Communications and Marketing

H-BRS successful in the DAAD "Academic Horizons" programme

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Tuesday 12 May 2026

Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS) has impressed with its concept for attracting top international talent in the field of artificial intelligence: the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is funding the H-BRS project "TALENT" in the "Academic Horizons - Attracting Global Minds" programme with 750,000 euros until the end of 2029. The funds for this come from the 1000-Köpfe-Plus programme of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). The aim of the programme is to retain excellent international researchers in Germany as a location for science and innovation.
Symbolbild Weltkugel Campus Sankt Augustin Foto Eva Tritschler
H-BRS is strengthening its international orientation with this project. Photo: Eva Tritschler/H-BRS

The project name "TALENT" at H-BRS stands for "Talent Attraction and Lifelong Empowerment for New Technologies" and is a cooperation between the International Office, the Department of Computer Science and the university's Graduate Institute. The aim is to attract top international talent in the field of artificial intelligence to study or do a doctorate at H-BRS, to retain them at an early stage and to integrate them into the academic and labour market in the long term. This strengthens the university's international orientation and its role in key future technologies. 

Vice President Hassan: Strengthening in important digitalisation topics

"We are very pleased about this credit transfer and are very proud of this success," says Vice President International Affairs and Digital Transformation at H-BRS, Professor Teena Chakkalayil Hassan, about the funding of the project. "TALENT is an excellent example of how internationalisation projects can make a significant and sustainable contribution to strengthening teaching, research and transfer in important digitalisation topics such as artificial intelligence and thus also increase the attractiveness of the university for students and researchers." This is exactly in line with the spirit of the University Development Plan 2026 to 2030.

TALENT's holistic approach

The focus of TALENT is on establishing a "Talent Track Practice Pipeline", through which around 30 particularly qualified potential Master's students and doctoral candidates from countries such as India, Mexico, Cameroon and Vietnam are to be recruited, professionally and socially integrated and prepared for a career in science or business. A key feature of TALENT is its holistic approach, which systematically interlinks all phases from recruitment to onboarding, specialised training and career development. The project starts this month.

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"Successfully attracting international talent and ensuring their academic success means providing them with holistic support right from the start," says Dr Rahel Hutgens, Head of the IO. Photo: Schulz

"With TALENT, we are specifically strengthening our international visibility and making an important contribution to securing skilled labour in future technologies," says Professor Sascha Alda, Dean of the Department of Computer Science. "Especially in the field of artificial intelligence, we need globally networked talents who can advance research, innovation and transfer in equal measure."

Cooperation between the International Office and the Department of Computer Science

The project is being implemented in close cooperation between the International Office and the Department of Computer Science. While the department contributes its expertise in AI research, the International Office plays a central role in international recruitment as well as the supervision and integration of participants.

"Successfully attracting international talent and ensuring their academic success means providing them with holistic support from the outset," says Dr Rahel Hutgens, Head of the International Office. "With TALENT, we are creating structures that provide orientation, promote integration, strengthen lifelong learning and thus open up long-term career prospects."

The Graduate Institute is particularly responsible for supporting doctoral students. It ensures structured supervision, high-quality qualification programmes and integration into the research landscape, thus providing targeted support for international early career researchers.

Contribution to securing a skilled workforce

In addition to professional qualification, the project focuses on social integration and sustainability. Mentoring programmes, intercultural offers and cooperation with companies promote networking within the university, region and labour market. In this way, TALENT also contributes to securing skilled labour and strengthening Germany as a location for innovation.

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The Department of Computer Science has particular expertise, for example, in the application of AI in the fields of visual computing or information security.

"Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems" is one of five research specialisations at H-BRS, which is supported by the institute of the same name. The Department of Computer Science has particular expertise, for example, in the application of AI in the fields of visual computing or information security. The application of AI is researched in relevant case studies in both Business Informatics and Cyber Security & Privacy.

AI as a basic subject

As a basic subject, AI is anchored in all Bachelor's degree programmes in the Department of Computer Science, including the Cyber Security & Privacy and Business Informatics degree programmes in addition to traditional Computer Science. The department offers Master's degree programmes in Autonomous Systems, Cyber Security & Privacy, Game Technologies, Computer Science as well as Business Informatics, Sustainability and Digitisation.

Contact us

Porträt Dr. Rahel Hutgens

Rahel Hutgens

Director of the International Office

Location

Location

Sankt Augustin

Room

E060

Address

Grantham-Allee 20

53757 Sankt Augustin

20200311_fbinf_sascha_alda_kw_002-portrait.jpg (DE)

Sascha Alda

Dean of the Department , Software-Architecture, Director b-it

Location

Sankt Augustin

Room

C 218 / Dean's office C 101

Address

Grantham-Allee 20

53757, Sankt Augustin

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Daniela Greulich

Deputy Head of executive department Communications and Marketing/Press and Public Relations, Press Officer

Location

Sankt Augustin

Room

E 237

Address

Grantham-Allee 20

53757, Sankt Augustin

Telephone

+49 2241 865 641