Film Series on Topics from the Excellence Initiative
What effects did Germany’s Excellence Initiative have on RWTH Aachen University? What opportunities did it create, in particular for young researchers? Did the research activities initiated as part of the Excellence competition live up to the promise of addressing the global challenges of our time? These and other questions are answered by the new film series on the Excellence Initiative at RWTH Aachen.
Seven short films provide insights into the strategic and structural changes at the University effected by the Excellence Initiative. Professors Stefan Pischinger and Christian Brecher present research results from the Clusters of Excellence Tailor-Made Fuels from Biomass and Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries, while Professor Marek Behr and Dr. Nicole Faber introduce the activities of the AICES graduate school. Professor Frank Scheider, Director of JARA-BRAIN, highlights a number of achievements of the Jülich Aachen Research Alliance, JARA for short.
In conversation with Jens Tervooren, RWTH rector Ernst Schmachtenberg explains that “the Excellence Initiative has provided a real boost to RWTH Aachen.” In the interview, he optimistically looks forward to the upcoming national Excellence Strategy competition – in April, the University submitted its draft proposals for future Clusters of Excellence.
With its "Place to Be“ measure from the 2nd Institutional Strategy, as Vice-Rector Doris Klee explains, the University seeks to attract and retain international high-profile researchers, for example by providing excellent research conditions for junior researchers and by promoting the provision of a family-friendly working environment.
Furthermore, as RWTH Chancellor Manfred Nettekoven highlights, RWTH Aachen as a University of Excellence has a lot to offer to the City of Aachen and the Aachen region.
The film series is a joint project by the AixIni Team, the Department of Press and Communications, a film team led by Wisam Zureik, and journalists Helga Hermanns und Jens Tervooren. The project received friendly support from the Media for Teaching service unit.