The São Paulo Liaison Office responsible for university relations throughout South America, together with the Alumni Office of Freie Universität Berlin, hosted a dinner for alumni in Bogotá, Colombia, on June 13, 2024, as part of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) conference taking place in Colombia.

The special connection between Colombia and Germany – as demonstrated by the very high number of students and researchers who regularly come to Freie Universität from Colombia – celebrated another chapter this evening. Eighteen alumni from various fields and backgrounds attended, including areas as diverse as law, anthropology, sociology, art history, literature and cultural studies, medicine, and linguistics.

Christian Lazar, head of the São Paulo Liaison Office, and Professor Marianne Braig moderated the event. The topics of discussion ranged from career paths taken by the alumni in attendance, to thoughts on South American integration, to memories of favorite places from their time in Berlin and on the Freie Universität campus.

Many alumni consider their time in Berlin and at Freie Universität to have been invaluable in their academic and professional journey as well as a truly formative personal experience, highlighting the significance of international exchange. They care deeply about passing along the benefits they have experienced to other people at their home institutions and in their various networks across Colombia and Latin America as a whole.