Eleven Arkansas Tech University students and two ATU faculty members continued an ongoing collaboration with Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) University of Applied Sciences in Giessen, Germany, during a summer 2025 study abroad trip.
Jessica Brock, ATU instructor of business, and Gabriele Haulmark, ATU senior instructor of English and German and director of international education, mentored the Arkansas Tech students during a journey that provided opportunities for academic enrichment and cultural immersion.
The primary emphasis of the ATU delegation’s summer 2025 trip to Germany was a business simulation that students from ATU and THM University of Applied Sciences developed with additional input from students at Kajaani University of Applied Sciences in Finland.
“I think the main skill that this simulation sharpens is communication,” said Grant Tinney, an ATU junior mechanical engineering major from Hot Springs. “Since there were three groups from three different countries, I had to adapt the way I conveyed a message. I needed to be more precise with the words I used and not use as many slang words and terms. What was familiar to me was not familiar to them and vice versa. This is something that applies among people in the same country, too, as not everyone knows the same terminology for certain things, even if you speak the same language.”
Arkansas Tech and THM University of Applied Sciences have been partner institutions since 2018. The partnership expanded in 2022 to include student travel. In the years since, there have been visits to Germany for ATU students and visits to the United States for THM University of Applied Sciences students.
“There truly is nothing like the enlightenment of immersing oneself in a new culture,” said Morgan Blamey, an ATU junior business management major from Scranton. “Dr. Benjamin Löhr, Heike Siebert and Alexandra Hofmann are the wonderful THM faculty that delivered excellent moderation and guidance throughout the simulation. It’s eye opening to hear other university students’ ideas, thoughts and questions coming from another culture.”
The student travel aspect of the ATU-THM partnership is made possible by an Erasmus+ grant, which is awarded by the European Union to support study abroad programs and includes considerations for minority, lower income and first-generation students.
“This trip changed my view of the world from theoretical to practical,” said Veronica Jimenez, an ATU senior business management major from Russellville. “Engaging with students and professors from different cultures helped me realize that there’s a big difference between reading about something and experiencing it. I also became more confident in myself, especially thanks to the friendships I formed in Germany. This trip sparked something in me and inspired me to figure out what my true potential is. I’ve definitely caught the travel bug and plan to see much more of the world.”
In addition to Tinney, Blamey and Jimenez, other Arkansas Tech students on the study abroad trip were Nate Burckhartzmeyer of Broken Arrow, Okla., Kelsey Davis of Dover, Nicholas Haulmark of Russellville, Jack Johnston of Sedalia, Mo., Jaycie Massengale of Lamar, Julia Reynolds of Atkins, Noelia Santos Rodriguez of Hot Springs and Alexander Trombley of Murfreesboro.
For Tinney, the trip and the accompanying course work were a primer for the career of his dreams with German automobile manufacturer Porsche.
“I am interested in working there because of the amount of pride they and their customers have in their cars,” said Tinney. “The Porsche 911 is my favorite car. Besides this, Porsche is a German company. If I get a chance to work with them, I will most likely need to travel overseas. Therefore, I wanted to go see what it is like to live in Germany. I have also been studying German at ATU for two years now…one year with Gabriele Haulmark and one with Ursula Chandler. Both are great professors. This trip, originally introduced to me by Mrs. Haulmark in her class, gave me an opportunity to practice what I had learned in real-life situations. I am far from fluent, but I could understand more than I thought I would be able to.”
As a full-time online student with a full-time job, Jimenez thought that opportunities such as study abroad were beyond her reach. The ATU-THM partnership made it possible.
“When I was accepted, it felt like a dream come true,” said Jimenez. “I finally had the chance to experience a whole new country. I definitely gained more confidence in my intercultural communication skills. Working with the THM students helped me realize that, while we come from different parts of the world and speak different languages, we’re all students navigating similar challenges. We shared knowledge, asked each other questions and walked away with a deeper understanding of one another’s cultures. I truly valued the opportunity to interact with the German and Finnish students and faculty. We each brought different perspectives to the table, and that diversity was the greatest strength of our group. It wasn’t just a black-and-white exchange of ideas…it was filled with shades and colors that enriched our discussions and collaborations.”
Beyond the classroom, the ATU delegation visited Nymphenburg Palace, Dachau Concentration Camp, Linderhof and Neuschwanstein castles, Leica Camera Company, the Frankfurt stock exchange, the European Central Bank and the cities of Cologne, Marburg and Wetzlar during their visit to Germany.
Since the study abroad group returned from Germany, Arkansas Tech has received notification that the Erasmus+ grant that makes the ATU-THM partnership possible has been renewed, meaning that more students from both universities will experience the benefits of working and learning together in the years to come.
“The biggest difference myself and others have noticed in me is the new perspective I brought back home,” said Blamey. “I have more of a world view and experience of immeasurable worth. I think more about those from around the globe and how their lives, values and challenges both differ and connect from my own. I find myself more thoughtful in my actions and more appreciative of how vast the world really is. Studying abroad with Arkansas Tech has been the most rewarding experience I could have imagined. I’m so grateful to Frau Haulmark and Ms. Jessica Brock for chaperoning our trip and working to give us the most memorable time. From hiking to Schloss Neuschwanstein to touring the charming streets of Marburg, traveling to Germany and collaborating with the students of THM and (Kajaani University of Applied Sciences) will always be special to me. I cherish the knowledge gained, friendships made and new outlooks on the world I’ve earned.”
Learn more about the ATU Office of Study Abroad at www.atu.edu/studyabroad.
