The Mercator Alumni Network is full of people who bring along curiosity and commitment, but also broad expertise, experiences and a diversity of skills from education, career or voluntary work. We support alumni who want to organize and implement ideas for events or projects together in the network.
Do you want to continue working with other alumni on the topics you learned about during the Mercator-funded program or scholarship? Are you an expert in a certain field and would like to share your knowledge with other alumni in a workshop, a seminar, or on an educational trip. Or are you interested in organizing discussion and exchange on socio-political topics in the network through your format?
The Mercator Alumni Fund offers grants of up to a maximum of 5,000.00€ for the planning and implementation of project ideas or events by alumni.
What are the eligibility criteria?
The offer is aimed at alumni of the Mercator Foundation. The proposed project idea or event must be compatible with the strategic goals of Stiftung Mercator and provide a link to the Foundation’s thematic areas:
· Digital society
· Europe in the world
· Climate action
· Participation and cohesion
In addition, projects can also be funded in such areas as democracy, law, civil society, exchange, diversity, education, and science.
More information on the foundation strategy can be found here Mercator - Strategy 2025 – Stiftung Mercator (stiftung-mercator.de)
Our current call for applications ends August 21, 2023 - apply now!
In need of inspiration and ideas? Have a look on some or the previously supported alumni projects and events!
TEMPI: Fresh ideas regarding Turkish-European Migration
Finding answers to issues regarding Turkish-European migration is the most important aim of the “Turkey Europe Migration Policy Initiative” (TEMPI) launched by Mercator alumni in the wake of the foundation’s Turkey Europe Future Forum (TEFF). The programme has brought together young Turkish and European leaders for intensive dialogue every year since 2015.
On 18 and 19 January 2020, alumni from all TEFF cohorts met in Istanbul to network and discuss new strategies for improving EU-Turkey relations. The working weekend was attended by alumni from various social organisations and external experts, including diplomats, Turkish government officials and UN staff. The participants drafted a paper on EU-Turkish cooperation on migration. They would very much like to continue – and institutionalise – TEMPI.
Alumni Seminar "Unbiasme?! Implicit Bias in Education"
Amara's doctoral research study at Heidelberg University connects critical self-reflection and self-knowledge to the conscious teaching of elements that are necessary for dealing with structural racism.
"I feel very privileged to have been a recipient of a grant out of the Mercator Alumni Fund last year. The grant afforded me the opportunity of acquiring relevant skills and tools for conducting Empathy workshops. I was able to organize a one-day UNBIASME Seminar for in-service teachers and pre-service teachers and interested students from the Mercator Alumni Network. The seminar focused on empathy, implicit bias, and a LET’S Talk discussion that highlighted vulnerable students' voices in culturally diverse classrooms. As an education researcher focused on designing teaching strategies that prepare pre-service teachers for culturally diverse classrooms, I am humbled by the enthusiasm and the positive feedback I received from the participating alumni. It clearly demonstrates the need for more support and learning opportunities for pre-service teachers and in-service teachers as they teach more culturally diverse classrooms."
Amarachi A. Igboegwu (Alumna Global Diplomacy Lab)
