Selection of our university's partnerships
Cooperating with research and teaching partners, as well as with those in the economy is an integral objective of the University of Konstanz. We highly value international partnerships and exchange programmes for students and staff. Our university students, employers and employees profit from the close cooperation with regional and international partners.
Cooperation takes place on various levels. Our departments, professors and working groups cooperate with institutes, scientific partners and companies. The research data repository of the University of Konstanz provides information about current national and international research projects, researchers and publications. Through internal cross-references, SciKon makes interdisciplinary relationships, cooperation and multidisciplinary research projects, in short, the professional bundling and connection of scientific competencies, visible and comprehensible.
We collaborate with various partners in science, business, politics, culture and society. Please visit our Transfer pages to learn more about the university’s partnerships and connections. In its position paper on our understanding of transfer, the University of Konstanz declares its commitment to the continuous development of knowledge and technology transfer as well as a culture of innovation. The spectrum of this transfer work at the University of Konstanz is deliberately very broad: it ranges from diverse channels and measures relating to science communication all the way to the scientific consultation of policy makers, the provision of expert evaluation reports as well as the creation of spin-offs.
Knowledge exchange through public events at home and abroad in the form of presentations, conferences, seminars and lecture series, as well as summer schools and member publications is promoted here at the University of Konstanz.
Cooperations
Best practice club "Familie in der Hochschule" (family at the university)
The University of Konstanz is one of the founding members of the best practice club „Familie in der Hochschule“ (family at the university). The club’s members are from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and they have all signed the "“Familie in der Hochschule” charter" affirming their commitment to promoting family-friendliness at their universities.
Collaboration with Swiss partners
Scientific work at the University of Konstanz reaches beyond national borders. As a direct neighbour, Switzerland is an important partner in many collaborative projects. Through our close cooperation with the Swiss Canton of Thurgau, two institutes have been established:
Digitalisation of administrative processes
The University of Konstanz is a member of the bwUni.digital project (in German): cross-university cooperation for the digitalisation of administrative processes at state universities. The aim of the project is to create opportunities to completely rethink administrative processes in addition to the penetration of minimum standards at all universities.
Dual Career
Coordinated by the University of Konstanz, employers from the fields of research, business and civil service started a regional dual career network in 2011: the Dual Career Netzwerk Bodensee. In addition to that, the university and the city of Konstanz promote dual career options through a bilateral cooperation agreement.
In 2019, another regional initiative was founded in the context of the International Association of Wissenschaftsverbund Vierländerregion Bodensee (in German). In the working group "Dual Career" (in German), universities of the Lake Constance region network and support each other in finding career opportunities for partners of their staff who move to the area. The dual career initiative strengthens university strategies such as recruitment, family support as well as internationalization.
In 2010, the University of Konstanz was one of the co-founders of the Dual Career Network Germany (Dual Career Netzwerk Deutschland – DCND), enhancing quality assurance in dual career consultation as well as promoting Germany as an international research location. Nationally as well as internationally, the DCND is considered an expert network on the topic of dual career support.
Hochschuldidaktikzentrum (HDZ)
The Hochschuldidaktikzentrum Baden-Württemberg (centre for university didactics, HDZ) was established by the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts Baden-Württemberg (MWK) and Baden-Württemberg’s nine state universities, which have financed the centre since 2007. Each state university runs its own university didactics service.
International exchange programmes
For the students and staff at the University of Konstanz, the world lies at their fingertips: Opportunities include a semester abroad as an anglicist in London, a research stay as a biologist in Tel Aviv, or an internship at the United Nations in New York and many more. At the International Office, students, academics and staff can find out all they need to know about our exchange programmes.
Our International Office’s partnerships and networks.
Internship and job-placement services
Our Career Service assists employers in their search for employees and interns. Students receive assistance with starting their careers. Close cooperation between the teaching staff, the Career Service and alumni services ensures both employers and students can take advantage of a wide range of services and opportunities - the internship and job-placement service, the university-wide mentoring programme and the inclusion of alumni in teaching. The Career Service is a joint initiative of the University of Konstanz, the IHK Hochrhein-Bodensee (Chamber of Industry and Commerce) and the Agentur für Arbeit Konstanz (federal job agency).
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
In the field of collective behaviour, the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior jointly established the Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour” (EXC 2117) in addition to the “Centre for Visual Computing of Collectives” (VCC). These are top-level leading research centres worldwide, that employ the most modern technologies to examine the basic principles of collective behaviour in different organisms and at different organizational levels, including humans.
Konstanz’s Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior developed out of the former Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell. It is now an independent institute that contributes significantly to the University of Konstanz’s top-level research. Research at the institute explores animal collectives such as fish, birds, baboons, locusts and fruit bats, among others. Using cutting-edge tracking technology and data analysis, the researchers will uncover the complex behavioural patterns and mechanisms that guide coordination among animal collectives. Major achievements in this field of research include establishing the space-based ICARUS animal observation system aboard the International Space Station (ISS) as well as the University of Konstanz’s receiving an Alexander von Humboldt Professorship for Professor Margaret Crofoot, a pioneer in the area of movement ecology.
Mentoring programme for women
The mentoring programme brings together female students from the university and the university of applied sciences in Konstanz with successful women in leadership positions. The programme is a pilot project for the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Network for university staff development (UniNetzPE)
Our Academic Staff Development offers advice and support on human resources development, the promotion of early career researchers and teaching competency development to researchers and lecturers at all career stages. It is one of the founding members of the network for university human resources development (UniNetzPE), which connects staff developers at German universities on the federal level and promotes cross-institutional collaboration on matters of human resources development.
Secondary teacher education
The University of Konstanz works closely with the Staatlichen Seminar für Didaktik und Lehrerbildung (Gymnasium) in Rottweil, the Thurgau University of Teacher Education (PHTG) in Kreuzlingen and a network of partner schools (in German) including 20 schools from Konstanz and the greater Lake Constance region. The Binational School of Education coordinates the partnerships and assures a smooth flow of information between the institutions involved.
Studium generale at the Salem Kolleg
The orientation year at Salem Kolleg allows students to research and study, live and experience the same things they would at university, but in a much more intimate setting. The orientation year starts in September and consists not only of several courses taught both on campus and at the University of Konstanz, but also encompasses exciting extracurricular activities designed to develop and consolidate the students’ character and personality.
University partners of top sports
The University of Konstanz supports top athletes with balancing their studies and their sports activities: Since 2007, the University of Konstanz has been a university partner of top sports. The German University Sports Federation (adh) coordinates the programme.
Wissenschaftsverbund Vierländerregion Bodensee
The University of Konstanz is a member of the four-country region of Lake Constance. The university network Wissenschaftsverbund Vierländerregion Bodensee(in German) primarily facilitates studying and teaching across national borders. The network was founded in 1999 and aims to ensure better education and training in the Lake Constance region.