The University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), established in 2003 through the merger of the Gerhard Mercator University of Duisburg and the University of Essen, is one of Germany's youngest and largest public research universities. Located in the heart of the Ruhr Metropolitan Region, UDE offers over 250 bachelor's and master's programs across 11 faculties, covering humanities, social sciences, education, economics, engineering, natural sciences, and medicine. With a student body exceeding 43,000, the university is known for its strong research output, particularly in natural sciences and engineering, and is part of the University Alliance Metropolis Ruhr, fostering international academic collaboration. UDE's commitment to diversity, educational equity, and innovative teaching is reflected in its motto, "Offen im Denken" ("Open-minded"), guiding its mission to develop ideas with a future.