Ruhr Fellowship Program
Since 2012, the universities of the University Alliance Ruhr (TU Dortmund University, Ruhr University Bochum, University of Duisburg-Essen) in cooperation with sponsors and companies in the region have been welcoming up to 20 students from selected partner universities each year as part of the Ruhr Fellowship Program. The eight-week summer program consists of a two-week academic and cultural program followed by a six-week internship at participating companies.
The program aims to present the Ruhr Area to future professionals from an academic, economic and cultural perspective as a region with a high quality of life and to strengthen international networking.
Program Review
2023
In the eleventh program year, the University Alliance Ruhr, led by Ruhr-University Bochum, welcomed 9 students from the American elite universities Harvard University, Lehigh University, MIT, Princeton University and University of Cincinnati from June 5 to July 28, 2023. The students first joined a two-week academic-cultural program with lectures, courses and excursions in early June. They then completed a six-week internship at one of the participating companies Business Metropole Ruhr, Evonik, ista SE, Lippeverband/Emschergenossenschaft Masterflex Group, Taros, TU Dortmund University - Institute of Production Systems, University of Duisburg-Essen - Zentrum für Logistik und Transfer. Sponsor of the Ruhr Fellowship Program was the Max Kade Foundation (New York). The brochure provides an insight into the program.
2022
The University Alliance Ruhr, led by TU Dortmund University, in cooperation with the Max Kade Foundation and the Dortmund Economic Development Agency (Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund), welcomed 7 students from the American elite universities Harvard University, Yale University and Lehigh University. In June, the students first went through a two week academic and cultural program with lectures, courses and excursions and then completed a six week internship at one of the participating companies Auslandsgesellschaft.de e.V., DEW21, Emschergenossenschaft/Lippeverband, KPMG, TU Dortmund - Lehrstuhl für Energiesysteme, Energieeffizienz und Energiewirtschaft, Universität Duisburg-Essen - Zentrum für Logistik und Verkehr and Westnetz. The brochure provides an insight into the program.
2021
In 2021, the program was carried out virtually for the first time due to the Corona Pandemic. The University Alliance Ruhr, under the leadership of the University of Duisburg-Essen in cooperation with the Dortmund Economic Development Agency (Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund), virtually welcomed 9 students from the elite American universities Harvard University, Princeton University, Rutgers University, the University of California (Berkeley), the University of Cincinnati and Yale University. In June, the students first went through an academic and cultural program with lectures, courses and excursions. They then completed an internship at one of the participating companies, such as Auslandsgesellschaft.de e.V., Emschergenossenschaft and World of Walas. The brochure provides an insight into the program.
2020
The program could not be realized due to the Corona Pandemic.
2019
In the eighth round of the Ruhr Fellowship Program, the Ruhr University Bochum welcomed 9 students from American elite universities. The students first went through an academic-cultural program with lectures, courses and excursions in June. They then completed an internship at one of the participating companies, such as Accenture, innogy, Klöckner and WILO. Sponsors of the Ruhr Fellowship Program 2019 were the Max Kade Foundation, the Regionalverband Ruhr and the Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund. The brochure provides an insight into the program.
2018
In 2018 the University Alliance Ruhr, led by TU Dortmund University, welcomed 12 students from the U.S. elite universities Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lehigh University and the University of California, Berkeley. Sponsors of the Ruhr Fellowship Program 2018 were the Max Kade Foundation, Wirtschaftsförderung Dortmund and Bayer. An insight into the program is provided by the brochure and the interview with the participant Sarah Fendrich.
2017
In 2017, the University of Duisburg-Essen was in charge of organizing the program. On June 6, even U.S. Consul General Michael R. Keller welcomed the 17 Ruhr Fellows. For an insight into the program, we recommend taking a look at the brochure.
2016
Within the framework of the fifth Ruhr Fellowship Program, the Ruhr University Bochum welcomed 17 students from the partner universities. The brochure provides an insight into the program.
2015
In 2015, 17 engineering and natural science students from the elite American universities University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and, for the first time, the University of California, Berkeley, spent the summer in the Ruhr region as part of the Ruhr Fellowship Program. This year, TU Dortmund University was pleased to organize the academic-cultural program again in June. In July, the students then completed internships in the supporting companies of the Initiativkreis Ruhr GmbH. For an insight into the program, we recommend taking a look at the brochure.
2014
The third Ruhr Fellowship Program was organized by the University of Duisburg-Essen and offered 14 students from U.S. universities the opportunity to get to know the higher education and industrial landscape of the Ruhr region at first hand. With more than 70 applications, the competition was particularly tough this year. The brochure provides an insight into the program.
2013
The second Ruhr Fellowship Program was organized by the Ruhr University Bochum and gave 14 students the opportunity to get to know the Ruhr area. For an insight into the program, we recommend taking a look at the brochure.
2012
The first year of the Ruhr Fellowship Program was organized by TU Dortmund University. 10 excellent students were selected from 40 applications and have contributed greatly to the success of the program for years to come. The brochure provides an insight into the program.