International Perspectives on Sustainable Energy Systems

Weingarten –For one week, students from Poland, Turkey, and Thailand worked together with RWU on issues related to renewable energy, energy storage, and the sustainable design of energy systems. Following a virtual kick-off on July 6, the nearly twenty participants prepared individually for the hands-on phase using digital self-study modules. From July 27 to 31, they then worked intensively on joint projects on the RWU campus in Weingarten and during field trips in the region.

International Learning in Theory and Practice

The focus was on renewable energy generation, energy storage, sustainable energy use, and a systemic understanding of energy systems. In addition to expert presentations and self-study materials, the students independently conducted laboratory experiments and, working in international teams, developed their own energy systems comprising photovoltaics, storage devices, and consumers. In doing so, they examined, among other things, efficiency, applicability, and integration into various private and industrial usage contexts. 

The Summer School was part of the “ELEVATE” project, funded by the Foundation for Innovation in Higher Education. The project’s goal is to develop an interdisciplinary teaching-and-learning ecosystem that enables practical and safe work on high-voltage battery systems and sustainable energy systems. The international summer school was funded by project grants from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Technology and Society

In addition to technical issues, the students also explored the social and political aspects of the global energy and mobility transition. At the public “Global Energy Stories” country night, the international guests presented their home countries and provided insights into the energy mix, projects, and societal debates surrounding the energy transition in Poland, Turkey, and Thailand.

Field trips to companies in the fields of photovoltaics and sustainable energy production complemented the curriculum. This allowed students to directly connect their theoretical knowledge with concrete applications and challenges in the regional economy.

International Solutions

The program concluded with public presentations at RWU’s E-Mobility Lab. The students presented their findings and discussed innovative approaches to sustainable energy systems. It became clear that technical solutions always depend on the respective economic, social, and regional context.

Professor Dr. André Kaufmann highlights a key insight from one of the final presentations: “The group demonstrated that different circumstances require different solutions by comparing sugar production in Thailand and Poland.” The presentations were aimed at interested parties from academia, business, and the region, and provided insights into international collaboration as well as the integration of academic study, research, and practical application at RWU.

Sustainable Impulse for Teaching

With “ELEVATE Energy,” RWU strengthened its international university partnerships and created new links to the regional economy. The experiences gained from the summer school are now being incorporated into the further development of the ELEVATE teaching concept.

Starting in the winter semester, the concept will be implemented as a standalone module. Individual learning paths, self-directed experiments, and a strong practical focus enable students in bachelor’s programs across all faculties to engage with the course content. In this way, the new course offering combines technical knowledge with interdisciplinary thinking and social responsibility.