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On October 21, 2008, the Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS), a joint 5.6 million euro federally sponsored "Excellence Initiative" project of the University of Bremen and Jacobs University, celebrated its official opening. Addressing the 250 guests from science, business, and politics, the former president of Viadrina university and political scientist Prof. Dr. Gesine Schwan praised the new graduate school as an excellent place of study and research for young researchers who understand that academic and career responsibilities have both international and transdisciplinary perspectives.
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"Democratic elite formation works only when the societal foundation is kept as broad as possible. The basis for elites, too, cannot be a narrow 'corps de esprit' in one field of expertise, but should be founded on a "top performance" ability of understanding other cultures and diverse perspectives and of communicating beyond ones own cultural, academic and professional background," said Gesine Schwan in her key note lecture on 'Elites and Democracy' in the Bremen city hall. "The Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences has committed itself, through breadth of education, internationality, supportive scholarships and intensive mentoring, to enable its fellows to transcend their own disciplinary perspective," Schwan praised BIGSSS' contribution to a democractic process of elite formation and education.
The ceremony had been opened by BIGSSS Dean, Prof. Dr. Steffen Mau. He was happy to be able to officially launch BIGSSS, where 22 graduate students from 11 nations have been studying since September. Prof. Dr. Wilfried Müller, Rector of the University of Bremen, and Prof. Dr. Joachim Treusch, Jacobs University President, reinforced in their speeches their pride in the successful start to the joint graduate school. The two universities have proven themselves in many joint projects as a strong and successful team where, specifically for the humanities and social sciences, their cooperation has led to a truly international appeal for Bremen as a center of science and research.
"BIGSSS was without question my first choice," says Ekaterina Uglanova from St. Petersburg, who spoke on behalf of the first class of BIGSSS students. Integrated within the context of "Life-Course and Lifespan Dynamics“, as a psychologist, she feels that her research project here to be thematically in good hands and well cared for. "Especially important for me, in addition to professional competence, and the international orientation of the curriculum, is the exchange with colleagues which is decisive in the contribution BIGSSS' international perspective," Uglanova said .
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Bremen International Graduate School of Social Sciences (BIGSSS) |
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The umbrella theme of BIGSSS is »The Future of Social and Political Integration«. The program of the Graduate School comprises six main themes from the political and social sciences as well as social and developmental psychology. A center for methods in the social sciences will round out the program. BIGSSS provides scholarships for about 20 doctoral fellows per year plus additional post-doc positions. Jacobs University provides one of the vice deans and will also be responsible for designing and organizing the research and teaching focuses »Attitude Formation, Value Orientations and Cultural Change« and »Life Course Dynamics« as well as the methods center. Furthermore, numerous scientists from Jacobs University will contribute to research and teaching.
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Excellence Initiative 2007 |
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The Excellence Initiative was set up in 2005 by the German government and the federal states. It provides three supporting funds: »Graduate Schools«, »Excellence Cluster« and »Future Concepts«. Until the year 2011 1.9 billion euros will be available to internationally accentuate the excellence of German research and to stimulate a quality-oriented competition among German universities. 2007 is the second decision round. The grant committee reviewed 44 proposals for graduate schools, 40 proposals for excellence cluster, and 8 proposals for future concepts, coming from 35 universities.
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