2008 Woodie Awards
UW-L partners with Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Germany
Mary Malahy
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News
In an attempt to increase international relations, University of Wisconsin - La Crosse has formed an official partnership with Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, located in Frankfurt, Germany.
According to Bjorn Bergman, UW-L Student Association Vice-President, the idea for the partnership began last fall when he and Fred Ludwig, Student Association President, were in Europe.
Bergman and Ludwig traveled through Europe last November and met with various student governments.
"We connected especially well with the student government at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University," Ludwig said.
Bergman explained when he and Ludwig returned from Europe, they met with the Student Association and passed a resolution making the partnership between UW-L and Johann Wolfgang Goethe University official.
According to the Student Association website the resolution reads, "in times of globalized economies and supranational state politics we conceive a partnership as a means to cooperate in order to face shared and collective challenges."
"What we're hoping is that this will develop an international exchange between student governments," Bergman said.
Another goal is to institutionalize the relationship they have already started so it doesn't fade away, Ludwig added.
Bergman said this is the first time a UW school has formed a partnership with a school abroad.
"This may be the beginning of starting more international student government dialogue," Bergman added.
According to Bergman two students from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University visited La Crosse for 10 days in April and learned about how UW-L is run.
"We have a lot of similar issues but at a same time there are a lot of different issues," Ludwig said. A major difference is that their students are unable to talk to their Chancellor or administration Bergman said. The students are not listened to or taken seriously he added.
The German students were impressed by the way UW-L students are able to communicate with administration and that the administration listens to them Bergman said.
"Their students have to fight just to be recognized by their administration," Ludwig said. "They were very surprised by how open we are with our administration here."
The students in Germany do not have to pay for their education Bergman said. In the past German Parliament has completely paid for it but recently have begun requiring students to pay €500 a semester.
Bergman explained this is a major issue for the students at our partner school.
"The students are outraged about the fee," Bergman said. "They have made a court case against it."
Ludwig explained that the students have to go to court in order to express their viewpoints because the administration does not listen to them.
The Student Association hopes to continue this relationship and continue to send their President and Vice President to Germany every year.
According to Bjorn Bergman, UW-L Student Association Vice-President, the idea for the partnership began last fall when he and Fred Ludwig, Student Association President, were in Europe.
Bergman and Ludwig traveled through Europe last November and met with various student governments.
"We connected especially well with the student government at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University," Ludwig said.
Bergman explained when he and Ludwig returned from Europe, they met with the Student Association and passed a resolution making the partnership between UW-L and Johann Wolfgang Goethe University official.
According to the Student Association website the resolution reads, "in times of globalized economies and supranational state politics we conceive a partnership as a means to cooperate in order to face shared and collective challenges."
"What we're hoping is that this will develop an international exchange between student governments," Bergman said.
Another goal is to institutionalize the relationship they have already started so it doesn't fade away, Ludwig added.
Bergman said this is the first time a UW school has formed a partnership with a school abroad.
"This may be the beginning of starting more international student government dialogue," Bergman added.
According to Bergman two students from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University visited La Crosse for 10 days in April and learned about how UW-L is run.
"We have a lot of similar issues but at a same time there are a lot of different issues," Ludwig said. A major difference is that their students are unable to talk to their Chancellor or administration Bergman said. The students are not listened to or taken seriously he added.
The German students were impressed by the way UW-L students are able to communicate with administration and that the administration listens to them Bergman said.
"Their students have to fight just to be recognized by their administration," Ludwig said. "They were very surprised by how open we are with our administration here."
The students in Germany do not have to pay for their education Bergman said. In the past German Parliament has completely paid for it but recently have begun requiring students to pay €500 a semester.
Bergman explained this is a major issue for the students at our partner school.
"The students are outraged about the fee," Bergman said. "They have made a court case against it."
Ludwig explained that the students have to go to court in order to express their viewpoints because the administration does not listen to them.
The Student Association hopes to continue this relationship and continue to send their President and Vice President to Germany every year.
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