Thomas Fetzer who is vice president for strategic planning, internationalization and equal opportunity at the University of Mannheim is looking forward to advancing the European network ENGAGE.EU. “International exchange is near and dear to me as it opens our minds and allows us to change perspectives. In these difficult times, we can all the more see how important the European community is. For it to thrive we need committed initiatives such as ENGAGE.EU who devote themselves to societal challenges. I strongly believe that joint actions cannot only lead us to a path for finding solutions to these challenges but also to a sustainable way to pursue them.”
Fetzer thanks his colleague Dirk Simons for his brilliant work. He took a leading role in building the alliance and shaping it for a successful future. In spite of the turbulent times in the face of lockdowns and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, ENGAGE.EU has mastered the rocky start and established new curricula, research cooperations and an international community. Dirk Simons’ work was a big part of this achievement.
“I believe in the European idea. This is why I founded the European university ENGAGE.EU. It was my goal to vitalize the European higher education sector and pool international research cooperations. I was able to lay a foundation together with numerous committed team members. Now, I have the honor to pass the baton to Thomas Fetzer, and I am convinced that there is no better successor than him. ENGAGE.EU is all about people, who strive for goals they wish to achieve. And we will achieve these goals.”