Launch of new Special Interests Groups for Bonn, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arctic
The Global Office is delighted to announce that three new internal Special Interest Groups for the University of Bonn, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arctic are being piloted this year within the University of St Andrews.
Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are informal internal networks to support collaboration and information sharing between academics with research, teaching or other interest in a region or theme, and professional staff who are engaged in a particular market or thematic topic. By coming together to share information, opportunities and expertise, it is expected that activities become more joined-up and streamlined across the University, so as to maximise our institutional engagement and build stronger connections.
SIGs will have broad membership across the community, usually involving academic and professional staff, and in some cases, students. Membership is open and inclusive, with members sharing a common interest in the SIG’s regional, partnership or thematic focus.
Dissemination of information will usually take place via dedicated Teams channels managed by the Global Office. It is expected that SIG events will take place at least once a year, and may involve presentations, discussions, networking opportunities and external engagement. SIGs will report to the International Committee, and it is hoped that the first group of SIGs will act as a model for the creation of future groups.
Bonn
The Bonn SIG aims to raise awareness about the Bonn-St Andrews strategic partnership and bring together colleagues who have a shared interest in building collaborative links with Bonn. The Group will also promote opportunities associated with the partnership and gather feedback to support the further development of the partnership.
Sub-Saharan Africa
The Sub-Saharan Africa SIG aims to bring together colleagues with research, teaching or other interests in the region, to raise awareness of our engagement across the region, and support the development of institutional partnerships and collaborations.
Arctic
The Arctic SIG aims to promote the University’s Arctic-related research and teaching and to bring colleagues and PhD students together who have a shared interest in Arctic opportunities, collaborating with Scottish and international institutions, and participating in UArctic’s Thematic Networks and Institutes. The SIG will also act as a forum to share external funding opportunities associated with the Arctic and Scottish-Arctic collaboration.
Join a SIG
Colleagues interested in joining the Bonn or Africa SIG should contact the Global Office at [email protected] and those interested in joining the Arctic SIG should email [email protected].