Celebrating 20 Years of Partnership with Leipzig University

This September, Ohio University and the University of Leipzig celebrate 20 years of partnership in Athens. This is the second part of a two-part celebration. Earlier in June, the first anniversary party was held in Leipzig, Germany. Read about the celebration in Athens and the presidential visit.

Photos from the celebration in Athens
(Photographs by Chris Franz)

The connection between Ohio University and the University of Leipzig is primarily one of research and teaching. The universities have been exchanging students and interns for 20 years. Over 500 students have taken the opportunity to study at the partner university. A number of faculty have participated in the partnership as well. Ohio University has had visiting professors teach, lecture, or conduct research at Leipzig from various schools including the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, the Contemporary History Institute, the Institute of Art History, and the Department of Chemistry.

Various Ohio University programs have also taken part in the Ohio-Leipzig partnership. The Global Leadership Center has had students in their program study abroad in Leipzig. Conversely, Leipzig University students in their American Studies program have studied here in Athens. Another program, the Ohio-Leipzig European Center (OLEC) is an opportunity for Ohio University students to garner their first experience abroad. It is designed as an interdisciplinary program that focuses on modern European topics, usually accompanied with an overlying project, German language courses, and numerous day-trips. One particular OLEC trip documented in 2010 centers around sixteen Ohio University Scripps College of Communication students each producing their own documentary about an issue or topic they researched during their trip. It can be read here.


Documenting the Partnership

Former Ambassador to Germany visits GLC

Former Ambassador Tim Timken (Timken Industries, Canton, OH; former Ambassador to Germany) visited the GLC (Global Leadership Center) on Monday, March 11 to work with GLC students on their current Leipzig/Germany project focused on the "implications of TAFTA." The students found the class exceptional.
View the photo

Other blogs and articles about the Ohio-Leipzig partnership can be explored below:

• OU, University of Leipzig to continue and expand relationship (The Post)
• 20-year partnership celebrated in Leipzig
• Scripps students in Leipzig take a punch (at radio)
• From "The Rock Lobster" to "Faustschlag"
• Another article about the 2010 OLEC trip documentaries

Celebrating at the 20th anniversary party in Leipzig.



OLEC students at the MDR building in Leipzig, with Prof. Steinmetz and Dr. Wildermuth.



OU Students sport Leipzig University shirts while running a 5K.

Leipzig Videos

From Coal Comes Water. A documentary about the transition of Leipzig of former East Germany from an industrial energy producing economy into a more environmentally healthy and recreational community. As proud men of highly regarded jobs in the crown of the GDR left work for the last time they had to find a new place in their communities and new careers to support their families. From the stress of the economic, environmental and geographical transition came a series of new lakes and lives for the people of Leipzig, Germany. This documentary was produced in East Germany during the summer of 2010 at the Ohio Leipzig European Center. Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by: Brian Grady, Andrew McMillian and Max Rodriguez A student production from the School of Media Arts and Studies and the School of Visual Communication in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.



On the Werra (part 1 of 2) presents perspectives from 3 generations of a German family from the smaller village of Berka and their experiences throughout the major political and national changes in recent German history. This documentary was produced in East Germany during the summer of 2010 at the Ohio Leipzig European Center. Written, Produced, Directed and Edited by: Andrew Thomas, Heather Germann, Kyle Ackley and Annette Drapac A student production from the School of Media Arts and Studies and the School of Visual Communication in the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.


On the Werra (part 2 of 2)



Ohio Leipzig European Center program during spring 2009