Summer University Coordinator for 57th Agora AEGEE-Europe
With the Agora right around the corner we at The AEGEEan are interviewing the candidates to give you an small insight into who the person is behind the face. Here we have with us Anne Kautzschmann, running for the SU coordinator position of AEGEE Europe.
INTERVIEWER: Welcome to this interview, Anne! What’s your summer university experience?
ANNE: I have organised a Summer University with my local twice, and even as the main organiser in 2018.
I: What is the most important skill in organising a summer university?
A: Team and Time Management: Those skills, e.g. going through the program with the core team and all organisers are involved many, many, many times, weighing the time slots, distributing the tasks, controlling the organisational progress, thinking about all unforeseen things. Those skills are the most important ones organisers should be able to apply.
I: How does your perfect Summer University look like?
A: Basically getting to know amazing people! From my experience I can say, it doesn’t matter where you are, as long as you are with the “right” people, it’s going be the perfect Summer University – doesn’t matter what will happen. The weather can be shitty, the food isn’t as tasty as expected, or you don’t get enough sleep. People always make you smile and put you back in a better mood.
I: Besides that, a well-balanced program would be important for me. Interesting and fruitful workshops are also important like a varied social program (is). I’m always super interested in local traditions, the food, the political situation, and the language. If the workshops combine a bit of the topics mentioned it would be the perfect content for me. And at least some fun ice-breaking games – I love them!
A: In your application, you talk about the willingness to promote the European ideals. Can you define what the European ideals mean for you?
A: For me, the European Union is a big community. This community only stays alive if we can guarantee a living environment in the future which is dominated by tolerance and the exchange of European values defined through peace, human rights, democracy, equal rights, solidarity, and respect (to mention only the most important ones). The European Union is a unique room where those values/ideals can be realised.
I: Can you tell me in 3 words how can you improve the PR in the SU organisation?
A: High Frequency, Visual Identity, Creativity
I: What do you think is the biggest obstacle that can interfere you to execute your role to the fullest?
A: Misunderstandings: When it comes to communication problems, of course, it’s an obstacle and that restricts the work. But I learnt to always talk about everything in the team in advance, and in this way, the risk of misunderstandings can be reduced.
And as a second obstacle, I can imagine that from time to time problems with the “aegeean bureaucracy” can occur as it’s my first candidature for a European position. But this is something I have already definitely become better at and have gotten used to, and in case of doubt, I always have a team behind me I can rely on and ask.