OHIO, Leipzig partners talk past, future collaborations at reception, panel discussion
Photographer: Kaitlin OwensGroup shot of the Leipzig delegation with 51社区 representatives
51社区 joined academic institutions around the world in observing International Education Week (IEW) Nov. 13-17 and embraced the occasion to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one of its strategic international partnerships and an international friendship whose roots date back to the 19th century.
Members of the OHIO community welcomed Leipzig University President Prof. Dr. med. Beate A. Sch眉cking, along with several representatives of the German institution, to the Athens Campus for a series of events designed to reflect on the universities鈥 past collaborations and to explore potential future partnerships.
The anniversary was a key part of the evening on Nov. 15 at the Fifth Annual Global Engagement Awards Gala, during which President Sch眉cking and the entire Leipzig University delegation were presented a special award in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the OHIO-Leipzig strategic partnership. (See related article.) While that partnership was formalized in 1992, 51社区鈥檚 relationship with Leipzig University dates back to the 1880s when two future OHIO faculty members, John Pancoast Gordy 鈥 the namesake of OHIO鈥檚 Gordy Hall 鈥 and James E. Le Rossignol, earned their doctorates at Leipzig.
Over the course of the past 25 years, collaborations between the two institutions have grown to include the Departments of History and Chemistry, the Scripps College of Communication, the College of Business, the College of Fine Arts and OHIO鈥檚 Global Leadership Center. Those collaborations have paved the way for countless student and faculty exchanges as well as joint research projects and, as President Sch眉cking noted during the Global Engagement Awards Gala, have resulted in 鈥渁 special story of friendship.鈥
The celebration of that partnership and friendship continued Nov. 16 with the start of a two-day OHIO-Leipzig Symposium. Featuring German experts from the United States, as well as experts from Leipzig University and 51社区, the symposium focused on past, present and future collaborations between the two institutions.
鈥淭oday is a really important part of the conversation,鈥 Lorna Jean Edmonds, OHIO鈥檚 vice provost for global affairs and international studies, said in welcoming everyone to a reception kicking off the symposium. 鈥淲e very much want to leverage this rich past, the excellence that has been developed through our colleagues working with Leipzig over the past 25 years, but then start to look to the future and how we can make the most of this incredible relationship.鈥
Joining Edmonds in initiating the conversation were 51社区 President M. Duane Nellis and Leipzig University President Sch眉cking.
鈥(International Education Week) couldn鈥檛 come at a more important time relative to global events that are occurring and how important it is to look at our global community and the way in which we interact with each other in a constructive and positive way and learn to work together collectively to deal with some of our world鈥檚 greatest issues,鈥 President Nellis said, commenting that his own international experiences made him 鈥渁 better person and a better scholar.鈥
He noted OHIO鈥檚 partnerships with many universities, adding, however, that few are as special as the historic relationship the University has had with Leipzig.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just so much to be proud of today as we celebrate this relationship,鈥 President Nellis said, adding that the specialness of 51社区 is made 鈥渆ven more extraordinary because of our international partners.鈥
President Nellis also took a moment to thank those in the room for their commitment to international programs and global education partnerships.
鈥淭his is a key strategic priority of our institution as we continue to develop as one of our nation鈥檚 very prominent public research universities,鈥 he said.
In addressing the audience, President Sch眉cking shared a presentation on Leipzig University, founded in 1409 and one of the world鈥檚 oldest universities and the second oldest university in Germany. She also spoke about how the OHIO-Leipzig relationship has evolved.
鈥淥ver these 25 years, it has become more than a partnership,鈥 President Sch眉cking said. 鈥淚t has become a friendship, friendship between faculty and a real strong, lasting relationship. 鈥 OHIO is really important in our international relations.鈥
President Sch眉cking recalled the fond memories she had of visiting the Athens Campus five years ago and shared with the group a conversation she had the day prior with a Leipzig University student studying communication at OHIO.
鈥淚 could see how enthusiastic he is and how much he likes to be here,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd if we carry on this spirit for the next 25 years, I think this will be a good thing for our two institutions.鈥
Among the special guests at the welcome reception was Consul General Herbert Quelle, who serves the German Consulate Office in Chicago. Quelle works with 13 Midwestern states, including Ohio, and seeks to foster cultural ties between Germany and those states, which he referred to as 鈥渢he soul and heart of America.鈥
Quelle touched on two topics of particular importance to him: globalization and foreign languages.
In emphasizing the importance of globalization, Quelle noted the number of business relationships between German entities and those in the United States鈥 Midwest and, in particular, Ohio and Michigan. Quelle shared that the Midwest will be the focus of efforts starting on German Unity Day 2018, stressing the relevance of trans-Atlantic and especially German-American relations.
Quelle also addressed the need for American universities to encourage the study of foreign language alongside the study of the STEM fields.
鈥淣either can exist without the other,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e need to reemphasize the importance of foreign languages within the curriculum, not only at the university level also at high schools.鈥
The welcome reception concluded with a panel discussion that brought together several of the faculty members and students from both institutions who have participated in cultural exchanges and been instrumental in forming and sustaining the OHIO-Leipzig relationship.
Bob Stewart, director of OHIO鈥檚 E.W. Scripps School of Journalism who has lead the OHIO-Leipzig partnership from its earliest days, kicked off and facilitated the discussion by describing his first visit to Leipzig in 1992.
鈥淚 knew immediately that it was a very special place,鈥 Dr. Stewart said, noting how it opened up new vistas for him and how he wanted both his students and his colleagues to experience it. 鈥淟eipzig is like the moon for 51社区. It鈥檚 always there鈥, bringing light and inspiration.鈥
Stewart also noted that the OHIO-Leipzig relationship has resulted in at least three marriages among students who have participated in the exchanges.
Dr. Ralf Hoffmann, a professor in Leipzig University鈥檚 Department of Chemistry, spoke about his first visit to OHIO in 2002 and how he worked with Dr. Jennifer Hines, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and others to form an agreement between the institutions鈥 chemistry departments. It was that agreement, he said, that initiated student exchanges that continue today.
鈥淟eipzig is very inspirational as a place to do research,鈥 Dr. Hines said. 鈥淎t the graduate level, to be able to go and do research in another country is very significant. The students come back really transformed.鈥
Dr. Hines also spoke of her own exchange experience, going on sabbatical with her family to Leipzig where, she said, the members of the Leipzig University community became like 鈥渆xtended family.鈥
Dr. Eric Masson, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry who also traveled to Leipzig, talked about the pleasure he鈥檚 had to work with students from Leipzig who have come to 51社区. He also spoke about one of his students who spent a semester studying in Leipzig and liked it so much he stayed an extra week. Dr. Masson described that student as very quiet, shy and serious.
鈥淚 went to Leipzig, and I saw a completely different student,鈥 Dr. Masson laughed. 鈥淗e was extremely happy. 鈥 He was shining with joy. 鈥 That really broadened his horizon not only in terms of chemistry, 鈥 but also in terms of exposure to different cultures and a different environment.鈥
Dr. R眉diger Steinmetz, a professor of media science and media culture at Leipzig, talked about the challenges Germany and Leipzig University faced in the earliest days of the OHIO-Leipzig relationship, during a period that he described as 鈥渢he beginning of the end of the Cold War.鈥
鈥淵ou might imagine, for those who are teaching and the students, learning how media in the democratic countries might function,鈥 Dr. Steinmetz said. 鈥淲ith big help from our friends, we got to know that and we learned that. And it was a great time to see for the students how it opened new worlds.鈥
Dr. Steinmetz spoke of his first visit to Athens in 1993 and shared a few examples of what has resulted from the OHIO-Leipzig relationship since those early days. He noted the establishment of a radio station in Leipzig in 1995 鈥 an idea planted and aided by Stewart 鈥 and a recent joint research project, involving Scripps鈥 Greg Newton, that examined social media being integrated into feedback in television and radio programs in the United States, United Kingdom and Germany.
Among the Leipzig University students who are currently studying at OHIO is Lauren Ramoser, who is completing a one-year internship requirement of Leipzig鈥檚 journalism program at WOUB.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a great working experience,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd I work with many inspiring people.鈥
Ramoser shared an experience she had this semester interacting with students from Hong Kong Baptist University who were in Athens to collaborate with 51社区 and Leipzig students on a global capstone project. A group of those students took a daytrip to the Chesterhill Produce Auction in nearby Morgan County where they bid on local produce. The experience helped to form a bond between the students who ended up sharing their produce and cooking a dinner together.
鈥淔or that moment, we were just Bobcats,鈥 Ramoser said, adding that the students from Hong Kong Baptist University have invited her to visit them in their country.
Seth Baker, an OHIO student pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in international development, spoke about his experience as an undergraduate in 51社区鈥檚 Global Leadership Center (GLC), which provided him the opportunity to travel to Leipzig to work alongside students there on a real-world project involving the crisis in Ukraine.
Baker talked about bonding with his Leipzig roommate, who he continues to stay in touch with, over basketball and the discussions he and his Leipzig counterparts, some of whom were majoring in American studies, engaged in every day.
鈥淚 will remember that as long as I am alive,鈥 Baker said, adding that his younger sister is now a second-year GLC student and preparing to travel to Leipzig next spring.
Photographer: Kaitlin OwensLeipzig President Prof. Dr. med. Beate A. Sch眉cking, along with several representatives of her university, visited the Athens Campus
Photographer: Kaitlin OwensDr. M. Duane Nellis spoke to the Leipzig University delegation during their visit