HAI members in Europe
HAIe in Europe - the cradle of Heidelberg University's international alumni work
It all started with Greece: in 2002, the first official Heidelberg Alumni Club was founded on European, indeed international, soil. Following this example, alumni in other European countries also developed a desire for a nationally organized structure to maintain contact with Heidelberg University. Thanks to the tireless efforts of a number of HAI members, the next official European alumni clubs were founded in Luxembourg in 2006, France in 2008, Hungary in 2010 and Italy in 2011. In some other countries, the focus was more on looser structures, so that in 2014 in the UK, 2015 in Belgium and Turkey and 2023 for Ukraine, online groups for nationwide exchange and networking became the main focus. All networks are as colorful and diverse in their forms and content as the countries they represent - a wonderful diversity of Heidelberg throughout Europe.
However, the HAI network in Europe does not only consist of the countries mentioned with groups or clubs. Heidelberg alumni currently live in almost all European countries, even in very small countries such as Liechtenstein or Malta. In addition, alumni work is not limited to activities within the respective national borders; there are always activities that transcend national or even regional borders, such as a BeNeLux meeting in the early 2000s or various trips by the alumni clubs to friendly clubs within Europe.
Table
Northern Europe
Denmark . Estonia . Finland . Great Britain . Ireland . Iceland . Latvia . Lithuania . Norway . Sweden
Western Europe
Austria . Belgium . France . Germany . Liechtenstein . Luxembourg . Monaco . Netherlands . Switzerland
Eastern Europe
Belarus . Bulgaria . Moldova . Poland . Romania . Russia . Slovakia . Czech Republic . Ukraine . Hungary
Southern Europe
Albania . Andorra . Bosnia and Herzegovina . Greece . Italy . Croatia . Malta . Montenegro . North Macedonia . Portugal . San Marino . Serbia . Slovenia . Spain . Vatican City
With more than 12,500 members, Germany is the largest member group not only in Europe but in the entire HAI network. The figures for Germany have therefore not been included in the Western Europe section in order to provide a better illustration of the other countries. An overview of the national HAI network can be found via the link provided.
Overall, the largest number of network members (over 80%) live in Europe. This high percentage also includes all members based in Germany. In terms of regional distribution, 5% are based in Northern Europe, 82% in Western Europe, 4% in Eastern Europe and 9% in Southern Europe. Just under half of HAI members in Europe were at university for a stay in the humanities, 12% in the natural sciences and 10% in the social and cultural sciences.
