From the variety of international opportunities supported by a.r.t.e.s. since 2010 arises the “a.r.t.e.s. international – for all” initiative that finds place in the framework of the IPID4all programme (International Promovieren in Deutschland – for all). The programme, promoted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), encourages international scholars’ networking due to funded events like conferences, study trips, summer schools, and doctoral workshops. All doctoral students can apply for funding in this project: both doctoral students of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Cologne who take part in the Regular Track or in one of the structured doctoral models and doctoral students from foreign universities. We talked to Prof. Dr. Birgit Hellwig, who is a member of the grants committee, about the “a.r.t.e.s. international – for all” programme.
a.r.t.e.s. Graduate School: Dear Prof. Dr. Hellwig, since 2015 you have been a member of the “a.r.t.e.s. international – for all” grants committee. Which reasons motivated you to join it?
Prof. Dr. Birgit Hellwig: During my own doctoral studies, I was lucky to receive generous funding that enabled me to conduct fieldwork, to present my research at conferences and to interact with international peers and senior colleagues. I am convinced that these opportunities had a considerable impact on my development as an independent researcher. Through “a.r.t.e.s. international – for all” I now have a chance to help others enjoy similar opportunities. It offers the opportunity for Cologne students to go abroad, and for international students to come to Cologne – allowing for face-to-face interaction, gaining valuable international experience and – hopefully – forging long-term relationships with the various hosts and facilitating cooperation that go well beyond the current doctoral project.