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Academy of International Affairs NRW

The Academy of International Affairs NRW based in Bonn, Germany, is dedicated to the global challenges of the 21st century. The core purpose of the Academy is to foster research at the highest level and promote the growth of international and interdisciplinary networks. The Academy provides its international fellows with time and space to conduct research in a field of their choice. It also gives them the opportunity to interact on a cross-disciplinary basis with other national and international academics and practitioners both within and outside the Academy.

The Academy was initiated by the Minister President of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Armin Laschet. Eminent and high-ranking representatives from academia, the public sector, private entities and the media serve on its advisory boards to support and further develop the Academy and its network.

Website Academy of International Affairs

The Fellowship Programme

The fellows are exceptional and highly qualified academics from various disciplines of the humanities and social sciences who conduct research on issues that fall within the thematic scope of the Academy. They contribute ideas and expertise that help address society’s key challenges; they develop new and innovative research projects, present their findings and discuss their research with colleagues, partners and the public.
 
This group of highly regarded academics from around the globe will have the chance to conduct their research at the Academy on a subject of their own choosing in the field of international affairs for a period of up to one year (two semesters). Applications can also be considered for shorter fellowships upon consultation with the Academy’s management. The declared aim of the Academy’s fellowship Programme is to provide its fellows with access to an established research infrastructure, expand their professional and academic networks and afford them a wide array of insights into the world of German research and scientific advances.
 
The working language at the Academy is English.

Research Fields and Projects

The Academy promotes research and discourse relating to international affairs and global politics. The broad research focus taken by the Academy mirrors the diverse profiles and research interests of its resident fellows. It ranges from security policy, peace and conflict studies, current developments in international and European relations and law, to education, energy security, economic policy and trends in global climate policy. The Academy is open to proposals for projects on advanced and innovative aspects of international affairs that go beyond traditional research activities. Accordingly, fellows represent a broad array of disciplines of the humanities and social sciences. The Academy will determine relevant research themes on an annual basis.
 
The Fellowship Programme not only provides a framework for the fellows’ own research projects; it also provides an environment in which in-depth exchange and networking can take place. Through their intensive interaction, fellows initiate and prepare joint projects that expand and invigorate scientific relations at a national and international level. Activities at the Academy can include public talks, participation in research groups, panel discussions, fireside chats and other dialogue platforms on site or on the premises of partner institutions. The Academy also facilitates exchanges between fellows and business leaders, high-profile media professionals and representatives of the government of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The Fellows

The ideal candidates for the Fellowship Programme are academics with an outstanding international reputation for their research on international and global affairs.
 
Researchers of any nationality and working in a variety of disciplines are eligible for application. Relevant research fields include, but are not limited to, political and economic science, law, history and sociology. The programme is primarily for tenured professors but also accepts aspiring younger academics (minimum postdoctoral level). Fellows have already established distinctive international networks and have made a significant contribution to research in the field of international affairs and to ongoing developments in their field or discipline. Scholarships for shorter stays are awarded to practitioners with professional experience in, for example, policy-making, diplomacy, business, industry or the media. In this case, the fellow’s activities highlight the links between theory and practice.
 
Social skills and interdisciplinary qualifications play a major role in life and work at the Academy. In addition to possessing a high degree of expertise in their particular fields, fellows are able and willing to explore and interact with others beyond the boundaries of their own research interests.

The International Location and the City of Bonn

The German State of North Rhine-Westphalia is well known for its unique and diverse scientific landscape and an extensive presence of the United Nations. Situated in the heart of North Rhine-Westphalia, the international city of Bonn is of great historical importance and remains a symbol for a peaceful Germany and a united Europe. As such, the city of Bonn is an excellent location for the Academy of International Affairs NRW.

wikipedia.org / Matthias Zepper (CC SA 3.0)

Many prominent organisations and relevant stakeholders are located in close proximity to the Academy, providing direct access to many potential cooperation partners and useful facilities. 150 international organisations have their headquarters in the city of Bonn. The city is also the seat of around 20 United Nations agencies with more than 1000 UN staff members. This has made the city the leading German centre for international development cooperation and sustainability. Numerous institutions active in the promotion and facilitation of scientific research, as well as federal ministries, political associations, think tanks and cultural organisations are also located nearby.  

With its 70 institutions of higher education, elite universities, numerous excellence clusters and post-graduate schools, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is a dynamic centre for innovative and top-level research. As a magnet for investors and home to a very dense research network, North Rhine-Westphalia is among the most important regions for science, business and commerce in Europe. 20 of the 50 highest earning German companies are based here. With over 20.000 multinational enterprises from, amongst others, the United States, China, Japan and Europe, and the highest percentage of all foreign direct investments nationwide the region is not only a global player, it is also Germany’s investment location No. 1. The city of Cologne, the most populous city in the state and media capital of Germany is nearby and is easily reached with public transportation. The excellent infrastructure of the state and its central position in Europe make it possible for the fellows to meet up with partners in Berlin, Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam quickly and actively participate in joint projects.