In March 2024, Angela Million, the Director of the Tongji-TU Berlin dual degree program and the Head of the Planning Department, with Anke Hagemann, the Chair of International Urbanism and Design at the Department of Architecture in TU Berlin, conduct a short-term visit in CAUP for the dual degree program. The visit aimed to strengthen project management, enhance communication efficiency, and provide detailed project introductions and opportunities for face to face communication to Chinese and German students participating in the dual degree program.

1. Ice-breaking meeting with students: Tongji-TU Berlin Dual Degree Program

The Ice-breaking meeting for the dual degree program freshman was held in C1 meeting room. At the meeting, Angela Million, Anke Hagemann, and Laura Henneke communicate with Chinese students who will embark on academic exchanges in Germany in 2024. Representatives of the Chinese students raised questions regarding course settings, academic schedules, and campus life. The German professors answered their questions, providing detailed information on the curriculum, teaching methods, academic requirements, and future prospects of the dual degree program, giving the students a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the program. The two professors also expressed their expectations that the students would fully prepare before departing for Germany, continuously promoting the sharing and development of Sino-German academic research, and offering comprehensive guidance and support in both study life and learning. The freshman meeting fostered mutual understanding and trust, sparking enthusiasm among the students and motivating them to fully engage in their academic life and preparations for the study abroad experience in Germany.

2. Working meeting for the Tongji-TU Berlin Dual Degree Program

CAUP Dual Degree Program including CAI Yongjie, director of the project, LIU Kan, director of the International Cooperation Department, and LI Wei, program coordinator, had a deep exchange with the German counterparts on the operation of the project. Both sides summarized and reviewed the project, identified practical issues arising during its operation, and jointly sought solutions. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to optimize project management, solidify the foundation for cooperation, and promote academic exchanges, thereby ensuring the number of students dispatched and the quality of their thesis and design outputs. Both sides also looked forward to actively maintaining online and offline communication, continuously managing outstanding alumni from China and Germany, conducting follow-up promotion, and expanding the program's influence. They also expressed that the dual degree program provided opportunities for academic exchanges and research collaborations between Chinese and German professors.

Throughout the program operating, the two sides have conducted many academic exchanges, including thesis proposal defenses, mid-term evaluation defenses, and final thesis defenses, combining online and offline formats. These exchanges have promote the academic sharing, enhance academic cohesion, share cutting-edge research methods, and provide new research ideas and knowledge frameworks for Chinese and German teachers and students.

3. Joint Mid-term evaluation Defense for the Tongji-TU Berlin Dual Degree Program

Chinese and German students from the dual degree program participated in a joint mid-term defense. Chinese supervisors including CAI Yongjie, Assistant Professor YAN Chao, LIU Kan, director of the International Cooperation Department, and LI Wei, Head of the international cooperation Office (administrative), joined German professors in the evaluation. The Chinese and German students presented their mid-term progress through various forms such as models, design panels and PowerPoint presentations. The reviewers posed targeted questions, provided comments, and offered guiding advice, which greatly benefited the students in improving their design methods and presentation skills. Through this joint mid-term evaluation, Chinese and German teachers gained a deeper understanding of the students' learning status and progress, which also aided German professors in comprehensively understanding the student learning process.

Professors Angela Million and Anke Hagemann will also conduct academic lectures and other academic activities, providing valuable academic guidance and life experience advice for students preparing to study in Germany. The visit of the German professors not only strengthened Sino-German academic exchanges and cooperation but also provided communication opportunities. It is believed that in the future, the Tongji-TU Berlin dual degree program will achieve even more significant results, cultivating more talents with global competitiveness and innovative spirit.

Tongji-TU Berlin Dual Degree Program:

Since 2006, Tongji University and Technical University of Berlin have started the dual degree program. CAUP’s partnerships with TU Berlin gives students exclusive and invaluable dual degree and collaborative teaching experiences. Students conduct first year in their home university and then go for collaborative university study for 1 year. Credit transfer will be recognized between two universities. Upon successful completion of the whole program at both CAUP and TU Berlin, candidates will obtain two degree from both institutions universities. Until now, we have more than 200 Sino-German alumni graduated from Tongji- TU Berlin dual degree program all over the world.