School of Innovation and Technology x Stuttgart MediaUniversity

International Week 2025 - showcasing the Master of Research

Dr Marianne McAra

Last week I travelled to Stuttgart to present our Master ofResearch programme (M.Res) and SIT partnership with Stuttgart Media University(SMU/ HdM) at their International Week, alongside my colleague Professor Sabiha Ghellal. This annual event brings together educators and researchers from across the world to present their programmes to students and staff at SMU. Throughout the week, Sabiha and I shared insights into the M.Res programme, highlighting how it supports practice-led and interdisciplinary approaches to research, strengthens international academic exchange and supports the role of universities in preparing students for an increasingly complex and technology-driven world.

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The wider International Week conference offered an exciting programme of talks, workshops and tours, touching on topics ranging from design and media innovation to digital transformation and global collaboration. Midweek, I also participated in Games Day event, which showcased creative and innovative pedagogies, experimental prototypes and demos, and discussions on the future of game design, including debates surrounding ethics, intellectual property and the impacts of AI. Later in the week, I visited the university’s Generator Start Up Centre to hear about the inspiring work they are doing to equip students with key skills and training in design-led innovation to initiate and fund ideas for start-up businesses.

A particular highlight of my visit was spending dedicated time with our current Stuttgart-based M.Res students, Mary Linke and Willi Schorrig, both of whom are undertaking projects exploring how technology can support inclusive and accessible education for young people. Mary’s research focuses on the gender dimensions in STEM learning, while Willi is investigating audio-visual digital approaches to support music education. Being able to supervise them in person, while surrounded by experts from neighbouring fields, added a valuable reflective layer to their ongoing research.

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As 2025 marks the 10^th year of the M.Res programme at GSA, we are excited to grow this partnership with SMU as a low-residency model, which affords students the opportunity to live and study in Stuttgart and participate in the programme in hybrid ways.

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