Research Ambassadors

The Ambassadors are appointed for a period of three years after being formally introduced and proposed. Through an activity protocol involving regular check-ins, the university monitors their engagement and decides whether to extend the appointment. This helps both, the University of Bremen as well as the Research Ambassadors to manage their expectations while also reflecting on the cooperation and possible adjustments. If a Research Ambassador becomes inactive, the university will evaluate their engagement and may appoint new ambassadors to maintain active representation in key regions.

Once a Research Ambassador retires without staying connected to their home institution or is simply unable to continue, a new Ambassador can be appointed. This new Ambassador could also be suggested by the former one to keep the cooperation intact. Naturally, this enables the network to remain lively and grow. The same counts for the host or faculty contact person.

To support the cooperation between the Research Ambassadors and the University of Bremen, several support options are in place. These help the Ambassadors to maintain their connections with the university and promote young researchers. Some key initiatives include:

• “Seniors Bring Juniors”: Ambassadors are enabled to send young researchers to Bremen for a research stay, with travel and accommodation expenses partially covered by the University of Bremen, if possible.
• Financial support: They can apply for financial support for their travels to the University of Bremen through a yearly demand query organised by the International Office. The financial assistance is dependent on the every-changing university-wide support options and availabilities.
• Event participation: The Ambassadors are invited to participate in specific events organized by the University of Bremen. In addition, they are included into their former faculty’s activities.
• Public relations: The role of a Research Ambassador is supported through communication outlet efforts, both in Bremen and their home countries. This includes press releases, local press interviews, information dissemination through newsletters, and sharing information via relevant networks.

By enhancing its international alumni work through the Research Ambassadors, the University of Bremenaims to further internationalize and diversify its network, foster a sense of community, and create stronger social and economic connections with and in other countries. The long-term goal is to establish cooperation contacts abroad and find new partners for joint projects or even new funding sources and joint ventures. By having the Ambassadors actively promoting the University of Bremen worldwide, the university gains increased visibility and recognition in international academic and research communities. Ultimately, this increases the quality of its academic community and enhances the university's reputation as a leading institution committed to global education and research.

The Ambassadors coordinate local alumni groups, organize regular meetings, and act as liaisons for prospective students and researchers. By promoting University of Bremen vacancies within their networks, ambassadors help attract more international students and scientists to the university in turn.

In sum, the University of Bremen benefits from the program through the interrelated conjunction of having the ambassadors promote the university globally while also providing a contact point in Germany for the ambassadors, their students, and academic colleagues. This connection ultimately enriches the university’s cooperation and partnership landscapes.

Research Ambassador Donald Bruce states that the “role is both an honor and a meaningful opportunity” to advance internationalization by connecting global research communities through academic exchange. It allows the Ambassadors to act as bridge-builders, fostering ties between Bremen and their home countries while empowering foreign researchers to feel welcomed and supported in a new environment. Ambassador Enzo Morosini Frazzon adds that the Ambassadors see themselves as “network facilitators,” helping others forge “strong personal and professional connections” that enrich both individual careers and institutional partnerships. They are motivated by the chance to give back to the German academic community, which has shown them “hospitality and friendship,” as Research Ambassador Krishnendu Chakrabarty finds. Enzo Morosini Frazzon summarises that they help position Bremen as a “premier destination” for students and researchers.

Internationalization is at the heart of their mission, as the role is also deeply enriching on a personal level, allowing the Ambassadors to develop invaluable skills in “intercultural communication, networking, and mentorship,” as Enzo Morosini Frazzon mentions, while staying connected to Germany’s research advances, new initiatives, and academic culture to broaden their perspectives, enhance their own research, and help them become more effective educators and global citizens. Many ambassadors cherish the friendships and professional relationships they have built, viewing these connections as mutually beneficial and long-lasting, as Donald Bruce and Krishnendu Chakrabarty emphasize.

The role also carries a sense of legacy and continuity, as the Ambassadors help to ensure that these valuable relationships endure. They see it as their task to advance internationalization further by cultivating sustainable connections, even as they move into emeritus status and/or subsequently pass on the role to a motivated successor. For them, being a Research Ambassador means contributing to a vibrant, global academic community that fosters growth, discovery, and collaboration transcending borders.