Kick-off Event

From 8 to 11 June 2026, the Kick-off event of the STEP-NET project, supported by the DAAD, took place at Hochschule Mittweida. For the first time project partners met in person to discuss the cooperation’s objectives, establish common priorities and prepare the next steps for their cooperation. STEP-NET – Strengthening Transnational Education Partnerships: Nations in Education Together – brings together Hochschule Mittweida (HSMW), Georgian National University (SEU), Odessa National Economic University (ONEU) and Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU). The project focuses on the further development of the double-degree Master’s programme in Industrial Management and on strengthening long-term academic cooperation between Germany, Georgia and Ukraine. The Kick-off event was held in Mittweida alongside the university’s International Week and combined presentations, discussions, collaborative workshops and networking activities.

The first working sessions were dedicated to the regional contexts of the participating universities. Following an introduction to the STEP-NET project, Hochschule Mittweida presented an analysis of the economic, educational and institutional environment in Germany and Saxony. The partner universities subsequently presented their perspectives on Georgia and Ukraine. The presentations provided the project team with a shared understanding of the different regional conditions in which the Industrial Management programme is offered and developed. Based on these analyses, the participants discussed initial hypotheses concerning existing gaps, student needs, labour-market expectations and potential areas for the further development of the programme. The exchange demonstrated both the differences between the participating regions and the challenges they share.

A central part of the Kick-off event was a collaborative brainstorming process. During several working sessions, the project partners brought together the results of their regional analyses and discussed the future profile of the double-degree Industrial Management programme. The first brainstorming block focused on qualifications and potential gaps in the current programme. The participants considered which competencies should be strengthened and which subjects and practical elements could form part of a new specialisation. A further session addressed the attractiveness, accessibility and communication of the programme. The project team discussed how the programme could become more visible to prospective students, how information could be communicated more effectively and how access to the programme could be improved across the participating countries. The partners then consolidated their ideas into a set of shared hypotheses and priorities. These will guide the next stages of research, curriculum development and cooperation within STEP-NET.

On the final working day, the project partners translated the results of the discussions into a joint action plan. Responsibilities were assigned, upcoming tasks were defined and deadlines for the next project milestones were discussed. The session also provided an opportunity to confirm communication channels and coordination procedures between the four universities. This organisational groundwork is particularly important for ensuring transparent and effective cooperation throughout the project. The official closing session summarised the main outcomes of the Kick-off event and confirmed the partners’ commitment to the shared objectives of STEP-NET.

In addition to the formal working programme, the Kick-off event offered numerous opportunities for personal exchange. Joint STEP-NET dinner, grill party and informal meetings enabled the participants to get to know one another beyond the scheduled sessions. As the first face-to-face meeting of the complete project team, the event played an important role in building trust and establishing a common basis for future cooperation. The combination of regional analysis, collaborative discussion and personal networking created a strong starting point for the next phases of STEP-NET. The Kick-off event marked the official beginning of joint project work and laid the foundation for the sustainable further development of the double-degree Master’s programme in Industrial Management and the international partnership between the partner universities.