Advancing the University’s diversity and cosmopolitanism
Insights into the work of internationalization manager Raphael Reichel
The University of Tübingen's slogan is “International since 1477.” The University has had a full-time internationalization manager, Dr Raphael Reichel, since 2023. It is his job to further promote the University's international orientation. His work is based on the internationalization strategy (see Uni Tübingen aktuell 4/2021). Its goals include increasing student mobility, recruiting more international employees and expanding global partnerships. To do this, the issue needs to become mainstream, Reichel says. “There is no longer just one institution responsible for internationalization. The topic affects almost all areas of the University.” Reichel says that many different departments are now working on implementing individual internationalization projects. Global research collaborations, for example, are now managed by the Research Division, exchange students by the International Office and new employees by the Welcome Center. Raphael Reichel's job is to maintain an overview.
He is in close contact with the divisions of the central administration, the President's Office - in particular the Vice President for International Affairs and Diversity Monique Scheer - as well as those responsible in the faculties. Many of the faculties now have vice-deans and other officers with a focus on international affairs. Reichel says the discussions with the many different people involved in international topics are often enlightening: “Most of them are constantly facing the same problems.” He is often approached with cross-sectional issues affecting several different areas. For example: How can an English-language transcript of records be generated from ALMA for an application abroad if someone has completed a German-language degree program? The solution to this supposedly simple question would have to be found by those responsible in the faculties, examinations offices and IT. Raphael Reichel sees his job as an important interface: as the internationalization manager, he cannot tackle all the issues himself, but he can usually find the right contacts and bring them together. These various contacts and insights are something Reichel particularly appreciates in his work.
Developing guidelines on multilingualism
With the development of guidelines on multilingualism, he is also to implement a project of his own. “More international students and employees mean that other languages are spoken at the University; not everyone can speak German straight away,” Reichel explains. For these people, more bilingual services are often helpful - whether in online communication, personal advice or on campus, for instance in the signage for buildings. It doesn't always have to be about English, says Reichel, pointing to the University's strong links with France. In addition, multilingualism does not just mean expanding language services. “We also need to create incentives for international students in particular to learn German,” he says. Well-educated specialists have much better chances on the German job market if they speak the national language. Knowledge of German could also make everyday life outside of work easier for researchers from abroad. Accordingly, support services need to be expanded or created here.
To create the guidelines, Raphael Reichel organized workshops in various areas to establish the needs and opinions of the University as a whole, listening to employees from central and decentralized administration, teaching and research as well as communication, with and without an international background. On the basis of these discussions, he is now drawing up a slim set of guidelines to be approved by the Senate.
As an international campus, Tübingen has a lot to offer, says Reichel. You can virtually gain international experience right here, meeting people with different perspectives from your own. Fresh impulses from outside, which sometimes question the established - for him, that is a big plus of internationalization. It also allows you to try out new things, and “in the end it's a win-win situation for everyone.”
Text: Tina Schäfer
Translation: Amanda Crain