40 years of educational partnership: Bremen and Dickinson celebrate anniversary!

40 years of educational partnership: Bremen and Dickinson celebrate anniversary!

Bremen, Deutschland - On June 3, 2025, the University of Bremen and Dickinson College from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, celebrate a remarkable partnership of 40 years. The celebrations take place in the Bremer Schütting, where the mayor Andreas Bovenschulte, including John E. Jones, President of Dickinson-College, and Dr. Mandy Boehnke, principal of the University of Bremen, welcomed. In his speech, Bovenschulte emphasized the immense importance of freedom of science and student exchange, especially in these challenging times.

"This cooperation is a lively example of international cooperation in the field of education," continued Bovenschulte. John E. Jones also recognizes the partnership and emphasizes the high priority of international education. Prof. Jutta Günther, Rector of the University of Bremen, illustrates how important the exchange and mutual understanding between cultures are. The dialogue is more important than ever in a year that is characterized by challenges.

freedom of science in focus

A central topic of the celebrations is the pressure that universities are exposed to in the United States, in particular through the policy of Trump administration, which was responsible for the suspension of new visas for international students. These developments have been increasingly discussed in recent months, and Bovenschulte demands that the freedom of science have to be secured, also in order not to question the state financing of educational programs.

As part of the freedom of science, various aspects of the current threats and controversies are discussed. The 36th Bremen university talks, organized by the WOC, show how anti-science tendencies, post-factual politics and strategic interventions in the basics of science can endanger a healthy research environment. The participants: Interior about how freedom of science in a wide variety of dimensions-regulative-normative, discursive, economically-can be understood as relevant and threatened.

global networking and responsibility

This discussion not only affects the university landscape, but also on the relationship between university and non -university public. Questions about the public relations work of science, social responsibility and the perspectives of the global south have gained importance. The strategies that are taken to protect freedom of science are crucial to preserve the integrity of education.

At the same time, the [Technical University of Berlin] (https://www.tu.berlin/themen/internationales/fuer-ein-recht-auf-fort- und--und-fortschaftschte- und---und-fortschaftschaftschte- und- science) launched initiatives such as "Scholars at Risk". These programs aim to support students who are in need through international crises. A donation account has been set up to be able to help quickly in acute situations. Financial aid can often be crucial to make it easier for the people concerned to start studying. This shows how necessary a quick and solidarity reaction in times of crisis.

These different approaches and discussions on freedom of science and international exchange illustrate how vital it is that education and research are promoted across borders. The celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the cooperation between the University of Bremen and the Dickinson College are not only an occasion to celebrate, but also an important step towards a common, freer scientific future.