At the centre of the summer school are around 40 students - including twelve from Potsdam University of Applied Sciences - who will work together under the guidance of international lecturers to develop concepts for the preservation and further development of historic urban districts (mahallas) in the context of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The summer school is interdisciplinary in nature and encompasses perspectives from architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, heritage conservation and social sciences. One of the aims of the current trip is to identify a suitable location for this year's summer school.

Scientific collaboration with a sustainability perspective
A central element of the project is the accompanying online seminar on the Moodle learning platform, coordinated by Dr Marit Cremer, who previously worked on the P3 dual programme at the FHP. The seminar, which is open to students from all participating universities, teaches the theoretical principles of social urban development - including contributions from Prof. Dr Michael Prytula, research professor for resource-optimised and climate-adapted construction at the FHP.
In addition to the concrete preparation of the summer school, the delegation also used the trip to coordinate further joint project ideas for the period from 2027. The Uzbek partners expressed particular interest in taking greater account of earthquake safety in the area of historic buildings. It is conceivable that this aspect could be given thematic weight at the next network conference in Potsdam in autumn 2026.

Delegation from Potsdam University of Applied Sciences:

Prof. Dr.-J?rg R?der
Professor of Building Conservation, Construction in Existing Contexts and Timber Construction and Chairman of the Senate of the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences

Lisa Hock, M.A.
Research assistant at the Department of Civil Engineering

Prof. Dr Steffen Laue
Professor of Natural Sciences in the Conservation and Restoration programme in the Department of CITY|BUILDING|CULTURE

Prof. Dr Andr¨¦ Brendike Prof. DrIng. Andr¨¦ Brendike
Professor of Structural Engineering, Pro-Dean of the Department of Civil Engineering 
Representative at the Departmental Conference for Civil and Environmental Engineering

Volker Bley Ass. jur.
Advice on university policy and law

Partner universities in Uzbekistan:

• Tashkent University of Architecture and Civil Engineering
• Samarkand State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering
• Samarkand State University
• Bukhara Engineering Technological Institute
• Bukhara State University

The long-term cooperation is already having a visible impact: numerous lecturers on the Uzbek side have themselves taken part in summer schools in Potsdam in the past or completed research visits there. Today, the partners are working together on practical and sustainable higher education that is geared towards the development goals of the United Nations.

This cooperation is also taking place against the backdrop of Central Asia's growing geopolitical importance - as recently emphasised by the EU-Central Asia Summit in April 2025.