International Academics Superbly Catered for at Universität Heidelberg
28 October 2010
Heidelberg University is one of the winners of this year’s “Welcome Centres for internationally mobile researchers” competition. The university’s outstanding record in catering for international academics has been honoured with this distinction, awarded jointly by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Deutsche Telekom Foundation and the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft. This success in the competition for cosmopolitan universities comes with prize monies amounting to 10,000 euros.
This year, the distinction was conferred on a total of seven universities. They have all established professional service structures to support visiting academics and plan on further development with a view to figuring among the very best internationally. A jury of representatives from the participating organisations and experts on international academic exchange underlined the status of the prize-winning centres as best-practice models. Structures that sufficiently support international research mobility are essential to ensure that academics from other countries feel welcome in Germany.
The Heidelberg Welcome Centre was an integral part of the university’s institutional strategy in the framework of the Excellence Initiative. It is Heidelberg University’s central information and service institution for international academics. Here they receive information, counselling and systematic assistance with all matters of importance to prepare for their stay and life in Heidelberg – from entry formalities and the housing search, to contact with the authorities and locating a suitable kindergarten. In all this, the Welcome Centre cooperates closely with other university institutions and the local municipal council. In addition, visiting academics and their families receive regular invitations to participate in events and excursions organised specifically for their benefit.
For more information, go to www.zuv.uni-heidelberg.de/international/gawi.html and www.humboldt-foundation.de/web/1073015.html .
Contact
Communications and Marketing
Press Office, phone: +49 6221 542311
presse@rektorat.uni-heidelberg.de
