The aim of the KA171 funding was to strengthen cooperation between TH Köln and 17 partner institutions across the Western Balkans, Neighbourhood East, South-Mediterranean, Russian Federation, Asia, Central Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa through enriched student and staff exchanges. We strived to broaden partnerships, providing students with valuable international experiences and focusing on incoming mobility. The pandemic, the Ukraine war, and tensions in the Middle East significantly impacted planned activities. Yet, we organized workshops and joint courses to establish unique cooperation projects and enhance public engagement. These partnerships now rest on deeper cultural and academic understanding. The success of these flagship projects at TH Köln has inspired similar initiatives in other faculties. The program has stabilized Erasmus+ involvement at a high level university-wide, as reflected in KA171 funding for 2023-2024, involving 4 of 12 faculties across 3 regions. Although pandemic and geopolitical issues left some funds unused, the project’s enduring impact on institutional collaboration and understanding showcases its long-term benefits.