Review 2024

On Thursday 25 April 2024, the Canadian guests arrived in Stuttgart after a long journey and were first officially welcomed by HFT Stuttgart. The German and Canadian students got to know each other for the first time. Afterwards, they continued to get to know each other in Block 4 to round off the first evening together in a cosy atmosphere.

Friday began directly with the group work, in which the HFT Master's students from the Master's programme in Transport Infrastructure Management and UNB students from the Civil Engineering programme actively participated. They worked on an international comparison between Canada and Germany with regard to the administrative structure in the mobility sector and transport policy. This was followed by a one-hour presentation by Prof Norkauer, who introduced the Canadians to the Stuttgart 21 project.

An excursion on Saturday took the group to Esslingen, a city known for its well-preserved medieval old town and picturesque vineyards. Prof Dr Lutz Gaspers gave interesting insights into the city's history and the development of public transport in and around Esslingen. The day ended with dinner in a local restaurant, which provided a deeper insight into the regional culture and cuisine. The excursion to Esslingen allowed the group to familiarise themselves with different modes of transport in the Stuttgart region and experience how they are interconnected.

On the fourth day the group visited part of the largest railway construction site in Europe, Stuttgart 21. They were given a comprehensive tour of the exhibition rooms in the ITS tower, where they received a wealth of information about the railway project and were able to see the current progress of the conversion of Stuttgart's main station from a terminus to a through station on the construction site. The project was quite impressive for the Canadians due to its size.

Afterwards they visited the Neckar Stadium in Bad Cannstatt, home of VfB Stuttgart and an important landmark for sports enthusiasts.

A ride on Stuttgart's light rail system on Monday gave the Canadian guests a practical insight into the city's mobility system. The participants visited the Stuttgart television tower, which at 217 metres high offers an impressive view over the city. In the afternoon, the HFT students continued to work on their presentations.

On Tuesday morning, the day began with another workshop together with the Master's students. This focussed on traffic simulation at the HFT Stuttgart. The students simulated pedestrian routes between the campus and the city centre.

In the afternoon, the group visited the Mercedes-Benz Museum, which impressively illustrates the history of the automobile and the development of the Mercedes-Benz brand. The exhibition rooms wind their way over several floors and show well-known racing cars from the Stuttgart-based car manufacturer.

On Wednesday, another excursion took the participants to the Thyssen-Krupp test tower in Rottweil, the oldest town in Baden-Württemberg. The visit to Germany's highest viewing platform at a height of 232 metres showed not only the beautiful view, but also the innovative architecture and the future of vertical passenger transport. The lifts reach speeds of up to 18 metres per second.

The tour continued to Lake Constance, which is not only known as the third largest lake in Central Europe, but also serves as an important recreational and leisure area. Here, the group had the opportunity to take a closer look at the city of Constance. Another highlight in terms of mobility was the ferry crossing by coach from Constance to Meersburg, before finally travelling back to Stuttgart.

On Thursday morning, the HFT and UNB students again had time to work on and finalise their presentations. In the afternoon, the results were presented to various professors in the form of posters and lectures. The certificates of participation in the MoVe Summer School 2024 were then ceremoniously presented to all participants. A visit to the Stuttgart Spring Festival could not be missed among the leisure activities in Stuttgart. Therefore, the Canadian students and some German students spent the penultimate evening together at the Cannstatt Spring Festival, which was a lot of fun and entertainment.

On their last day, the group visited Stuttgart Airport, an important hub for regional and international aviation. A final walk through the city took the Canadians across the famous Schlossplatz in Stuttgart. The evening ended with a farewell dinner in a typical German restaurant, where the participants reminisced about the last few days.

On Saturday morning, 4 May 2024, the Canadians returned to Fredericton, New Brunswick, with many new impressions and knowledge in their luggage.

Looking back, the Canadians were able to learn a lot about mobility and transport in Germany during their trip and gain insights into German culture. For most of them it was their first visit to Germany, for some it was even their first time in Europe. However, the various workshops and lectures not only promoted an understanding of complex topics, but also fostered cooperation and networking among the participants. Many new friendships were formed that will last beyond the Summer School. Interesting and varied leisure activities rounded off the trip and ensured fun, relaxation and exciting experiences that the Canadians can look back on with pleasure.

A big thank you to the interested UNB students and their dedicated Prof Dr Trevor Hanson for making the long journey to take part in our MoVe Summer School. We are already looking forward to the next Summer School in 2025!