Allgemein

Award ceremony of the “Konstanzer Konzilspreis” postponed to 2022

The event planned for 10 December has been cancelled due to the current pandemic situation

 

(Constance, December 2021)

The "Constance Council Prize. Prize for European Encounters and Dialogue" will be awarded in 2021 to Prof. Dr Sigrid Rieuwerts from the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz. With this award, the Board of Trustees of the Constance Council Prize, at the suggestion of this year’s patron, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, honours Dr Sigrid Rieuwerts’ remarkable commitment to numerous cross-border educational projects and cultural relations as well as the promotion of tolerance and intercultural understanding. Scotland's first female First Minister is herself a convinced European and advocate of these European values.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“So many individuals and organisations are doing excellent work to promote European engagement and unity, which made choosing a winner immensely challenging.

“Dr Rieuwerts’ work to promote student exchange, particularly through the excellent GET-SET-GO scheme, has made a significant difference to the lives of young people in Scotland and Germany.

“Freedom and human dignity are both core values of the European Union, which the Scottish Government shares intrinsically. They are inherent in Dr Rieuwerts’ efforts to promote cross-border culture through the Scotland Hub in Mainz and to help German and Scottish students engage with refugees and embrace the opportunities and challenges Europe has to offer.”

The 2021 recipient of the "Constance Council Prize" has been a lecturer in the English Department at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) since 1997 and her focus in teaching and research is primarily on Scottish history, culture and literature. Dr Rieuwerts’ research has received several awards in Scotland, including a Fellowship of the Royal Society in Edinburgh. She was appointed “Commissioner for Scotland” by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in 2020. She founded the "Scotland Hub" at JGU, a platform to promote German-Scottish relations and the understanding and appreciation of Scotland's history, culture and languages in Germany. Among other things, Dr Rieuwerts has taken on the supervision and management of a translation project with Scottish artists and writers (invited by the Cultural Foundation of Rhineland-Palatinate), and launched the cultural webinar series "Reading Scotland", which facilitates a dialogue between researchers, creative artists and an interested public in Scotland and Germany.

Dr Rieuwerts was also instrumental in the signing of the partnership agreement on education, science and culture between Scotland and Rhineland-Palatinate in March 2021. As early as 2012, she initiated the GET-SET-GO programme in cooperation with the German Consulate General in Edinburgh. This places around 25 student teachers as German language assistants in Scottish schools each year and invites Scottish students to Rhineland-Palatinate to participate in school placements or projects promoting diversity, tolerance and inclusion. In addition, Dr Rieuwerts and her team organise numerous intercultural projects such as "Global Outreach - Global Citizen" (GO-) programmes for Scottish and German students dealing with socio-political issues such as migration or climate change.

"I am also very pleased on behalf of the City of Constance that we have been able to win Dr Sigrid Rieuwerts and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as two outstanding personalities and committed advocates of European values for the Council Prize. It is a great honour for me to welcome both of them to Constance next year and to be able to honour their commitment," said Lord Mayor Uli Burchardt.

Due to the current pandemic situation and drastically increasing infection numbers, the organisers have decided to postpone the public presentation of the Council Prize until 2022.

Originally, the event was to take place on 10 December 2021. A new date for the award ceremony will be announced in due time.

For further information see: www.konstanz.de/konzilspreis.

 

 

The Constance Council Prize

The City of Constance and the Constance Council Association are committed to the European idea with the Constance Council Prize and continue the idea of the anniversary "600 Years of the Council of Constance". The "Konstanzer Konzilsspreis. Prize for European Encounters and Dialogue" is awarded to individuals or initiatives who have made a special commitment to a Europe of encounters and have contributed to the dialogue on Europe and its future. The prize was initiated by a board of trustees committed to Europe and comprising personalities from politics, business and society.

 

The sponsorship model of the Constance Council Prize provides for a Europe-wide known sponsor to nominate a prize winner who is committed to European encounters and dialogue, thus helping him/her to gain greater publicity. The Constance Council Prize is endowed with 10,000 euros and has been awarded every two years since 2015. The prize winner also receives a sash as a distinction, which is woven from five ribbons to symbolise the diversity of Europe. The sash is unique: the names of the sponsor and the laureate are embroidered on the occasion of each award, so that the ribbon becomes a testimony to European commitment over time.

 

 

The previous patrons and award winners:

2019      First President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy awards Mohamed El        Bachiri.

2017      Reinhard Cardinal Marx awards Prelate Dr Peter Klasvogt.

2015      Writer Adolf Muschg awards theatre-maker Milo Rau.

 

 

Press Contact:

Mandy Krüger

Stadt Konstanz | Pressereferat

Tel. +49 7531 900-2612

mandy.krueger@konstanz.de | www.konstanz.de

 

 

Preisverleihung des Konstanzer Konzilspreises auf 2022 verschoben

Die für den 10. Dezember geplante Veranstaltung wurde aufgrund der aktuellen Pandemielage abgesagt.

(Konstanz, Dezember 2021) Der „Konstanzer Konzilspreis. Preis für Europäische Begegnungen und Dialog“ geht 2021 an Privatdozentin Dr. Sigrid Rieuwerts von der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. Damit würdigt das Kuratorium Konstanzer Konzilspreis auf Vorschlag der diesjährigen Patin, Schottlands First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, den bemerkenswerten Einsatz von Dr. Sigrid Rieuwerts für zahlreiche grenzüberschreitende Bildungsprojekte und kulturelle Beziehungen sowie die Förderung von Toleranz und interkulturellem Verständnis.

Frau Dr. Sigrid Rieuwerts ist seit 1997 Dozentin für englischsprachige Literaturen und Kulturen an der Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz und lehrt und forscht zur schottischen Geschichte, Kultur und Literatur. Mehrfach wurde ihre Forschung in Schottland ausgezeichnet, so u.a. durch ein Fellowship der Royal Society in Edinburgh. Sie gründete den „Scotland Hub“ an der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU), eine Plattform zur Förderung der deutsch-schottischen Beziehungen und dem Verständnis der schottischen Geschichte, Sprache und Kultur in Deutschland. So hat Frau Rieuwerts u.a. die Betreuung und Leitung von Übersetzungsprojekten mit schottischen Künstler:innen und Schriftsteller:innen der Kulturstiftung Rheinland-Pfalz übernommen oder auch die kulturelle Webinarreihe "Reading Scotland" ins Leben gerufen, die einen Dialog zwischen Forscher:innen, Kulturschaffenden und einer interessierten Öffentlichkeit in Schottland und Deutschland ermöglicht.

2020 folgte ihre Ernennung zur "Schottlandbeauftragten" der JGU, in deren Auftrag sie  maßgeblich an der Unterzeichnung des Partnerschaftsvertrags zwischen Schottland und Rheinland-Pfalz beteiligt war. Schon 2012 hatte sie in Abstimmung mit dem deutschen Generalkonsulat in Edinburgh das GET-SET-GO-Programm initiiert, das jährlich rund 25 deutsche Lehramtsstudierende als Sprachassistent:innen an schottische Schulen vermittelt sowie schottische Studierende nach Rheinland-Pfalz einlädt, um an Schulpraktika oder Projekten zur Förderung von Vielfalt und Integration teilzunehmen. Darüber hinaus organisiert Dr. Rieuwerts mit ihrem Team zahlreiche Projekte wie z.B. GO (Global Outreach) - Global Citizen Programme für schottische und deutsche Studierende, die sich mit gesellschaftspolitischen Themen wie Migration oder Klimawandel beschäftigen.

"Ich freue mich auch im Namen der Stadt Konstanz sehr, dass wir mit Dr. Sigrid Rieuwerts und First Minister Nicola Sturgeon zwei herausragende Persönlichkeiten und engagierte Verfechterinnen der europäischen Werte für den Konzilspreis gewinnen konnten. Es ist mir eine große Ehre, beide im kommenden Jahr in Konstanz begrüßen zu dürfen und ihr Engagement würdigen zu können“, so Oberbürgermeister Uli Burchardt.

Vor dem Hintergrund der aktuellen Pandemielage und drastisch steigenden Infektionszahlen haben sich die Organisator:innen dazu entschlossen, die öffentliche Verleihung des Konzilspreises auf 2022 zu verschieben. Ursprünglich sollte die Veranstaltung am 10. Dezember 2021 stattfinden. Über einen neuen Termin für die Preisverleihung wird rechtzeitig informiert. Weitere Informationen gibt es unter www.konstanz.de/konzilspreis.

 

Der Konstanzer Konzilspreis

Die Stadt Konstanz und der Konstanzer Konzilsverein engagieren sich mit dem Konstanzer Konzilspreis für den europäischen Gedanken und führen die Idee des Jubiläums „600 Jahre Konstanzer Konzil“ fort. Mit dem „Konstanzer Konzilspreis. Preis für Europäische Begegnungen und Dialog“ werden Personen oder Initiativen ausgezeichnet, die sich in besonderer Weise für ein Europa der Begegnung einsetzen und einen Beitrag zum Dialog über Europa und seine Zukunft leisten. Initiiert wurde der Preis durch ein für Europa engagiertes Kuratorium, dem Persönlichkeiten aus Politik, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft angehören.

Das Patenmodell des Konstanzer Konzilspreises sieht vor, dass ein/e europaweit bekannte/r PatIn eine/n PreisträgerIn, der/die sich für europäische Begegnungen und Dialog engagiert, ernennt und ihm/ihr auf diese Weise zu größerer Öffentlichkeit verhilft. Der Konstanzer Konzilspreis ist mit 10.000 Euro dotiert und wird seit 2015 alle zwei Jahre verliehen. Der oder die PreisträgerIn bekommt zudem als Auszeichnung eine Schärpe überreicht, die aus fünf Bändern geflochten ist, um die Vielfalt Europas zu symbolisieren. Die Schärpe ist ein Unikat: Die Namen von PatIn und PreisträgerIn werden bei jeder Verleihung eingestickt, so dass das Band mit der Zeit zu einem Zeugnis für europäisches Engagement wird.

 

Die bisherigen PatInnen und PreisträgerInnen:

2019      Erster Präsident des europäischen Rates Herman Van Rompuy zeichnet

Mohamed El Bachiri aus.

2017      Reinhard Kardinal Marx zeichnet Prälat Dr. Peter Klasvogt aus.

2015      Schriftsteller Adolf Muschg zeichnet Theatermacher Milo Rau aus.

 

 

 

 

Pressekontakt:

Mandy Krüger

Stadt Konstanz | Pressereferat

Tel. +49 7531 900-2612

mandy.krueger@konstanz.de | www.konstanz.de

 

 

 

4 March 2021
Rhineland-Palatinate and Scotland sign Declaration of Intent on cooperation in education, culture, higher education and research

Scotland and Rheinland-Pfalz have a long-shared history of lively cooperation in the field of education, culture, higher education and research. We are delighted to see an even closer partnership agreed today!

In his speech, the JGU President Professor Krausch said:

"Although the University of Mainz is the driving force in Scotland-related activities here, all of our universities, educational institutions, research centres and technical universities in Rhineland-Palatinate place great value on international partnerships and on exchange in particular.

A long-standing friendship is surely a firm basis for further cooperation going forward. I very much look forward to strengthening our academic, cultural and education cooperation with Scotland in the future."

The JGU press department has published the following article:

Rhineland-Palatinate and Scotland intend to intensify their collaboration in the fields of education, culture, higher education and research. Representatives of the two governments have signed a corresponding joint Declaration of Intent. The aim is to expand research cooperation, facilitate language learning and intercultural dialogue, strengthen collaboration in education and teacher training, and promote exchange between artists, school children, trainees, students and academics.

"It is incredibly important for school pupils to be able to exchange ideas with children and young people their age from other countries. They will benefit from these experiences in their own language learning as well as in terms of their school careers as a whole. These are encounters they will be able to draw on for the rest of their lives. The exchange is of course also invaluable for our teaching degree students who are invited to work in Scottish schools. I am therefore extremely pleased that we are intensifying our cooperation with our Scottish partners," said Rhineland-Palatinate Minister of Education, Dr Stefanie Hubig.

Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, John Swinney, said: "I am very pleased that we have signed this agreement, which will help us further strengthen cooperation between Scotland and Rhineland-Palatinate in particular in the areas of education, language learning and culture. We look forward to working closely with Rhineland-Palatinate to develop a programme of cultural events and support the cultural and educational outreach work of the Scotland Hub at the University of Mainz.”

The lynchpin of Rhineland-Palatinate–Scotland relations is the Scotland Hub at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU). As early as 1981, a Scotland focus was established at Mainz University; today, JGU maintains official partnerships with seven Scottish universities. Further cooperation is planned, especially in the field of teacher training. In research, the relationships extend across a wide range of disciplines and are particularly active in the humanities, law and physics. The Scotland Hub at JGU serves as a platform for Scottish culture in Germany, and the university last year appointed PD Dr Sigrid Rieuwerts as its own "Scotland Commissioner". Many of the existing collaborative activities and projects can be attributed to her commitment. For example, she initiated the "GET-SET-GO" programme for student teachers, which sends German Educational Trainees from JGU as well as the University of Koblenz-Landau to Scottish schools as language assistants for one semester. In the field of culture there are also joint projects with the Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural Foundation, for example at the artists’ residences of Schloss Balmoral and Edenkoben, which offer residential fellowships to international artists and writers.

"Education, academia and culture all thrive on exchange. They are successful when people exchange ideas, discuss positions and learn from each other. I am therefore very pleased that we will be expanding our existing partnerships," said Professor Konrad Wolf, Rhineland-Palatinate Minister for Science, Further Education and Culture. "Exchange and cooperation with Scotland make our universities even more attractive. We can open up important perspectives here in research and teaching for our students, academics, and also for our artists."

Scottish Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead, said: "I very much welcome this agreement, which will support intercultural exchange and help us to continue higher education and research cooperation with universities in Rhineland-Palatinate despite the challenges of Brexit. I am also delighted that the German Academic Exchange Service has selected Mainz University’s cooperation with Scotland as a model project for the internationalisation of teacher education."

In July 2019, initial talks between Rhineland-Palatinate and Scotland took place with the aim of intensifying the relationships between the two states. Organisational and content-related issues were discussed in subsequent meetings. In November 2019, Dr Denis Alt, State Secretary at the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science, Further Education and Culture, paid a first official visit to Scotland. At the invitation of the German Federal Foreign Office he spoke at the "GET-together" for German teachers in Scotland, a symposium hosted annually by Mainz University in Edinburgh. Ben Macpherson, the then Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development, attended on the Scottish side.

"The existing GET-SET-GO programme is an excellent example of mutually beneficial cooperation," emphasized JGU President, Professor Georg Krausch."The students at the participating schools in Scotland benefit from German lessons supported by young, dedicated native speakers, while our students gain valuable experience abroad and in teaching. They convey the German language, history and culture in a lively and authentic way and thus paint a modern picture of Germany, which in the best-case scenario can motivate Scottish pupils to participate in a school exchange or study in Germany."