Oriel partners with Germany’s largest university to deliver energy programme 

Working in partnership with International University of Applied Sciences (IU), which has more than 30 campuses across Germany, Oriel delivered a programme focused on sustainable energy solutions. 

“The students have been fantastic,” said Dr Phil Grünewald who delivered the core of the programme and is a Supernumerary Research Fellow and Tutor in Engineering Science at Oriel.  

“We’ve got economists, engineers and people with more of a management background and all of them have been able to contribute their angle to our energy discussions and their group work.”

The students were treated to expert insight from leaders within the energy sector including Professor Jim Watson, Director of UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, and Rebecca Beresford, Director of Markets for National Energy System Operator. 

“We are so excited to be hosting the International University of Applied Sciences from Germany here at Oriel,” said George Connolly who joined Oriel in 2024 as the College’s inaugural director of international partnerships and programmes.

“This is the most recent addition to our suite of international programmes that work to bring the world to Oriel and take Oriel into the world.”

“To anyone considering doing the programme I would say definitely do it,” said student Nicole.  

“You have to come here and visit and see with your own eyes how amazing this place is.”

Included within the programme was a trip to the BMW Mini plant in Oxford to show the students how solutions they learned about are applied in industry to improve efficiency, integrate renewable energy and develop more sustainable systems. 

A group challenge followed as the students worked in teams to present suggestions for how they would make the city of Oxford more sustainable.  

Their proposals considered technology options as well as public acceptability, justice and affordability. 

A graduation ceremony and formal hall meal followed in celebration of course attendees’ work.  

Kunal Saigal, Academic Director at IU, was the primary lead from the German university in shaping the learning experience for the students.  

“It’s a privilege to be able to partner with Oriel,” Saigal said.  

“Everything from the student-centric point of view towards applicability in the marketplace.  

“It’s so perfectly curated and so well balanced. You can see thought in every single process along the way. 

“If you do have the honour of working with them, I think it’s a no brainer,” added Saigal.