Starting in September, Sabine Sparwasser, currently Germany’s ambassador to Canada, will head the renowned Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs, in which people from a wide range of disciplines work together to find solutions to global challenges. Sparwasser will implement the new overarching theme “Europe in the World 2030 – Sustainable Visions for an Inclusive and Secure Future” with 20 fellows. University graduates with professional experience can apply from now until June 15, 2024.
In her long career as a diplomat, Sabine Sparwasser has also headed the German Foreign Service Academy for the training and further education of Federal Foreign Office staff. This has given her important experience in developing top talent. With her, the 2009 established joint project of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation and Stiftung Mercator, in cooperation with the Federal Foreign Office, has once again gained an experienced and esteemed diplomat who will successfully develop the Fellowship with her expertise in international cooperation and individual development of young leaders.
Sparwasser’s predecessor, former German ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth, has played a key role in shaping the Fellowship (known in German as Mercator Kolleg für internationale Aufgaben, Short: Mercator Kolleg) since 2011. He has accompanied more than ten cohorts, and established numerous personal dialogues and contacts. “Klaus Scharioth was a crucial contributor to the Kolleg. We always found it enriching to work with him and greatly benefited from it”, said Dr. Wolfgang Rohe, Chairman of the Executive Board of Stiftung Mercator, paying tribute to the outgoing dean. “We are very pleased that Sabine Sparwasser, one of his colleagues, is taking on this special task and bringing her diverse international experience to the Mercator Kolleg”, added the Secretary General of the Studienstiftung, Dr. Annette Julius. Both thank Klaus Scharioth for his extraordinary commitment and excellent cooperation.
“I am delighted that Sabine Sparwasser will be my successor. I am sure she will be an outstanding dean”, says the current dean Klaus Scharioth. “The decision-makers of tomorrow will have to prove themselves in a world in which global challenges are interdependent and mutually reinforcing”, explains Sabine Sparwasser. The Mercator Kolleg aims to prepare the fellows to recognize and break through these chains of effects. “Klaus Scharioth is leaving a rich legacy to the Kolleg and its alumnae – and it is my duty to follow his example.”
New focus for the Mercator Fellowship
With Sabine Sparwasser as dean, the Mercator Kolleg is entering a new phase: Under the thematic focus “Europe in the World 2030 – Sustainable Visions for an Inclusive and Secure Future”, the renowned Kolleg is looking for forward-thinking and committed individuals for 2025. The immense challenges of multiple global crises require to work together across sectors and address highly diverse social contexts. The Kolleg is responding to these changing conditions by inviting university graduates to apply who already have practical experience. They should be prepared to work on an inclusive and secure future with a high degree of willingness to learn, cooperate and bring their knowledge and perspectives to business, administration, international organizations and NGOs. The joint seminar phases serve to promote networking and exchange among the fellows and offer the opportunity to work together on current international issues and identify approaches for positive change.
Within one year, the fellows can gain international experience and insights into previously unknown topics. In this way, the Mercator Fellowship on International Affairs promotes intersectoral competence, thinking in scenarios and the ability to change perspectives. Participants undergo intensive training and seminars on topics such as diversity competence, mediation, and negotiation. In this way, they acquire the skills to help shape inclusive concepts of international realignment in leadership positions in the future.
Vita
After studying Romance and English philology as well as political sciences, Sabine Sparwasser initially worked as a freelance journalist for ZDF before joining the Foreign Service in 1985. This was followed by posts in Brussels, London, Bonn, Berlin, Ottawa, and Costa Rica. From 1999 to 2002, she was Deputy Spokesperson of the Federal Foreign Office, and from 2015 to 2017 Special Representative of the Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan. From 2014 to 2015, Sparwasser was also head of the Foreign Service Academy, where she was responsible for the training and further education of Federal Foreign Office staff.
Application
The individually designed, worldwide practical phases offer the fellows great freedom to pursue issues of their choosing. These practical placements are framed by three joint seminar phases at the beginning, middle and end of the year. In a framework of regular meetings, the fellows grow together as a group and contribute their experiences and expertise from different institutions and disciplines to the exchange on the fellowship topic. University graduates from all disciplines with professional experience can apply for one of the 20 scholarships. During the fellowship year, they receive a basic monthly grant of 2,200 euros as well as generous additional funding for staying abroad or participating in language courses, further training, conferences, and coaching. Graduates from all disciplines and sectors with one to ten years of professional experience can apply until June 15, 2024. All further information on the application requirements and the application process can be found here: https://www.mercator-kolleg.de/en
MEDIA CONTACTS
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Georg Walther |Team Communications
T+49 228 82096 352 | walther@studienstiftung.de
Stiftung Mercator
Lothar Kuhn | Director Communications
T +49 201 245 22 36 | lothar.kuhn@stiftung-mercator.de
CONTACTS FOR PROGRAM RELATED QUESTIONS
Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes
Katharina Seibel
T+49 228 82096 380 | seibel@studienstiftung.de
Stiftung Mercator
Teresa Spancken
T +49 201 245 22 747 | teresa.spancken@stiftung-mercator.de
ABOUT STUDIENSTIFTUNG
The Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes is the oldest and largest organization for the promotion of talented students in Germany. Mainly financed by public funds, it provides financial and non-material support to talented and committed students and doctoral candidates. The Studienstiftung is characterized by the diversity of its scholarship holders. They represent the entire spectrum of political, religious and ideological attitudes within the framework of democratic values. The Studienstiftung’s statutory mission is to promote “the higher education of young people whose high academic or artistic talent and personality give reason to expect special achievements in the service of the general public.” The Studienstiftung currently supports around 13,900 students and 1,400 doctoral candidates.
ABOUT STIFTUNG MERCATOR
Stiftung Mercator is a private, independent, and non-profit foundation that acts on the basis of scientific expertise and practical project experience. Since 1996, it has been advocating for a society based on solidarity and participation. To this end, it supports and develops projects that improve participation and cohesion in an increasingly diverse community. Stiftung Mercator stands up for a cosmopolitan, democratic Europe, a digital transformation of state and society based on fundamental rights, and socially just climate change mitigation. Stiftung Mercator pursues activities in Germany, Europe and worldwide. It feels particularly connected to the Ruhr area, home of its founder’s family and the foundation’s headquarters.