Dr Tim Weingärtner and Dr Petra Bohner from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), recently spend 3 weeks+ at GCIT for a series of academic workshops, talent enrichment and joint-applied project engagements aimed at advancing Innovation and Research between Switzerland and Bhutan.

This was made possible because of the signing of MOU between GCIT President and the Dean Provost of HSLU in Switzerland on May 29, 2026.

GCIT x HSLU MOU Partnership Confirmation

The MOU confirms the following engagements for the next 3 years.

International Students from HSLU will partake in GCIT's  SFC and SIDD Bachelors in their final year for a full semester starting 2027.
Joint Research with confirmation of grants and collaborative knowledge towards Project Digital Village (Rukha) with Singapore Blockchain Qore3.
Faculty & Students Exchange.
AI and Blockchain Curriculum Capacity Development.
Exploration of Swiss PHD supervision for GCIT's faculty in STEM, Computing & Quantum technologies.  

This partnership marks an important step towards expanding international cooperation in strengthening GCIT's global standing & recognition.

Workshops & Talent Enrichment

One of the key highlights of talent enrichment included Professor Tim's engagement with 200+ of our students in an interactive session on global tech projects, research and publications. The session encouraged students to think profoundly of capitalising their Capstone Projects into international use cases and creating exposure to research and technology practices beyond Bhutan.

Reflecting on the session, Yangchen Lhamo from AI, 3rd-year highlighted the importance of systematic, evidence-based research and defined objectives in developing effective solutions that solve world issues.

Dr Petra Bohner led a specialised session on Agile Development and Innovation for Banking and Financial Institutions, organised by GCIT CETA.  The workshop was also extended to our industry partners: including the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), Bhutan Insurance Ltd (BIL),  Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan Limited - RICB, and major banks of Bhutan. This session highlighted opportunities to:

Improve software testing and deployment processes from UAT, Production to Deployment. 
Build responsive and reliable methods to secure digital services.
Enhance the efficiency and quality of digital services across the financial sector.

Industry partners expressed their appreciation to GCIT and highlighted the potential for future collaborations in Agile Software Development.

In a separate workshop for GCIT’s non-academic staff, Dr Petra also demonstrated process automation, using HR & Finance workflows as an example. The workshop explored how repetitive administrative tasks can be streamlined, reducing manual effort and allowing staff to focus more on people, planning and service delivery.

Looking Ahead
Through these partnerships, GCIT aims to strengthen the connection between academic learning, applied research, and industry practice, with Project Digital Village serving as a practical example of how collaboration with GCIT, Qore3, HSLU, and other partners can translate emerging technologies into solutions that address real-world community needs.

GCIT looks forward to building on meaningful engagements with International Markets to create meaningful opportunities for the school, staff and students.

A heartfelt thank you to Professor Tim Weingärtner and Dr Petra Bohner for sharing their expertise and engaging with GCIT’s students, staff, and industry partners. We also extend our appreciation to our industry partners for their participation and continued collaboration in advancing digital innovation in Bhutan.