During the winter vacation of 2026, Shenzhen Technology University (SZTU) selected 22 outstanding students to participate in a two-week academic exchange program themed Next-Generation Intelligent Manufacturing at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany.
Group photo of exchange students [Photo/Admissions Office]
The program officially launched with a welcome ceremony held at the TUM Garching Campus. Ms. Friederike Hettinger, Managing Director of TUM International GmbH, along with other university representatives, extended a warm welcome to the faculty and students from SZTU. Themed courses on Next-Generation Intelligent Manufacturing officially commenced afterward, covering four core modules: intelligent systems, automation, mechanical and manufacturing engineering, and materials science. Lectures were jointly delivered by professors and experts from TUM and its research institutes.
Group photo at the welcome ceremony [Photo/Admissions Office]
In the course AI Essentials: Methods and Models, Dr. Tristan Post, a senior AI scientist, started with fundamentals of deep learning, and gradually elaborated on neural network architectures and industrial applications of generative AI.
Students in course AI Essentials: Methods and Models [Photo/Admissions Office]
In Next-Generation Intelligent Manufacturing, Pawel Garkusha and Daniel Eder, researchers from the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management at TUM, guided students to explore integrated applications of artificial intelligence in quality control and process optimization.
Students in course Next-Generation Intelligent Manufacturing [Photo/Admissions Office]
The AI-Driven Mobile and Collaborative Robots was co-taught by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel-Andre Dücker and Robin Kirschner from TUM, covering path-planning algorithms and safe human-machine interaction frameworks. Students completed task programming in a simulation environment, experiencing firsthand how AI empowers machines with intelligence.
Students in course AI-Driven Mobile and Collaborative Robots [Photo/Admissions Office]
The Co-Creation Workshop transcended disciplinary boundaries. Under the guidance of instructors from TUM International GmbH, students from diverse academic backgrounds were divided into mixed teams to develop solutions for real-world issues such as retail site selection and urban mobility challenges.
Students in course The Co-Creation Workshop [Photo/Admissions Office]
Prof. Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Meier, former advisor to the German Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and consultant to Siemens, led the Industry 5.0 Laboratory Course. Through a simulated automobile production line competition, students gained hands-on insight into efficiency differences between traditional production models and intelligent management systems.
Students in course Industry 5.0 Laboratory [Photo/Admissions Office]
At the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management of TUM, participants gained a systematic understanding of Germany’s technological expertise and industrial transformation pathways in intelligent manufacturing, battery production and sustainable manufacturing.
Students at the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management of TUM [Photo/Admissions Office]
During the program, the group also visited the Scientific Workgroup for Rocketry and Spaceflight (WARR) at TUM, the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, the BMW Group and the production facility of HAWE Hydraulik SE, a leading supplier of high-end hydraulic systems. These visits offered a comprehensive and in-depth perspective on Germany’s industrial structure and robust industrial foundation.
Students at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre [Photo/Admissions Office]
Beyond academic activities, the students took part in cultural excursions to museums, the Alte Pinakothek and the Allianz Arena.
Group photo of students at the museums [Photo/Admissions Office]
On the final day of the program, the 22 students delivered group project presentations, successfully completed their assessments, and were awarded official completion certificates from the Technical University of Munich.
Students holding their completion certificates [Photo/Admissions Office]
Moving forward, Shenzhen Technology University will continue to expand high-level international cooperation, building a bridge for more students to reach the world and pursue their goals and ambitions.
Drafted by Yu Xiao（余效）/ School of Foreign Languages
Revised by Olivia（赖丽伟）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department
Edited by Olivia（赖丽伟）/ International Cooperation and Exchanges Department
