Campus OWL: New leader in New York brings a breath of fresh air!

Campus OWL: New leader in New York brings a breath of fresh air!

On June 25, 2025, Michael Paulus, the new head of the Campus OWL liaison office in New York, visited the University of Paderborn. Since February 2023, he has headed the institution, which has acted as an interface between the universities in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) and North American partner institutions since it was founded in 2019. At a meet & greet, those interested had the opportunity to find out more about the diverse offers and tasks of the liaison office.

The University of Paderborn is part of the Campus OWL, a network of five state universities in the region. These include the universities of Bielefeld and Paderborn as well as the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences, the Ostwestfalen-Lippe University of Technology and the Detmold University of Music. Campus OWL was founded at the beginning of 2016 and has set itself the goal of increasing the visibility of the OWL scientific region and creating a framework for cooperation in research, transfer, internationalization and digitalization.

Importance of international exchange

Prof. Dr. Heike Trautmann, Vice President for International Relations at the University of Paderborn, emphasized the essential role of international exchange during the meeting. This is not only crucial for cooperation between universities, but also promotes connections to the global academic community. With over 65,000 students and more than 500 degree programs offered, Campus OWL is a significant player in the academic landscape.

The New York Liaison Office, also known as Campus OWL, Inc., is located in German House, directly across from the UN Headquarters in Manhattan. This situation underlines the international orientation of the initiative. In addition to the OWL liaison office, the German House is also home to institutions such as the DAAD, offices of German universities and the German Research Foundation, which together strengthen the perception of German science and culture in North America.

Services and functions of the liaison office

The liaison office plays a central role as a service facility for students, scientists, founders and administrative staff of the affiliated universities. His tasks include advertising study and research opportunities, promoting collaboration with North American partner institutions and advising on questions relating to study visits and doctorates. The office also supports the initiation of new projects and helps finance mobility and research projects.

In an economic region like OWL, which is home to around 120,000 companies and is one of the strongest in Germany, close cooperation between universities and business is essential. The internationality that the liaison office in New York promotes is therefore a key factor for success in research and teaching as well as for networking with global partners.