“In times when international cooperation cannot be taken for granted, long-standing partnerships such as ours with Bethel College are particularly valuable. They remind us how important it is to keep doors open, to talk to one another and, in this way, to cultivate academic, cultural and personal exchange. For young people in particular, such an exchange can sometimes be a game-changer in their lives. We are very thankful for this almost historic connection, from which I am sure many new friendships will continue to blossom in the future,” rector Prof. Dr Birgitta Wolff emphasised during the anniversary celebrations..

Dr Jon Gering, president of Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas, USA, echoed her sentiments: "A seventy-five year exchange program is not an accident. It is the result of many individual decisions to show up, engage, and trust others who are different from yourself. The exchange program changes the hearts and minds of young people. The programme should serve as a model - and a challenge - for other institutions that wish to build capacity for global understanding and cooperation. Bethel College is a better place because of Wuppertal, and I believe the reverse is equally true. In a world that makes division easy, this partnership keeps choosing otherwise."

It was therefore no coincidence that the rector and the president stood side by side on stage for the opening of the ceremonial highlight of the anniversary celebrations: the closing concert of the Bethel College Concert Choir, which concluded its European tour – following performances in France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Germany – with a finale at Wuppertal’s CityKirche, accompanied – in the true spirit of the partnership – by the University of Wuppertal’s vocal ensemble.

Wuppertal’s mayor, Heiner Fragemann, also welcomed the American guests during their stay. He emphasized: “We are very pleased that the closing concert marking the 75th anniversary of the partnership between the two institutions took place here in Wuppertal. The long-standing friendship between the Bethel College and the University of Wuppertal is rooted in a shared curiosity about the world and a belief in the power of international understanding, science, and the arts. This exchange has shaped many teachers who are active in our city today — a city that, like our university, is multicultural and diverse. The City of Wuppertal is thankful for this cooperation and highly appreciates the commitment of everyone involved in this project.”

Nurturing and further development

But it wasn’t all about celebrations: the visit by the delegation from North Newton in Kansas also served to nurture and further develop the long-standing exchange programme. In addition to the concert, the programme therefore included meetings with former and current participants of the exchange at the University of Wuppertal, as well as joint discussions with representatives of the BUW rectorate and the US Consul General in North Rhine-Westphalia, Preeti V. Shah. There was also an opportunity to explore the city – by foot and, of course, “hovering” above the Wupper river with the Schwebebahn, the iconic suspension monorail.

About the partnership

When the programme was launched in 1951, it was affiliated with the Wuppertal College for Teacher Training, which later became part of the newly founded University of Wuppertal. Now, every year, two students from both the University of Wuppertal have the opportunity to spend an academic year at Bethel College and vice versa. To date, 115 students from Wuppertal have studied at Bethel College, whilst 101 students from Bethel College have been welcomed to Wuppertal.

What makes the exchange programme so special, apart from its long-standing history, is the close bond maintained by former exchange students: The Friends of Bethel College Association (Förderverein Freunde des Bethel College e.V.), founded in 1997, is highly committed to supporting American students in Wuppertal. “Every year, students on both sides of the Atlantic are given the chance to gain new experiences and get to know their mutual cultures. It is very likely that this leads to friendships that last a lifetime,” the association’s chairman, Alexander Froehlich explained.

At BUW, students of English and American Studies tipically take part in the exchange. At the same time, the full range of courses at BUW is open to students from Bethel College. The partnership is coordinated in Wuppertal by Dr Bettina Hofmann. She confirms: “The intercultural learning that takes place during such an exchange is irreplaceable. The exchange students go on to pass these experiences on to their pupils later in life as teachers. The friendships formed among participants will stay with them for the rest of their lives.”

Future plans

During the delegation’s visit, plans were discussed, amongst other things, to extend the exchange programme to other subjects and teaching staff, thereby also enabling other BUW members to spend time at Bethel College. During the visit, president Jon Gering also held discussions with representatives from the Biology department at the University of Wuppertal.

Rector Wolff: “Of course, universities are places of knowledge and research. But they are also places where young people learn to look at the world from different perspectives. They learn to listen, to ask questions, to understand complex interrelationships and to respect different experiences and viewpoints. In this sense, international cooperation is not just a ‘nice-to-have’; it is part of what defines universities.”