International

‘Building bridges between Eastern Europe and Bremen’ is the declared goal of the University of Bremen’s new Research Ambassador, Prof. Andrei Yakovlev. Thus, the alumnus and economics professor at the renowned National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow is now one of twelve research alumni of the University of Bremen who promote the university and its research across the globe as ambassadors.

Representatives of the International Office of the University of Bremen normally attend fairs for prospective students once or twice a year and advertise the university by giving presentations at international schools. Or: Groups of prospective students come to Bremen to learn about studying in Bremen right on campus. Yet, little is normal in the time of COVID-19, which is why the International Office, too, had to find new ways of inspiring potential students to attend the University of Bremen.

Dr. Ingrid Rügge, coordinator of the International Graduate School for Dynamics in Logistics, has been traveling to the North of Thailand for a few years in order to support the local universities there in their development of becoming internationally recognized universities.

On the occasion of a trip to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the University of Bremen and the Bremen University of Applied Sciences together embarked on a search for their alumni in Vietnam – and with success.

The idea of Europe is taking shape in one of the first European universities! But what should it look like? What are the priorities - and: how does it influence the region, the economy, society and politics? Close partnership can only succeed with all these actors in dialogue. The University of Bremen therefore invites YUFE, the Young Universities for the Future of Europe, to an open panel discussion on 11 November 2019 at 5 pm.

The President of the University of Bremen, Professor Bernd Scholz-Reiter, has been voted president of the YERUN network. “Together we are more visible and can stand up for teaching and research on a European level. Moreover, YERUN is allowing us to strengthen the scientific cooperations within Europe,” said Professor Scholz-Reiter. The network with its 17 members aims to give young universities a voice in Europe.

The public event series ‘Diversity @ Uni Bremen’ this year is dedicated to the topic ‘International Prospects and Challenges.’ Under the slogan ‘Diversity @ Uni Bremen… goes YUFE,’ colleagues of the YUFE alliance will debate visions and challenges of our universities in the framework of a panel discussion on November 27, 2019 between 3:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Mensa.

It has almost become tradition: In the run-up of the Open Campus event, the University of Bremen again invited their Research Ambassadors from all over the world in order to discuss new developments and strategic projects together with the university rectorate.

The demands on teachers have changed. Unlike thirty years ago, a diverse student body is normality today. When dealing with students (and their parents) from different countries of origin, future teachers need inter- and transcultural competences that allow them to become a teacher who is sensitive to diversity.

Next to the promotion of student and employee mobility within Europe, the Erasmus program each year offers means for cooperation with other universities outside of Europe.

This year will see the appointing of three new Research Ambassadors. A total of ten Research Ambassadors represent the University of Bremen in their respective home countries, promote the research they conducted here, and are contacts for interested researchers and students.

In January 2019, the program of the U Bremen Excellence Chairs launched at the University of Bremen, which fosters and strengthens core scientific areas as well as international cooperation with expert visiting professors.

130 visiting students from European and non-European partner universities began their studies at the University of Bremen this summer semester.

The International Office of the university supported them with settling in in Bremen in a three-week orientation before the semester started.

On March 27, the Members of the Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) met for their biannual General Assembly in Antwerp. The network, which has been established a few years ago, is in consolidation after an active and vivid development phase.

The universities of Bremen and Cardiff are entering a strategic partnership. It is their goal to promote joint research activities and collaboration in the areas of media and communication sciences, marine sciences, literature, social sciences, and history.

The University of Bremen is connected to seven European universities in the Young Universities for Europe Alliance (YUFE). On February 28, 2019, the proposal was submitted to the European Network Universities, a program initiated by the French president Macron.

The International Office of the University of Bremen supports the network of international student communities with their ‘kompass’ project. There are currently communities from about seventeen different countries. Since 2017, new communities have come up for Ghana and Guinea. Newly established communities traditionally present their home at a ‘culture night,’ hosted by the Protestant Student Community (ESG). Culture nights are of great interest among students – and having 100-150 participants is not uncommon. This was also the case at Culture Night Ghana and Culture Night Guinea this summer semester.