HAI members in North America
HAI in North America - the network in Canada, the USA and Mexico, a region with which there are traditionally strong transatlantic links
Heidelberg is a city with strong, long-standing connections to the USA, which are visible everywhere: numerous institutions and cooperations in business and culture are committed to German-American relations. There are also many points of contact at the university: Institutes, research groups, exchange programs and the university's branch office in New York contribute significantly to intensifying this connection. The international appeal extends far beyond the USA. The university is also strongly networked in Canada and Mexico and maintains exchange programs and partnerships there. This close connection has resulted in a large and loyal community of alumni in North America, which actively contributes to international dialog and cultural networking.
USA
Scholarships from US alumni
Heidelberg University Association works together with alumni and the transatlantic community to support study at Heidelberg University for students and teachers. Most of our scholarships are funded by donations from our community, and we are proud to make opportunities available to as many individuals as possible through our scholarship programs.
The alumni club Heidelberg Alumni U.S. (HAUS) was founded in 2008. Through the umbrella organization Heidelberg University Association, HAUS enjoys the tax-exempt 501(c)3 status of a non-profit organization. The Heidelberg University Association office in New York serves as the liaison between HAUS and HAI at Heidelberg University. It coordinates alumni activities in the US and also provides logistical and administrative support for HAUS. HAUS is led by the Leadership Committee (LC), consisting of six HAUS members and Heidelberg University Associations Executive Director. The LC plans the activities and strategies of HAUS. The national alumni club is also divided into regional chapters to allow members to meet and interact at the local level. Some regional chapters cover entire states, while others focus on individual metropolitan areas. Like some other international alumni groups, HAUS also operates a regional chapter in Heidelberg to establish and integrate contact with American exchange students directly during their time at the university.
HAUS offers its members a variety of activities, events and opportunities to get involved. Each fall, all HAUS members are invited to the Annual National Meeting, the nationwide networking event held at different locations throughout the United States. In addition, the regional chapters organize a wide variety of events, from professional to cultural to social activities. HAUS has set up a scholarship program for young American students: HAUS scholarships enable HAUS members to study at Heidelberg University through their financial support.
HAUS means a piece of Heidelberg in the USA - and a piece of the USA in Heidelberg. Would you also like to contribute to this strong transatlantic connection and be part of HAUS? We look forward to hearing from you!
Do you know other alumni of Heidelberg University who come from or live in the USA and are not yet part of HAUS or HAI? Then get them excited about HAUS! Do you have suggestions and ideas or would you like to become active in HAUS yourself? Then send us an e-mail, we look forward to hearing from you: haus@alumni.uni-heidelberg.de
85% of HAI members in North America currently live in the USA. Of these, the vast majority - almost 93% - were in Heidelberg to study and only a small proportion, around 7%, for research. In terms of both study and research visits, the humanities are clearly in first place with 59%, followed by the natural sciences (11%) and medicine (10%) in second and third place by a wide margin. In total, 6.7% of all HAI members live in the USA - the largest number of HAI members outside Germany.
Currently, in Canada live around 8.6% of HAI members from North America. The majority, over 90%, came to Heidelberg University to study, the others for a research stay. More than half of the students were enrolled in the humanities, followed by the natural sciences and then medicine and politics & economics. Among researchers, the natural sciences are in first place, followed by mathematics & computer science in second place and the humanities in third place.
The interdisciplinary alumni initiative Heidelberg Alumni Canada (HACA) was launched in 2009 by alumni of Heidelberg University in Canada. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated local alumni, the group has organized itself across the country - given the size of Canada and the distribution of alumni, regional chapters have emerged in Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and Toronto, offering various events and activities in their region alongside updates from Heidelberg. As HACA wants to develop its program together with its alumni, we always welcome your ideas and support. Send us your suggestions for future topics and activities, or feedback on what we have offered so far. Of course, we would be particularly pleased if you would like to become actively involved in our network!
Do you know other alumni of Heidelberg University who come from Canada or live there and are not yet part of HACA or HAI? Would you also like to be on the mailing list for your region? Or do you live in an area where there is no regional group yet and would like to start a regional chapter? Then simply send us an e-mail - we look forward to hearing from you: haca@alumni.uni-heidelberg.de
Heidelberg University's first links to Mexico were established as part of the “Support Initiative for German Schools Abroad and Partner Schools” (BIDS). Heidelberg alumni in Mexico with good relations to the local school and education system supported the university in establishing BIDS school partnerships. This gave rise to the desire to become more involved with the university and to establish a Heidelberg Alumni Club in Mexico, following the example of other countries. Thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated HAI members in Mexico, Heidelberg Alumni Mexico (HAMEX) was founded in 2010. Over time, three regional chapters were established in Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey, enabling networking and activities at a regional level.
Between 2010 and 2020, HAMEX members were offered numerous opportunities in a wide variety of formats: from spontaneous local meetings, to regular meetings of the regional chapters, to the annual national meetings, there was a lot on offer in Mexico. Two special events were the Pan-American Alumni Meetings in 2012 and 2014, at which HAI members from North and South America were hosted by HAMEX to intensify trans-American alumni work.
In addition to a varied range of events, HAMEX has also succeeded in setting up a unique pilot program: “HAMEX offers internships”. HAMEX alumni offer internships to Heidelberg students from all disciplines in Mexican institutions where they work or have good contacts. Started as a pilot in Mexico, this program was later expanded to France and Germany.
Has HAMEX sparked your interest? Do you know other Heidelberg alumni in or from Mexico? Then get them excited about HAMEX! Do you have suggestions and ideas or would you like to become active for HAMEX yourself? Then send us an e-mail, we look forward to hearing from you: hamex@alumni.uni-heidelberg.de
Our HAI members in Mexico are made up of around 88% former students and almost 12% former researchers - the highest rate in North America! Scientists come to Heidelberg for research activities in the humanities and natural sciences at about 1/3 each, followed by 1/6 in medicine in third place. Among students from Mexico, medicine takes first place with almost 30%, followed by the humanities with 20%, and law and social and cultural sciences in third place with 13% each. With 6.3% of North American HAI members, Mexico is the smallest player alongside the USA and Canada.
