The HTW Dresden - University of Applied Sciences (HTWD) has signed an agreement with the Christian and Dorothee Bürkert Foundation to promote international student exchange, stimulate the exchange of scientific experience, and contribute to understanding different cultures.

Ms Marija Ratnikova is studying media informatics at HTW Dresden and will be spending her fifth semester at HTWD's partner university, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology (ZUST) in Hangzhou, starting in March 2026. Ms Ratnikova: "I decided to spend a semester abroad to broaden my academic and personal horizons. I deliberately chose China for my stay abroad because it is an extraordinary country with a rich history and dynamic development." She is receiving financial support in the form of a scholarship from the Christian and Dorothee Bürkert Foundation.

Another scholarship holder, Mr Maximilian Müller, an HTWD student of electrical engineering, is currently writing his master's thesis at ZUST in the field of industrial applications of humanoid robotics. World-leading companies in the fields of artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics, such as Unitree and Deep Robotics, have their headquarters in Hangzhou.

The Chinese-German cooperation between HTWD and ZUST has been in place for around 30 years. The HTWD faculties of Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science/Mathematics and Economics are involved in this cooperation.

The attractive scholarship from the Christian and Dorothee Bürkert Foundation is available not only to German students for their studies in China, but also to Chinese students for their studies in Germany.

For this reason, a selection process will take place at ZUST in March, in which 19 ZUST students will apply to continue their studies at the HTWD Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. This will take place on a contractual basis as part of a 2+3 cooperation programme. This means that they will study for the first two years at their home university, ZUST, and then complete their studies at HTW Dresden after a further three years. Graduates will therefore receive their bachelor's degree certificate from both ZUST and HTWD.