Press release: Electronic services for foreign research alumni

Nr. 7/2012 - 30.01.2012

Alexander von Humboldt Foundation honours Göttingen University’s concept

(pug) In the ideas competition entitled “Research alumni of universities in Germany”, the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation bestowed honourable mention upon the University of Göttingen, among others, for its research alumni concept. To supplement its already successful alumni work, the university is planning to offer electronic services to visiting foreign scientists. A special “eResearch Portal” is designed to merge data and liaisons from the university and from non-university institutions affiliated with the Göttingen Research Campus. The university aims to give foreign researchers opportunities for continuing education in eResearch. In addition, visiting scholars receive online access to the electronic resources of the Göttingen State and University Library.

Further development in the area of eResearch is part of the University of Göttingen’s internationalisation strategy and one of the key points of the institutional strategy the university submitted in its grant application for the Second Programme Phase of the Excellence Initiative. “Moreover,” explains Professor Hiltraud Casper-Hehne, Vice President for Research and International Affairs, “Göttingen University's institutional strategy confers a special role to research alumni.” “We intend to nominate excellent international academics as alumni ambassadors. We hope that they will promote Göttingen University abroad and facilitate contacts with top foreign universities.”

“Research alumni” are those foreign scientists and scholars who conduct research for a period of at least 6 months at a German university and then leave the country following their stay. At the end of the competition, “Research alumni of universities in Germany” organized by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the jury awarded prize money for three concepts. The University of Göttingen’s concept finished just behind the top three and therefore received a non-monetary award. The award ceremony took place Thursday, January 19th, 2012, at the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s New Year’s Reception in Berlin. Further information can be found online at www.humboldt-foundation.de.

Contact:
Prof. Dr. Hiltraud Casper-Hehne
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Vice President of Research and International Affairs
Wilhelmsplatz 1, 37073 Göttingen, phone: +49 (0)0551 39-4320
Email: hiltraud.casper-hehne@zvw.uni-goettingen.de
Internet: www.uni-goettingen.de/en/110984.html