Germany's First Bilingual Engineering Degree Tackles Global Sustainability Challenges

**Technical University of Braunschweig Launches First Bilingual Bachelor's Program in Winter Semester 2021/22** The Technical University of Braunschweig (TU Braunschweig) will introduce its first fully bilingual bachelor's degree program in the 2021/22 winter semester, bringing together German and international students in a unique academic setting. Prospective students can still apply for the restricted-admission program until **July 31**.

**A Holistic Approach**

The new bachelor's program, **"Sustainable Engineering of Products and Processes" (B.Sc.)**, offered by the **Faculty of Mechanical Engineering**, takes a comprehensive approach to mobility, product design and manufacturing, process engineering, and energy supply. Future graduates will be prepared to navigate the shifting demands of traditional engineering fields—driven by global challenges such as climate change and finite resources. The program emphasizes the full life cycle of products and systems, their economic and societal impacts, and the interplay between these factors. *"Given the immense challenge of climate change and the upheavals it will bring to our economy and industry in the coming decades, we need engineers who think holistically to develop sustainable technical solutions for the most pressing problems,"* says **Professor Georg Garnweitner**, head of the working group that designed the SEPP program. From the very first semester, the program integrates this holistic perspective without compromising a rigorous foundation in core engineering principles. Starting in the third semester, students can tailor their studies by choosing one of three specialization tracks, each embedding sustainability and systemic thinking in its curriculum.

**International Focus**

*"This new program is a key milestone in internationalizing TU Braunschweig's engineering education. To build strategic partnerships with leading global universities, we must offer instruction in English—especially in our cutting-edge research fields. This enables continuous exchange in both teaching and research, particularly in mobility, where we have gained international recognition since 2019 through our Cluster of Excellence, 'Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Aviation,'"* explains **Professor Rolf Radespiel**, director of the Institute of Fluid Mechanics.

**Language Requirements: A Dual-Language Concept**

The program pioneers a novel language model at TU Braunschweig, designed to attract both German and international students while preparing them for careers in a globalized world. Graduates will be equipped to analyze discipline-specific and interdisciplinary problems in both German and English, develop sustainable solutions, and articulate them effectively in professional and broader contexts. To achieve this, foundational engineering courses in the first three semesters are offered in both languages—some taught separately in German or English, others supplemented by recorded lectures in the second language. Advanced sustainability courses are conducted in English. International students must demonstrate German proficiency by the end of their third semester, while higher-semester courses are typically offered in one of the two languages, ensuring all students engage with instruction in both German and English.

**Diverse Fields, One Goal**

Technological transformation is essential for a sustainable and livable future. Areas such as individual and collective mobility, product development and manufacturing, and efficient material conversion and energy supply all demand sustainable alternatives—along with the expertise to implement them. At the same time, engineers must think and act globally to deliver effective, sustainable solutions in an interconnected economy. This program rises to the challenge, offering students three specialization paths:

**Sustainable Energy and Process Engineering**

... It examines the processes of energy and material conversion that underpin our daily supply of heat, electricity, and products ranging from sugar and toothpaste to pharmaceuticals. While engineering these processes has been highly successful in enabling mass production at low cost, sustainability demands a holistic approach to optimization. Factors such as climate impact, waste and pollution, global societal consequences, and dwindling resources must all be taken into account. Innovative strategies—from continuous integrated production systems to bio-inspired designs and miniaturization—offer the promise of combining economic and environmental benefits.

**Sustainable Production**

Technical products are complex systems that interact with the environment through energy consumption, raw material use, and emissions. Achieving sustainable development requires a life-cycle perspective, aiming to optimize costs and returns while minimizing risks and environmental impact across a product's entire lifespan. Digital twins—bridging the physical and digital worlds—provide a framework for assessing both energy and material efficiency in production processes.

**Sustainable Mobility**

...views road and air transport as an integrated system. With fossil fuel-based transportation accounting for 24% of global carbon dioxide emissions, a new balance of technical, economic, and ecological considerations is essential in shaping future mobility. Disruptive technologies—such as green hydrogen, electrified propulsion systems, and machine learning algorithms—will drive this paradigm shift. Beyond traffic simulation and vehicle or aircraft design, sustainable mobility concepts must also incorporate how different transport systems interact along a given route.