09/09/2025
A global partnership expanded early in the Fall 2025 semester when representatives from SUNY Cortland and Germany’s Fulda University of Applied Sciences met on Cortland’s campus to strengthen their ties.
Guests from Fulda included President Karim Khakzar, who traveled from Germany to meet with President Erik J. Bitterbaum and other Cortland representatives.
The latest update to an agreement that began in 2011 identifies focus topics within academic departments where cooperation can increase and possibly lead to new joint projects.
There are also expected to be new opportunities for Cortland faculty to present at Fulda and teach at its International Summer University, joint research initiatives and more student travel between campuses.
Overall goals in the recent update include formalizing a committee to define areas of cooperation, expanding communication between the two campuses, building teaching partnerships and providing more partner research.
An annual report will examine the results of the partnership and help make a work plan for the following year.
“We are so grateful for our partners at Fulda University of Applied Sciences,” said SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum. “Students and faculty members from both universities have enjoyed enriching academic experiences across many disciplines for more than a decade, and we look forward to continuing this strong partnership far into the future.”
Since their original agreement, the two universities have worked together with a goal to create connections that strengthen their students’ experience. That initial plan was developed under the leadership of Cortland’s Mecke Nagel, a distinguished professor in the Philosophy Department who grew up in Fulda, and Mary Schlarb, assistant vice provost for student achievement and senior international officer.
Daniela Baban Hurrle, director of international programs, organized the recent visit. While on campus, Fulda’s representatives met with academic departments, presented a sandwich seminar at which Khakzar spoke, toured the Student Life Center and visited Taughannock Falls in Ithaca, N.Y. Guests from Fulda also included Vice President for Research and Transfer Martina Ritter and Head of the International Office Julia-Sophie Rothmann.
The last time the collaboration expanded was in 2023, when an Erasmus+ Programme Key Action 1 Student Mobility Grant helped several Cortland and Fulda students study for a semester at each other’s schools with funding to support airfare and monthly stipends, particularly for first-generation students.
There have been scores of students and dozens faculty that have had “transformative” experiences thanks to the connection to Fulda, according to Schlarb.
“The Cortland-Fulda partnership serves as an excellent example of how two institutions can establish an institutional relationship based on complementary academic programs and interests and grow it through purposeful planning and rich relationships,” she said. “It has been tremendously gratifying both personally and professionally to witness all the collegial connections and friendships that Cortland and Fulda students, faculty, and staff have made over the years through these academic and cultural exchanges.”
Cortland’s International Programs Office provides more than 45 programs on six continents for all majors. Its goal is to fulfill the university’s mission to provide students with an awareness of the important role they must play in an increasingly global society.
To learn more, visit the International Programs Office website at www2.cortland.edu/offices/international-programs.