As part of Universitas Hasanuddin’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international partnerships and enhance global academic reputation, the Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas), conducted an academic visit to Technical University of Darmstadt (TU Darmstadt), Germany, from 4 to 15 November 2025. This visit was carried out under the Peningkatan & Pengembangan Model Jejaring Kemitraan Internasional (P2MJKI) 2024 program, with a focus on academic peer collaboration and joint research development.
The initiative aimed to expand cooperation with TU Darmstadt’s Institute of Steel Construction and Mechanics of Materials, particularly in the field of sustainability in steel construction. The visit built upon long-standing academic connections, as TU Darmstadt is also the doctoral alma mater of the Unhas delegate, providing a strong foundation for meaningful academic engagement. Discussions were conducted with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Yvonne Ciupack, Head of the Institute, along with her academic team, to explore opportunities for joint research, collaborative publications, joint teaching activities, and doctoral student engagement.
During the visit, intensive academic interactions took place, including multiple discussion sessions on prospective joint research themes and publication strategies. While both institutions had submitted abstracts independently for the SMAR International Conference 2026 in Germany, both parties agreed to further align research topics for future collaborative publications beyond the conference. The visit also included guided tours of steel construction laboratories, highlighting TU Darmstadt’s strong integration with industry partners and its advanced research infrastructure supported by industrial funding.
Beyond research discussions, the visit provided valuable insights into the academic ecosystem at TU Darmstadt through visits to research facilities, the university library, student canteens (Mensa), and campus facilities. These activities offered a comprehensive view of how academic, research, and non-academic environments are integrated to support excellence in higher education and innovation.
A draft Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was formally introduced and discussed during the visit. Prof. Ciupack expressed interest in further reviewing the draft to ensure institutional alignment and signing authority at the institute level. In addition, opportunities for DAAD-supported academic exchanges were explored, including potential visits by German professors to Universitas Hasanuddin. Prof. Ciupack conveyed strong interest in pursuing DAAD funding schemes to support future academic mobility and collaborative research.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to advance cooperation through joint publications, collaborative research projects, doctoral examination support via online platforms, and reciprocal academic visits. This engagement marks an important step in strengthening Unhas’ international research network and reinforces the Faculty of Engineering’s commitment to global collaboration, particularly in advancing sustainable civil and steel construction research.