As of Fall 2012, IACM students, as well as students from other specializations in the MA of Politics and Public Administration program will be able to take part in an exchange semester at the University of Waterloo in Canada. Students from Konstanz will be included in the MA of Global Governance (MAGG) program at the University of Waterloo. As the University of Waterloo works in cooperation with Wilfrid Laurier University and the Center for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) through the Balsillie School of International Affairs (BSIA) and  MAGG program, students will also be given the unique opportunity to take courses in the MA of International Public Policy (MIPP) program at Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as to take part in a fellowship at CIGI during their 6-month stay.

The primary objective of the exchange is not focused on the completion of a certain number of credits during the exchange, but instead on putting students into contact with policy-oriented institutions as well as think tanks in order to give them some insight into the work carried out there. CIGI could be considered to be one of the most important think tanks of the Canadian government and therefore, receives a large amount of financial support, although its work is completely independent. Furthermore, the BSIA can be described as a perfect example of a public-private partnership supported by the government of Ontario, Jim Balsillie (Co-CEO of Research in Motion, RIM) and the Canadian government as a whole.

The time spent at Waterloo should help students develop ideas for their Master thesis and establish contact with many interesting scholars, who may help them in the future. For example, James G. Blight, Janet M. Lang and David A. Welch, who were strongly involved in the scientific conception and filming of “Fog of War” and “Virtual JFK” to name a few. Also, diplomats and practitioners such as Jorge Heine, a Chilean diplomat and friend of Nelson Mandela, are employed at the various institutions in Waterloo.

If you are interested in participating in the exchange, please contact the IACM-Coordinator at IACM[at]uni-konstanz.de or the MA-Coordinator for the Department, Werner Palz, at ma.polver[at]uni-konstanz.de.

The application period for an exchange beginning fall term is always the 1 February within that same year.