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Emma Moriarty ‘25 spent six weeks in Germany this summer, participating in a six-week research exchange at Technische Universität (TU) Dresden. During her time there, she met and befriended Caroline Sauer, a business student from Dresden who helped familiarize her with the city and culture, and even invited her to Sauer's birthday party.

Now, Sauer herself is studying at Lehigh University, along with two other students from TU Dresden for the fall semester. Both of these international education experiences were arranged through the Global Exchange Lehigh (GEL), the revitalized bilateral exchange program offered by Lehigh’s Office of International Affairs (OIA).

“It was great to be integrated into a different country and workforce, and get to know so many people who I could learn from and who were genuinely curious about what life is like back in the United States,” said Moriarty, a psychology major. “I learned a lot and really loved it.”

Through GEL students come to Lehigh for studies from an overseas educational institution and Lehigh students in turn are sent to study at the partner institution’s campus. TU Dresden is one of the newest partners in this exchange, having signed a memorandum of understanding with Lehigh last year.

"We’ve implemented a structured approach to activities and support, aiming to create a sense of belonging for our inbound students," said Jodeen Joyner, Senior Study Abroad Advisor and Exchange Program Manager. "I act as a liaison between the students and various offices on campus, ensuring they receive the support they need throughout their journey.”

The other two other visiting students from TU Dresden are Annika Walz, a psychology student, and Heidi Schuele, who is studying international relations. They are among ten international students studying in Lehigh this semester through GEL, which also includes students from India, Ireland, and Saudi Arabia.

Walz and Schuele discussed the importance of global connections for studying international relations, noting that immersion in different cultures provides deeper understanding than short visits.

"Immersing yourself in another culture offers insights you can't get from just a quick visit,” Walz said. “It’s about living and breathing a different way of life, and that changes your understanding in ways you never expect.”

Moriarty’s tasks during her Dresden internship included attending psychotherapy sessions, practicing cognitive behavioral therapy, proofreading research papers for English grammar, experiencing a virtual reality lab that studied anxiety responses in patients, and scanning abstracts of research papers for various research topics.

Lia Badolato ‘24 also spent four weeks interning in Dresden this summer, along with Moriarty. Although initially nervous about traveling, she said the experience proved very rewarding, and she appreciated the flexibility of the program in choosing how long she studied there.

“I’m really glad I stepped out of my comfort zone and did this, because I ended up having a blast,” said Badolato, who graduated with a degree in psychology from Lehigh earlier this year.

Almut Hupbach, Professor of Psychology at Lehigh, taught both Badolato and Moriarty in her classes. Originally from Dresden, she was very excited that GEL provided the opportunity for a partnership and exchange of students between Lehigh and TU Dresden.

“These international experiences are invaluable, offering students the opportunity to engage with different academic perspectives, and immerse themselves in new cultures,” Hupbach said. “I look forward to seeing this partnership growing in the years to come and to the continued exchange of knowledge, ideas, and experiences between our institutions.”

Sauer, Schuele, and Walz said they were particularly interested in experiencing academic life in the U.S. and studying transatlantic relations, particularly during a presidential election year. They said they appreciate the campus atmosphere and the sense of community, and were surprised at the large number of clubs and extracurricular activities available.

All three have said the experience may inform their future educational directions. Walz would like to return to the U.S. for research in the future, and Sauer expressed interest in pursuing a master’s degree here. Schuele says her work in international organizations will be influenced by her experiences and the university's opportunities.