Wright State bolsters relations with sister city universities

Hunt Brown, senior lecturer was one of 9 people in the Dayton Delegation that focused on sister city enhancements, economic development, municipal issues and university collaborations.

Research partnerships and initiatives for future collaboration are being forged between Wright State and several European universities.

Hunt Brown, senior lecturer for the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, traveled to universities last week in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina and in Augsburg, Germany—both sister cities of Dayton.

“Our mission was primarily to renew contact with the University of Sarajevo and to develop contacts with other universities, in both Sarajevo and Augsburg,” said Brown. “And I think we did just that.”

A delegation from Dayton was created to strengthen alliances in Sarajevo and Augsburg. It focused on four primary areas of interest: sister city enhancements, economic development, municipal issues and university collaborations.

Brown was asked to participate by the University Center for International Education in the Dayton delegation to make universities in those cities aware of noteworthy academic endeavors, activities and programs at Wright State and other area institutions. “This awareness,” said Brown, “is the first step in developing concrete relationships for faculty/student exchanges and collaboration on research projects.”

Dayton Delegation visited with Patrick Moon, US Ambassador to Bosnia & Herzegovina.

In many ways, the University of Sarajevo and University of Augsburg are not unlike Wright State. The size of the universities, areas of scholarly research and creative endeavors are all traits each university has in common. Having similar areas of research interest should help facilitate productive linkages.

Having taken the reins on the collaborative initiatives between Dayton-area institutions of higher education to universities in both Sarajevo and Augsburg, Brown said that his trip was successful.

“While this was an exploratory trip,” Brown said, “we did form relationships which hopefully will be long lasting. Of course, the visit must be followed up by actions to reinforce what was done.”

Not only is this collaboration for educational exchange—which, according to Brown, also produces cultural exchange—but for the fundamental sake of furthering scientific research and development between the like-minded universities.

Follow-ups have begun to ensure that the delegation’s educational objectives are met.