German foundation awards NWU lecturer for innovative networking initiatives
The Alexander von Humboldt (AVH) Foundation in Germany has awarded Prof. Christa Rautenbach from the Law Faculty of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, the Alumni Award for her innovative networking initiatives.
The Alexander von Humboldt (AVH) Foundation in Germany has awarded Prof. Christa Rautenbach from the Law Faculty of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, the Alumni Award for her innovative networking initiatives.
She is currently working on a project to establish a Traditional Governance and Women Network between female academics from Europe (Netherlands and Germany) and southern Africa (South Africa and Zambia). The project deals with traditional governance and women’s rights.
The AVH Foundation grants up to four Alumni Awards every year to promote innovative networking initiatives. The award is valued at R25,000 and aims to promote academic and cultural relations between Germany and the alumni’s home countries to strengthen their collaboration in the respective regions.
Prof. Rautenbach was also awarded a six-month fellowship earlier this year. She will research comparative approaches to a single-marriage code for South Africa at the Max-Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law in Hamburg. The Foundation is also sponsoring two of Rautenbach’s doctorate students – Allison Geduld (NWU) and Caroline Muller van der Westhuizen (UFS) – to do research under her supervision during the same period.
The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is a prestigious organisation in Germany that promotes academic cooperation between excellent scientists and scholars. Prof. Rautenbach’s connection with the AVH Foundation dates back to 2006 when she received the Georg Forster Research fellowship to spend one year in Germany for research. Only 20 to 25 per cent of applications are successful.
After completing the fellowship, she became an alumnus of the Foundation, which allowed her to apply for a return fellowship every three years. She took the opportunity in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016.
Five years ago, she was also appointed as an ambassador scientist of the AVH Foundation, one of only two in South Africa. Their function is to work for the Foundation as alumni, hosts or reviewers in an honorary capacity.
