Platform for encounters – the International Club as sponsor

The International Club offers a central platform for meetings between international guests of the University, their families and IC members. Unfortunately, none of its major events were able to be held throughout summer 2020 due to the pandemic, meaning the IC executive committee had to cancel many annual favourites with a heavy heart. Nevertheless, the IC executive committee members regularly held virtual consultations and strove to maintain contact with guest researchers, at least by telephone. Yet virtual meetings certainly cannot be a permanent substitute for personal contact.

The executive committee of the International Club with joint-chairs Susanne Höllbacher (l.) and Mavie Schäfer (2nd from left), treasurer Irmingard Dorau (2nd from right), and secretary Susanne Haupenthal (right). The executive committee will be in office until February 2021.

In its deliberations, the IC has decided that it will remain active as a sponsor with two German scholarships in the 2020/21 academic year. And it goes without saying that the IC will once again provide the University of Bayreuth with annual prize money of € 1,200 to be awarded to an outstanding young international researcher. The framework for the award is the President's Dinner, which traditionally takes place in the run-up to the Dies Academicus - however, the 2020 President's Dinner has had to be postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic.