What are the real benefits of international research in online education?

Potsdam, February 18, 2026 - London. Oxford. And now: on our students' screens. The German University of Applied Sciences (DHAW) is continuing to expand its international expertise. Professor Hafiz T. A. Khan, a renowned public health statistician from the University of West London (UWL) and the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, is joining the DHAW research center for two years. This is a clear career advantage for our students.

Prof. Hafiz Khan: International expertise in everyday digital study life

Hafiz T. A. Khan has held a visiting professorship at DHAW since January 2026. He is primarily Professor of Public Health and Statistics at UWL and Professorial Fellow at the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing. For more than three decades, he has been analyzing population data, examining care structures, and advising on data-based decisions.
At DHAW, he is involved in research. He supervises theses in the field of healthcare management, gives lectures, and contributes his expertise to projects at the research center. The collaboration builds on existing scientific contacts with DHAW professor Meiners:
"Together we have published research that has gained recognition in the German media. I am keen to continue developing research partnerships in Germany and would welcome the opportunity to work again with colleagues like Professor Meiners."

What a visiting professorship means in distance learning

Visiting professors come to a university for a limited period of time. They bring new perspectives, international networks, and specialized knowledge. This strengthens the academic quality of online studies.
Prof. Khan works in a data-driven way: he uses statistics, big data, and digital tools to examine social challenges such as demographic change. These are topics that concern companies, healthcare systems, and politics alike. Students benefit from expertise that is in demand worldwide. Specifically, this means: * Understanding data: Complex relationships become transparent with statistics and big data.
* Applying research: Scientific methods facilitate decisions in everyday professional life.
* Thinking globally: International comparative data broadens the view beyond national borders.
* Strengthening careers: Analytical skills are a clear career advantage - not only in healthcare.
The DHAW's flexible online structure makes this collaboration possible. Research and exchange take place digitally and on demand. This creates international synergy - without long-distance travel or interrupting studies.

University of West London meets DHAW - two universities, one mission

UWL is one of the most dynamic universities in the UK. In 2025, it was voted London's number one university for overall student satisfaction. 80 percent of its research is considered internationally excellent or world-leading.
What connects UWL and DHAW? Both focus on career orientation and see education as an investment in future skills. DHAW is going its own way: it combines academic depth with complete online flexibility. International cooperation is already part of DHAW's identity. The visiting professorship further expands this orientation.

DHAW's international orientation - a career advantage

Healthy aging. Care structures. Demographic change. These are real challenges facing our society. Those who understand them will be in demand in the long term. Students learn to analyze such developments, question data, and make informed decisions. These are precisely the future skills that employers in many industries are looking for. But it is not only the students who benefit from the visiting professorship:
"By combining our complementary expertise, I believe we can produce high-quality publications in reputable journals and build a stronger research network within DHAW and beyond."
Prof. Khan thus underscores the ambition to strategically develop DHAW's research activities. The visiting professorship is part of DHAW's internationalization strategy. For us, growth means "more" in many ways: not only more students, but above all more quality, more expertise, and more global topics that advance careers in the long term.

Global expertise moves us all forward

Think globally. Learn personally. Under this motto, DHAW is growing, now with over 1,100 students and a seal of recommendation for 2026. But what does growth mean for our students: more modules - or real impact on their careers? The answer now comes from London: Prof. Khan stands for global insights and networked knowledge.
Modern university teaching requires the courage to think internationally. As a university, we invest in international research so that our students can benefit as much as possible.

Deutsche Hochschule fuer angewandte Wissenschaften (DHAW)
Jaegerallee 26
14469 Potsdam
Germany

https://deutschehochschule.de/

Frau Marit Bolduan
03317699137

m.bolduan@deutschehochschule.de

The German University of Applied Sciences (DHAW) is a modern university with a clear vision. We want to teach first-class specialist knowledge that impresses with its quality, practical relevance, and topicality. Our aim is to provide you with the theoretical and practical tools you need for a successful career. This will ensure that our university's alumni are sought-after specialists on the job market.

This release was published on openPR.