Imperial-TUM-NTU Global Fellows Programme

From 28th July – 1st August 2025 Imperial College London will hold the 5th trilateral Global Fellows Programme in partnership the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore). This year’s programme will be hosted by the Technical University of Munich, and take place in Munich, Germany. There will be an online Welcome Event 1-2 weeks prior to the in-person programme. 

In the current scientific environment international and interdisciplinary collaborations and networking are fundamental to developing successful projects. In a competitive research environment funding bodies increasingly look for interdisciplinary, collaborative research with partners from around the world. The modern researcher requires both excellence in research and strong professional collaborative competencies.

Over the course of one week approximately 40 doctoral researchers from TUM, NTU and Imperial will develop collaborative interdisciplinary competencies and intercultural awareness required to establish and continue successful collaborations. 

During this 5-day programme, participants will work in interdisciplinary and intercultural groups, assisted by a coach from one of the partner universities. During the Global Fellows Programme, participants will enhance:

• Their competencies to work collaboratively on research ideas
• Their competencies to network and communicate effectively and with impact in interdisciplinary and intercultural groups
• Their intercultural and international competency and awareness
• Their creativity to develop collaborative research ideas
• Their appreciation of research in international institutions 

Participants will also engage in intercultural and interdisciplinary discussions under the programme theme “multidisciplinary solutions for climate-responsive societies” and will develop creative innovations to address global challenges under the programme theme.

Climate change demands urgent action, with rising temperatures and extreme weather affecting the health, economies, and infrastructure of societies worldwide. Many cities grapple with worsening heatwaves and flooding, while more and more rural areas face declining crop yields, droughts, and ecosystem degradation. Climate responsivity creates societies that are resilient, flexible, adaptive, and sustainable in a changing climate. Climate-responsive societies protect people and ecosystems while maintaining social and economic stability. 

Developing climate-responsive societies requires not only technological innovations, but also calls for the convergence of diverse fields, including social and political sciences, health sciences, life and environmental sciences, economics, engineering, and urban planning.

This convergence of scientific perspectives opens exciting opportunities to develop innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to immediate and long-term climate challenges. During the Global Fellows Programme participants will enhance their interdisciplinary and collaborative skills and competencies while creating holistic and inclusive strategies to boost adaptation and climate responsivity in urban and rural societies while ensuring that solutions are equitable and applicable to global and local contexts.

Guest speakers from Imperial, TUM and NTU will provide participants with insights into current research (but not limited to) within the topics of the programme, to inspire the development of creative solutions. 

A background on the subject is not essential, doctoral candidates from any discipline are invited to apply for this 5-day professional development course.

This is a chance to challenge yourself outside of your normal working environment, meet people from other disciplines and cultures, and have fun!

For any additional queries not answered in the webpage, please contact irop@imperial.ac.uk

Student Experiences:

• "A week of insights into various fields of research and meeting lots of great people!"
• "Fun, creative and a pleasure!"
• "It was a packed, satisfying week full of new experiences and connections. You will love it"
• "A great intercultural and international experience!"
• "I was able to learn and gain new perspectives from other disciplines to influence my own research"
• "The program really helped me to get out of my usual research bubble"

You can read student experiences of previous Global Fellows Programmes on this webpage.