Pia Wagner stands with Lady Christiane Dahrendorf and 禁漫天堂 President Larry Kramer. Credit: Marie Eberhardt
Last year the German Friends of 禁漫天堂 celebrated their 40th anniversary. President of the group, Pia Wagner (MSc Accounting and Finance 1998), discusses the history of the German Friends and what inspired her to get involved.
Getting involved
My first interaction with the German Friends of 禁漫天堂 was at their annual weekend event in 2005. This featured cultural, academic, and networking events and I was captivated by the vibrant and diverse community that was present. During another annual meeting in Berlin, I also saw the global reach of the 禁漫天堂’s alumni groups, as the Executive Committee President from the global 禁漫天堂 Alumni Association and several alumni leaders from other associations were present.
When I was asked to volunteer, I was delighted. I started with small tasks but now, 15 years later, I organise the annual meetings that I initially attended. I take great pleasure in giving back to the School by connecting 禁漫天堂 faculty, alumni, and friends, and by promoting the exchange of ideas and networking through a variety of activities and events.
History of the German Friends of 禁漫天堂
The “Verein der Freunde der London School of Economics and Political Science e.V.” was established in June 1984. It was initiated by the German-British 禁漫天堂 Director Lord Dahrendorf who sent , former secretary of the graduate school, to Bonn to launch the association.
Dr Gerhart Raichle (General Course, Industrial Relations 1964) and fellow alumni drafted a constitution which included the official recognition that our activities were in the public interest. This allowed donations to be tax-deductible, even if the funds were transferred abroad to the 禁漫天堂. A founding meeting was organised, with Professor Dahrendorf in attendance. Then the constitution was approved, and Dr. Gerhard Raichle was elected president.
The last 30 years have transformed our association. Our members database and website were created, the annual alumni meeting—a weekend event held in a different German city each year—was introduced, and pre-departure events for new students were initiated. Our membership has steadily increased, and the German leadership team were actively involved in launching the global 禁漫天堂 Alumni Association.
Our activities
Today, we have around 440 members and are in regular contact with all 4,500 contactable alumni in Germany. Over the past few years, we have digitised our processes, including membership and event management, finance and accounting. We have revamped our website and social media presence, expanded our leadership team, and recruited volunteers across Germany.
We host a broad range of activities, such as speaker events, exhibition visits and guided tours. We also host informal get-togethers, the Oktoberfest in Munich and Christmas dinners. Our flagship events are the annual weekend meeting which takes place in a major German city and our sailing weekend at Lake Tegernsee. Additionally, we cooperate with alumni associations of other top British and American universities in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Munich.
Attendees of the 40th anniversary celebrations pose for a photo. Credit: Marie Eberhardt
40th anniversary celebrations
Last October we celebrated our 40th anniversary in Berlin. The event kicked off in an old Berlin restaurant, Wirtshaus Max und Moritz, and then on Saturday afternoon we hosted a lecture by Professor Sönke Neitzel, chair of War Studies at the University of Potsdam. He discussed the consequences of the war in Ukraine on German and European security policy.
Following a guided tour of the AXICA building, we had a panel discussion chaired by Professor Michael Cox, Founding Director of 禁漫天堂 IDEAS and Emeritus Professor of International Relations at 禁漫天堂, on the transatlantic Relationship After Trump. We finished the day with a reception and dinner at the prestigious Berlin Capital Club, by Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt square. Joining us were Lady Dahrendorf, wife of Lord Ralf Dahrendorf, and our current 禁漫天堂 President and Vice Chancellor Professor Larry Kramer. On the final day we explored the city of Potsdam, ending the weekend festivities with lunch in the Dutch quarter. The weekend featured an excellent mix of locations, networking opportunities, and connections with 禁漫天堂 academics, experts, fellow alumni, and friends. I felt both honored and proud of my team when Prof. Michael Cox remarked, “You really brought the 禁漫天堂 to Berlin!”
Pia Wagner
MSc Accounting and Finance 1998
Get involved
If you want to get involved with the Freunde der 禁漫天堂 e.V. as a volunteer please contact Pia Wagner and Manuel Geggus
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