New Vice President Internationalisation

Why did you want to become VP Internationalisation, Equal Opportunities and Diversity?
On the one hand, because of the perspective. As a member of the university management, you get to know the university from a new perspective, gain insight into other departments, see higher-level connections and need strategic foresight for the overall structure. This change of perspective broadens one's own horizon of knowledge, helps break down subject-specific thought patterns and presents one with new challenges. I find that extremely appealing and even worthwhile. On the other hand, because the office gives me the chance to work for the university on a new level. Staying at the University of Bayreuth was a very conscious and well-considered decision for me a few years ago. I made it that way because I have experienced incredible support and openness for these topics here with my research focus and my projects. I would like to give something back.

What is the first thing you want to do in your new office?
The question should rather be: Where is the need greatest? Taking care of the Internationalisation, Equal Opportunities and Diversity departments is certainly not a no-brainer at the moment, especially due to the political circumstances, so you have to be realistic. Nevertheless, thinking in perspective and acting creatively, addressing and answering questions, if possible before someone else from outside the UBT asks them, and developing concepts for the current challenges: for this you need foresight, a comprehensive overview, but ultimately also feedback on very concrete needs. I therefore think that the very first thing I have to do is create the structures for the necessary dual track - acute points on the one hand, creative action on the other. Then, ideally, the two tracks will even converge at some point. 3.

Where do you see a need for change or further development?
This question follows on directly from the previous one. Today, science compliance, for example, must take into account not only ethical and legal factors, but also political and social factors, especially in questions of internationalisation and diversity. To think and act in a balanced, differentiated and precise manner - even on highly contentious issues or in crisis situations - is in my view one of the greatest strengths of good scientists. We still do not make ourselves (and others) sufficiently aware of the social signal effect that science, research and teaching can have as a result. The new Bavarian higher education law also contains guidelines and important mandates for the universities on the topics of my departments. These must also be filled with life.

What should be preserved and strengthened in your VP area?
In recent years, many things have been created and grown in the departments. My predecessor Thomas Scheibel and the teams of the service units have built up many things that now need to be continued and further developed in difficult times. The fact that the UBT is so successful on the international stage, for example, is the result of many years of work and today a supporting pillar of our excellent reputation - also within Germany! A number of new projects are currently underway, especially with our international strategic partners, which are essential for this and which must be driven forward. In the diversity area, which has been completely redesigned in recent years alongside the equal opportunities area, many structures have only just been created. These must be further differentiated and streamlined so that we can make even better use of potential synergies, better reach the individual persons and groups of persons concerned and thus set an example both regionally and internationally. 5.

For scientists, such offices are always an additional task. How do you combine research and vice-presidency?
Hopefully, I am very fortunate not only to be able to combine my research (and teaching) with the office, but even to benefit from some of my research foci while holding the office. For example, compliance issues are increasingly coming into the focus of politics and the public, also for universities, especially in cooperation projects with international partners. The same applies to dealing with foreign relations, critical destinations, but also certain groups of people. I also deal with issues of this kind from a professional perspective and I look forward to contributing my expertise here.