Note: The article is written in German below

Distance learning knows no boundaries. And this will also hold true for international study experiences in the future. A strategic partnership between the Distance-Learning University of Applied Sciences (FERNFH) and the Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences will launch in the fall semester of 2026/27. This will enable students, faculty, and staff from both institutions to gain cross-border experience, for example by taking courses at the partner institution. Both institutions are driven by a shared desire to rethink distance learning on an international scale.

Within the European Higher Education Area, international university cooperation and the mobility of students, faculty, and staff are becoming increasingly important. This presents a particular challenge for distance-learning universities, as mobility must be reimagined to be digital, flexible, and compatible with everyday working life—regardless of whether or not one has caregiving responsibilities. This is precisely where the new partnership between FERNFH and the Swiss Distance University of Applied Sciences (FFHS) comes in.

The initial contact was made at the EADTU’s I·HE2025 conference, which took place at FernUniversität in Hagen. Astrid Braun, Coordinator of International Affairs at FERNFH, and Anja Bouron, Head of Corporate Relations and Career Services at FFHS, represented the two institutions at the event. During their discussions, it quickly became apparent that the two institutions were very similar in terms of both content and structure, as they are both committed to providing flexible, digitally supported higher education. It soon became clear during the initial concrete discussions that this academic exchange could evolve into a structured partnership offering genuine added value for both universities.

The partnership involves the exchange of students, faculty, and staff between the two universities. The goal is to facilitate international study and teaching experiences through distance learning, to strengthen the transfer of knowledge, and to expand collaboration in teaching and research. In the future, FERNFH students will be able to take courses at FFHS that will count toward their degree, and vice versa.

“Students at FERNFH and FFHS are working professionals, which makes it difficult for them to acquire international skills through traditional mobility programs. Our partnership aims to give them the opportunity to view topics from their degree program from a different perspective and, in doing so, gain important intercultural competencies without having to turn their lives upside down.” – Anja Bouron

Two Distance-Learning Universities of Applied Sciences: Parallels as a Starting Point, Potential as a Goal

Astrid Braun, Coordinator of International Affairs at FERNFH, emphasizes that the many parallels between the two universities became apparent early on. “When I got to know the FFHS through Anja Bouron and her colleagues at the I·HE2025 conference, I immediately noticed the similarities between our institutions. This inspired the idea of developing a partnership for the entire FERNFH community. Both universities will benefit from the collaboration and broaden their horizons.” This collaboration will open up new perspectives for students and staff alike, further strengthening the university’s international focus.

The partnership will begin in the fall semester of 2026/27, initially in selected degree programs. These include the Bachelor’s programs in Business Informatics | Bachelor’s and Business Administration & Business Psychology | Bachelor’s at FERNFH, as well as the Bachelor’s programs in Business Informatics BSc and Business Economics BSc at FFHS. The mobility of teaching and administrative staff is also a key component of the partnership. Plans include visiting stays, job shadowing, and joint teaching and research activities, among other things.

This partnership is part of FERNFH’s ongoing international development. A key element of this development is FERNFH’s recent admission to the EADTU (European Association of Distance Teaching Universities), making it the first university of applied sciences in Austria to join the association. Admission to the network, which took place in April 2026, strengthens international collaboration in the field of digital, flexible, and inclusive higher education. It also opens up further opportunities for collaboration and the development of innovative teaching and learning formats.

This new partnership between FERNFH and FFHS sets an example for cross-border education and the development of distance learning within the European Higher Education Area.

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German Version

FERNFH and FFHS Launch Strategic Partnership for International Distance Learning Mobility

Distance learning knows no boundaries. And in the future, this will also apply to international study and teaching experiences. The Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH and the Swiss University of Applied Sciences for Distance Learning will launch a strategic partnership starting in the 2026–27 winter semester. Students, faculty, and staff at both institutions will thus have the opportunity to gain cross-border experience and, for example, take courses at the partner institution. What drives both institutions is a shared desire to rethink distance learning on an international scale.

International higher education cooperation and the mobility of students, faculty, and staff are becoming increasingly important in the European Higher Education Area. This poses a particular challenge for distance learning universities: mobility must be reimagined—namely, as digital, flexible, and inclusive, meaning it must be compatible with everyday work life and/or caregiving responsibilities. This is precisely where the new partnership between FERNFH and the Swiss Distance Learning University (FFHS) comes in.

The connection was established during the EADTU’s I·HE2025 conference at the FernUniversität in Hagen. The two universities were represented at the event by Mag.^a Astrid Braun, Coordinator of International Affairs at FERNFH, and Anja Bouron, Head of Corporate Relations and Career Services at FFHS. During their discussions, it quickly became apparent that the two institutions share a strong alignment in terms of both content and structure, as both are committed to flexible, digitally supported higher education. In the initial concrete discussions, it soon became clear that this academic exchange could lead to something more: a structured partnership offering genuine added value for both universities.

The partnership involves the exchange of students, faculty, and staff between the two universities. The goal is to facilitate international study and teaching experiences through distance learning, strengthen the transfer of knowledge, and expand collaboration in teaching and research. In the future, FERNFH students will be able to take courses at FFHS that will be fully recognized toward their degree, and vice versa.  

“Students at FERNFH and FFHS are working professionals, which makes it difficult for them to gain international experience through traditional study abroad programs. Our partnership is designed to give them the opportunity to view topics from their studies from a different perspective and gain important intercultural skills without having to turn their lives upside down.” – Anja Bouron

Two Distance-Learning Universities: Parallels as a Starting Point, Potential as a Goal

Mag.^a Astrid Braun, Coordinator of International Affairs at FERNFH, emphasizes that the many parallels between the two universities became apparent early on: “When I was introduced to FFHS by Anja Bouron and her colleagues during the I·HE2025 conference, I immediately noticed the many parallels between our universities. This gave rise to the desire to develop a partnership for the entire FERNFH. Both universities benefit from this and broaden their horizons.” The collaboration opens up new perspectives for students and staff and further strengthens the university’s international focus.

The program will launch in the 2026–27 winter semester, initially in the Business Information Systems | Bachelor’s and Business Administration & Business Psychology | Bachelor’s degree programs at FERNFH, as well as the Business Information Systems BSc and Business Administration BSc programs at FFHS. Faculty and staff mobility is also a central component of the partnership. Plans include, among other things, visiting stays, job shadowing, and joint teaching and research activities.

This collaboration is part of FERNFH’s ongoing international development. A key component of this is FERNFH’s recent admission to the EADTU(European Association of Distance Teaching Universities), making it the first university of applied sciences in Austria to join the organization. The university joined the network in April 2026, strengthening international collaboration in the field of digital, flexible, and inclusive higher education. This also opens up additional opportunities for collaboration and the expansion of innovative teaching and learning formats. Further information can be found in the news article “Ferdinand Porsche FERNFH Becomes the First University of Applied Sciences in Austria to Join the EADTU.”

With this new partnership, FERNFH and FFHS are setting an example for cross-border education and the further development of distance learning in the European Higher Education Area.