Break away from familiar thought patterns
Fifty scholarship holders from Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft, representing 24 German universities and twelve countries, met in Berlin from January 30 to February 1, 2026. The workshop weekend offered plenty of opportunity for exchange, new contacts, and inspiration for academic development.
Peter-André Alt, Managing Director of Wübben Stiftung Wissenschaft, and Program Manager Oda Henckel opened the event. “Breaking the Ice” formats ensured a lively start and quickly got the participants, who study a wide range of 19 different subjects, talking – both professionally and personally.
The second day was devoted to scientific presentation. In the workshops “How to pitch my research topic?” and “How to give a research lecture?” trained the scholarship holders to structure their research clearly and communicate it comprehensibly. Practical exercises and interdisciplinary feedback were very well received. A highlight was the improvisational theater evening “Curious Minds Make a Difference.” The format challenged participants to abandon familiar patterns of thinking, react spontaneously, and adopt new perspectives. Many found this change of perspective surprisingly enriching.
The event laid the foundation for long-term networking among scholarship recipients across disciplines. The foundation plans to further expand the non-material support program. The focus is on information and exchange formats for promotional channels, financing options in this phase, and prospects for academic careers – supplemented by references to suitable advisory and networking services.
Further information about the Wübben Foundation Student Grant can be found here.