Delegates from the German state of Hessen and German Consulate stopped at Blackhawk Technical College on Oct. 9 to talk about opportunities for collaboration and to tour the Beloit-Janesville Campus.

The group of leaders is visiting as part of the 50th anniversary of the sister-state partnership between Wisconsin and Hessen and to explore new opportunities for academic and research collaboration.

Hessen’s Minister of Culture and Opportunities Dr. Armin Schwarz said, “We have a long history of teaching and training young people through apprenticeship programs, and we can learn from each other. We understand Blackhawk combines technical and labor aspects with apprenticeships and regional employers—it is very impressive what you do.”

Blackhawk representatives who met with the Hessen contingent included President Tracy Pierner, Ph.D.; Dean of the Manufacturing, Apprenticeship, Technology and Transportation Division Peter Dettmer; Vice President of Academic Affairs Karen Schmitt, Ph.D.; Vice President of Student Services Katie Lange, Ed.D.; Dean of General Education and Transfer Pathways Tiffany Garrison; and Linus Hanisch, a Blackhawk foreign exchange student from Düsseldorf, Germany. Hanisch is part of the bilateral Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program, which is an immersive exchange program jointly offered by the U.S. and German governments.

“It was an honor to host the Hessen delegation, share our innovative spaces and flexible learning options, and discuss collaborative approaches to teaching, training and learning. Sustaining and growing our local economy is strengthened by partnerships like this—we appreciate the delegation’s work to drive connection and reinforce support for exchange and global learning initiatives.”

Wisconsin and Hessen established their sister-state partnership in 1976. Today, it is the longest-running German-American sister-state relationship. Higher education is an important part of that connection, supporting student and faculty exchange, research collaborations, and relationships among institutions across both states.