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Last week, nine representatives from the Christian-Albrechts-Universität (CAU)-Kiel (University of Kiel), in Kiel, Germany visited Dal to continue discussions on how the two schools can find new opportunities to collaborate – in the classroom, in the lab and in administration.
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Given the many similarities between the universities — from expertise in oceans and sustainability to a comparable size (University of Kiel has 22,000 students) — the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the schools last year is a broad one.
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"While universities tend to have lots of research partnerships, this sort of administrative partnership is less common, but quite exciting," explains Alain Boutet, HÂþ»­'s executive director of international relations. "It's an opportunity to take two universities that have similar research interests, and are of similar size and mission, to find ways we can share information and resources towards our shared goals."
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To that end, last week's meetings involved lab tours and researcher discussions at both the Halifax and Truro campuses, but also breakout sessions that brought together counterparts in a number of key administrative functions, from Human Resources and Facilities Management to Communications & Marketing to International Relations, as well as University Organization/Strategic Planning and Governance.
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The main areas of collaboration in academics and research are life sciences, marine sciences and sustainability. Kiel has taken a particular interest in Dal's College of Sustainability, launching its own academic program through its School of Sustainability modelled after Dal's Environment, Sustainability and Society program.
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"I think that HÂþ»­'s focus on undergraduate teaching and Kiel's focus on postgraduate programmes are highly complementary and that both sides will benefit from cooperation," says Chris Corvers, director of the University of Kiel's new School of Sustainability, by email.
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Last week's visit followed a similar joint workshop in Kiel last September.

(Nick Pearce photo)