After ten years in Berlin, Ann Kathrin Schubert has moved back to the village where she grew up near Bremen in Lower Saxony. Since last September she has been reorganising the university's central Alumni Office.
You are relatively new to the University of Oldenburg – how would you describe your first few months here?
Schubert: I find the atmosphere very open and respectful. I also like being around people who are curious and creative. I sometimes wish I lived in Oldenburg because I would like to attend more of the evening lectures and concerts at the university and draw inspiration from them.
Is the university new as a working environment for you?
I worked in the foundation sector for more than twelve years, ten of them in Berlin. I always worked directly with the university that established the foundation – so I already had a good idea of what kind of work environment I could look forward to here.
Were you also responsible for the alumni there?
Not directly – but I developed support programmes for the alumni of the university and the foundation as part of my job, so I was always in close contact with their alumni managers.
What are your plans for the alumni work at the University of Oldenburg?
At the moment I'm trying to get an overview of the existing decentralised services and network with the people who manage them. After that I plan to get in touch with the alumni themselves and find out what their requirements are. This is the only way we can develop events and activities that are relevant and fit in with different life situations – such as networking events or mentoring programmes. The task over the next few years will be to build up an active network. Alumni work entails a lot of networking – it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Your position is now part of the Central Study and Career Counselling Service. What benefits will this bring?
We'll try to make the most of the synergies that arise from the work in the areas of student orientation, professional development and alumni management. This network should benefit both students and alumni.
What do you like about alumni work?
The contact with people. I go through life with an open and curious mind. I enjoy supporting others and bringing them together.
Non-stop networking – don't you need to switch off sometimes?
I live in a village – you automatically switch off there. But I enjoy bringing friends together and organising meetings in my personal life, too. I also take it easy sometimes: then I like to go for walks or build Lego with my son.
Interview: Nele Claus
