EUGENE, Oregon (Sep. 3, 2013) -- A delegation of 12 representatives from the state of Baden-Württemberg in Germany will visit the University of Oregon on Sept. 6, to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Oregon University System (OUS) and Baden-Württemberg exchange program.
The program is a cooperative exchange program that has facilitated the study and research abroad of more than 1,500 students from OUS institutions and German institutions including the University of Tübingen, University of Heidelberg, and University of Freiburg.
The delegation will visit OUS institutions, including Portland State University, Western Oregon University, Oregon State University and UO, to meet with key faculty to discuss existing projects and explore new opportunities, including dual certifications between institutions and graduate programs.
“The Office of International Affairs, UO administration and faculty from across campus look forward to meeting with our colleagues from Germany to discuss the expansion of our transatlantic collaborations and the internationalization of our educational mission,” said Dennis Galvan, UO vice provost for international affairs.
The leader of the delegation of representatives from universities in Baden-Württemberg is Jürgen Walter, State Secretary at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research, and the Arts, which oversees higher education in the state.
“Our long-standing partnership with the Oregon University System is an important part of Baden-Württemberg’s international academic relations. The 45-years-anniversary is a welcome opportunity to celebrate this successful collaboration and explore ways of expanding it,” said Walter, an alumnus of the exchange program who studied at the UO in 1981-82.
In the past five years, more than 150 UO students have participated in the exchange program to gain cultural and linguistic competencies, as well as credit towards majors and minors in a variety of fields. Approximately a third of all participants study German.
One participating student was Jessica Montgomery, a junior at the UO and double major in psychology and German. She spent a year studying at the University of Tübingen. She is currently completing a summer internship at the Rheingold Institute of Qualitative Market and Media Research in Köln.
“I was lucky enough to be awarded the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship, which not only introduced me to international researchers and their work, but also allowed me to follow my passion of conducting cultural psychological research,” said Montgomery.
In 2002, the OUS and Baden-Württemberg Exchange Program was awarded the Cooperation Prize from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Each year, students who participate in the exchange have the opportunity to apply for the prestigious DAAD student scholarship.
During the 2013-14 school year, Chas Barnard from the UO School of Music and Dance, and current recipient of the DAAD scholarship, will attend the State University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart.
“While abroad, I plan to continue my cello studies with Professor Claudio Bohórquez and collaborate musically with students from around the world who attend Musikhochschule Stuttgart,” said Barnard, who attributes his success to his academic training and the mentorship of UO Professor Steven Pologe.
About the UO Office of International Affairs
The Office of International Affairs (OIA) and its Global Studies Institute are committed to advancing the global engagement and mission of the University of Oregon. OIA works collaboratively with universities, agencies, partners, investors, and programs worldwide to foster academic exchange, transdisciplinary research, and international cooperation.
Media Contacts:
Chakris Kussalanant, Office of International Affairs, Chakris@uoregon.edu, 541-346-2411
Dorothee Ostmeier, Department of German and Scandinavian and Folklore Studies, ostmeier@uoregon.edu, 541-346-4245
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