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Research Alumni Conference Germany November 27 – 29, 2013, Berlin

(last update: 27 June 2013)

Please note that this programme is subject to change.

Programme Research alumni relations have only recently become the focus of attention at German universities. Different traditions of alumni work, the state of the arts at German universities, the issue of multiple alumni identities, ways of establishing and maintaining networks and creating win-win-situations between alumni and their institutions will be issues at the centre of the conference. Target group 1. Future research alumni nominated by German universities that have successfully

participated in the contest “Research Alumni Strategies” or received an award or an honorary mention in the preceding contest “Idea Competition Research Alumni”; for more information: www.research-alumni.de/strategies

2. Representatives of the administration of the German universities mentioned under 1, in particular persons supporting research alumni, the “research alumni advisors”.

Participation by invitation only. Conference language English Conference hotel and venue The Westin Grand Berlin, Friedrichstraße 158 – 164, 10117 Berlin, www.westingrandberlin.com Organizer The conference is organized by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Context

The conference is a constituent part of the collaborative project “International Research Marketing” which is a joint initiative by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. All the activities within the project are part of the “Promote Innovation and Research in Germany” initiative under its brand “Research in Germany”. The initiative is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

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PROGRAMME

Wednesday, 27 November 2013 from 4:00 p.m. Registration at the Westin Grand Berlin

7:00-9:30 p.m.

Welcome Dinner Welcome by the Secretary General of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Dr. Enno Aufderheide After-dinner-speech: Trends in international research collaborations Successful careers in research increasingly take place on an international level and through collaboration. New competitive research markets have entered the stage. New ways of planning careers in research, new patterns of recruitment, mobility and publishing have emerged. The after-dinner-speech is to set the scene of successful international research careers on a global level – these are the careers that the participants of the conference are engaged in. Lesley Wilson, Secretary General, European University Association (EUA), Brussels

Thursday, 28 November 2013 Moderator of the day: N.N. from 8:00 a.m. Registration

9:00 a.m.

Welcome and goals of the day Dr. Enno Aufderheide, Secretary General, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn Dr. Klaus Uckel, Director, Division Basic Policy Issues, Internationalization Strategy, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Bonn

9:15-9:35 a.m. 9:35-9:45 a.m.

Keynote address: Perspectives on Alumni Relations While alumni relations are a relatively new field for German universities, especially concerning research alumni, there are long traditions of alumni work in English-speaking countries. Goals of successful alumni work, strategies and instruments, the art of building and maintaining alumni networks will be at the centre of the speech – as well as particular national, cultural and institutional contexts that form the basis. Christine Fairchild, Director of Alumni Relations, Oxford University Questions

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9:45-10:15 a.m. 9:45-10:00 a.m. 10:00-10:15 a.m.

Panel 1: Staying connected with Germany Germany as a place for cutting-edge research: Major developments and characteristics of the German research landscape Over the last decade major changes have taken place in the German research landscape. While many countries of the world have had to cut research budgets, Germany has continued to invest, which has led to improved research conditions, more competitiveness and has increased Germany´s international appeal. The presentation will give a bird´s view on major milestones and present-day hallmarks of Germany as a place for highly qualified researchers. Questions Dr. Ulrike Albrecht, Head of Department Strategy and External Relations, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn

10:15-10:45 a.m. Coffee break

10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Panel 1 continued: Staying connected with Germany Funding opportunities for continuing research collaborations Germany is interested in attracting highly qualified scientists and scholars from abroad. Many of the research alumni present are carrying out their research under the auspices of one of the funding schemes offered by German science funding or performing organizations for “inbound” researchers. However, Germany is also interested in continuing to support research collaborations after an initial research stint. The panel will focus on the following issues: What funding programmes are available for research alumni after

their initial stay in Germany to continue research collaborations? What are the funding programmes that research alumni can inform a

younger generation of researchers about? Representatives of the following research funding and research performing organizations will briefly introduce their organizations and then discuss the above-mentioned questions: Dr. Barbara Sheldon, Head of Division Strategic Planning, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn Dr. Sebastian Fohrbeck, Director DAAD New York, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Dr. Jörg Schneider, Head of Division International Affairs and Acting Director DFG Office Japan, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Natalie Percsy, International Business Development, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Munich Dr. Caroline Krüger, Promotion of young and early-stage researchers, International Networking, Helmholtz Association, Berlin Dr. Almuth Wietholtz-Eisert, International Relations, Career Advancement, Leibniz Association, Berlin Dr. Berthold Neizert, Head of Department of Research Policy and International Relations, Max Planck Society, Munich

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12:00-12:30 p.m.

Questions Moderator: Dr. Ulrike Albrecht

12:30-1:30 p.m. 1:00-1:30 p.m.

Lunch break Meet the funders

1:30-2:00 p.m. 1:30-1:50 p.m. 1:50-2:00 p.m.

Panel 2: Staying connected with Europe Funding opportunities for continuing research collaboration Researchers from abroad can increasingly also turn to European organizations for sources of funding. With the start of “Horizon 2020”, the new funding frame of European research for the next seven years, even more opportunities are available. The panel will introduce the European Research Council and the funding schemes offered with a special focus on how international researchers may participate. Dr. Theodore Papazoglou, Head of Unit for the Support to the Scientific Council, European Research Council, Brussels Questions Moderator: Dr. Ulrike Albrecht

2:00-3:30 p.m. Panel 3: Research alumni as multipliers: contexts, instruments, materials The research alumni present will be divided into four groups according to subject field in order to discuss the following questions: 1. How is the situation of researchers in your country? Are young

researchers aware of Germany as a place to carry out cutting-edge research? What do you think would be important in order to attract young researchers from your country to Germany?

2. What could you as research alumni do in order to inform a young researcher?

3. What would be your wishes to your German host university? How could a useful collaboration between German host university and research alumni be arranged?

4. Are the materials provided for supporting activities of research alumni useful?

Break-Out Sessions 1: Moderator: Prof. Dr. Dieter Bimberg ML, Executive Director, Center of NanoPhotonics, Technische Universität Berlin 2: Moderator: Prof. Dr. Uwe Gellert, Department of Educational Science and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin 3: Moderator: N.N. 4: Moderator: N.N.

3:30-4:00 p.m. Coffee break

4:00-4:30 p.m. Report from the break-out sessions and conclusion Moderator: Dr. Ulrike Albrecht

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4.30-6.00 p.m.

Meeting of research alumni advisors (in German) The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation assumes that there is an interest within the new group of “research alumni advisors” to start a network and exchange ideas and experiences. Topics of interest, potential contexts and formats will be discussed. Moderator: Dr. Barbara Sheldon

5:45 p.m.

Walk to the dinner location from the conference hotel for research alumni (research alumni advisors will follow later)

6:00-6:30 p.m.

Guided tour of the „Gendarmenmarkt“ for research alumni The Gendarmenmarkt (close to the dinner location) is one of the most prominent locations in Berlin – full of history and stories. English-speaking tour guides will point out the attractions in a 30-minute tour.

6:30-9:30 p.m. Conference dinner at the restaurant “Gendarmenmarkt”

Friday, 29 November 2013: Departure