Concluding the 61st PGP: Reflecting and Looking Ahead

In their final weeks, the PGP teams focus on finalising their research reports and engaging in reflection and exchange. A report.

All three PGP research teams have safely returned from their stays abroad. After some days of re-adjusting to life in Bonn, we traveled to Braunschweig to visit the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesantsalt (PTB), a long-standing PGP tradition. The visit, arranged by PTB’s International Cooperation Department, gave us a chance to learn more about PTB’s mission, meet the staff, and have one-on-one conversations with the department’s regional directors. The visit reaffirmed the idea that international cooperation occurs in a variety of fields and industries, which is an important perspective to maintain while we navigate what comes after the 61st PGP’s conclusion at the end of May.

After touring the PTB, some of us continued to Berlin to meet this year’s cohort of the Seminar for Rural Development’s (SLE) Postgraduate Programme. We received a warm welcome, complete with coffee and homemade cake. During the visit, we presented our research projects and reflected on our time abroad. We also exchanged experiences about our respective postgraduate programmes. It was particularly interesting to learn how the two programmes differed and to hear about the stage the SLE participants are currently in. Later in the evening, we went out for dinner together, which allowed us to get to know each other better in a more informal setting.

We are dedicating the remaining weeks to finalising our research report and preparing for the final presentation. As our time as PGP participants comes to an end, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire team at IDOS for their exceptional support and dedication. What a privilege to now be part of a lifelong network dedicated to international cooperation for sustainability. Stay in touch!