First Lady of Minnesota Visits ZHAW
Yesterday, ZHAW hosted Minnesota's First Lady, Gwen Walz, as part of a trade and education delegation led by State Governor Tim Walz. Their trip through Germany and Switzerland aims to deepen cooperation in research, education, and business and to establish new partnerships in international exchange. The delegation from Minnesota was also introduced to Switzerland's dual education system.
Partnerships in Education and Technology
The delegation emphasizes the potential for cultural exchange and long-term educational paths for students from both countries. Since 2001, the ZHAW School of Engineering has been offering a joint summer school with the University of Minnesota on mechatronics for students from Switzerland and the United States. The delegation included two other key institutions from Minnesota – the Minnesota Responsible Artificial Intelligence Institute, which promotes ethical and responsible AI applications, and Minnesota State University, Mankato, which aims to deepen the exchange in the fields of robotics, industrial AI, and Industry 4.0, as well as to gain insights into successful models in the Swiss innovation and education landscape.
New Impetus for AI, Research, and International Collaboration
For Minnesota, Switzerland is an important, highly developed business and innovation location and an attractive test market for new technologies. For ZHAW, the delegation visit was an opportunity to present its interdisciplinary research and practice-oriented teaching, as well as to strengthen its international network and explore new opportunities for cooperation. "Collaborations are important for students' intercultural exposure and understanding. The joint summer school program between the ZHAW School of Engineering and the University of Minnesota is a prime example of such an activity," said Gwen Walz during her visit to Winterthur.
Gwen Walz has been committed to educational equality and lifelong learning for many years. Her visit to ZHAW creates valuable points of contact for international dialogue on future-oriented educational paths. The Winterthur day was organized by the ZHAW School of Engineering and the ZHAW School of Management and Law.