doctorate to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thorsten Schöler from the Faculty of Computer Science. This honor has now also been bestowed upon Prof. Dr. Gordon Rohrmair, the President of Hochschule Augsburg. In view of the current political situation, it was decided not to officially present the honorary doctorate certificate. Instead, the University of Augsburg received the certificate by mail.

Prof. Rohrmair says, 'I am very pleased with the recognition and feel honored. For many years, Hochschule Augsburg has been closely connected with the National Polytechnic University Odessa in research and teaching. It is one of our closest and most vibrant international collaborations. We are committed to maintaining and expanding this connection and, especially in the current wartime situation, firmly stand by our Ukrainian partners. The honorary doctorate is not just recognition or appreciation for me. It is associated with responsibility: it serves as an incentive for me to continue the excellent work that many dedicated minds in the faculties have done.'