Alumni Day 2016
Harnessing the Potential of Former Scholars for International Cooperation
HSF
In his welcome remarks, Federal Republic of Germany Ambassador to the Philippines Thomas Ossowski acknowledged the strong link between Germans and Filipinos that began with Dr. José P. Rizal, the Philippine National Hero, who trained as an ophthalmologist in Heidelberg, Germany in 1886. Talking about German International Cooperation in the Philippines, the German Embassy’s Cultural Secretary, Mr. Thorsten Gottfried, cited the growth of the economic and development co-operation between Germany and the Philippines in 2015.
Dr. Andreas Kalk, Resident Director of the GIZ Regional Office Manila; Mr. Falk Schleicher, Head of the Language Program, Goethe-Institut Philippinen (GI-PH); Ms. Camille Somera, Trade Promotion Officer of the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI); Mrs. Katharina McGrath, Country Representative of DAAD; and, Mr. Ronaldo Limbago, Human Capacity Development and Alumni Coordinator of the GIZ were amongst those who spoke about their respective organisations and programs. Also present were Dr. Klaus Peter Berkermeyer and Ms. Maria Victoria Aledo Fluxa of the GIZ; Dr. Ulrich Novak, Director of GI-PH; Ms. Pauline Sanchez of the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNS) and Ms. Caroline Lee of the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF).
The GI-PH, the GPCCI and the German European School Manila (GESM), along with some of the groups of former scholars, showcased their respective organisations in the “Market Place” segment, introducing their programs and activities or services.
During the event, the former scholars were encouraged to register with the online social network “Alumniportal-Deutschland (APD),” a joint project of German academic exchange and training institutions and economic and development co-operation organisations linking former scholars to Germany, companies and institutions, as well as universities worldwide.
HSF
The results of the open forum that followed, “Way Forward for Closer Linkages between the Alumni and German International Co-operation Organisations,” showed that both the former scholars and members of the business sector recognise the value of German academic exchange and the potential of nurturing contacts through a dynamic network that provides them with opportunities of working together.
The half-day event was attended by more than 90 former scholars who underwent formal and non-formal training in Germany, including members of the Association of Hanns Seidel Foundation Scholars of the Philippines (AHSFSP), Association of United Filipinos Trained in Germany, Inc. (AUFTRAG), Carl Duisberg Association of the Philippines (CDAP), eco-Sustainable Resources Development, Philippines, Inc. (eSURED), Fellows Philippines (HF-P), IAF Alumni Group Philippines (IAF-AGP) of the Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung (FNS), Philippine Association of German Academic Exchange Scholars (PAGAES), Spring International Association of Development Planners–Philippine Chapter (SIADP-P) and University Federation of Educators Linked to Deutschland (UniFELD).
This alumni activity continues the efforts of the German government to harness the potential of former scholars to Germany by supporting the development of a network together with the business sector towards nurturing a sustained relationship that will enable a dynamic exchange of experience, knowledge and expertise.