Since January 1992, Kerstin Gallenstein has headed the International Affairs Department at the Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society, which she helped establish and has continuously developed: from a one-person department with its first international contacts to a core team of six, supplemented at times by several project staff members and a strong network of over 160 international partner universities. Now, after more than 30 years of service to international exchange and the HWG LU, she has been honored by the university administration as she retires.
“As an Erasmus coordinator, Kerstin Gallenstein has extensive expertise in student and faculty mobility, DAAD application procedures, university alliances, network management, and Blended Intensive Learning Programs (BIP), and she has achieved a great deal over the years,” said Prof. Dr. Edith Rüger Muck, Vice President for International Affairs and Communication, summarizing the achievements of the long-time head of the International Office. “Kerstin Gallenstein helped build the International Affairs department from the ground up in the 1990s. “The fact that we now have a network of over 160 international partnerships is due in large part to her dedication and her tireless travel,” added University President Prof. Dr. Gunther Piller. “In addition, Kerstin Gallenstein has represented the university at numerous international networking and education fairs as well as in international higher education committees, and has worked closely with regional and national authorities,” added Chancellor Carolin Nöhrbaß.
Kerstin Gallenstein studied German and Slavic philology at the University of Mannheim and began working at the university’s International Office (AAA) while she was still a student. After successfully obtaining her Degree in 1986, she initially remained at the Office of International Affairs, where, as a research assistant, she provided education in German as a foreign language and conducted examinations, among other duties, and advised and supported international visiting lecturers, prospective students, and current students. In 1992, she moved to the University of Applied Sciences in Ludwigshafen. There, Kerstin Gallenstein built the International Affairs department from the ground up and continues to lead it to this day. In this role, she initiated and maintained the HWG LU’s international university partner network, provided support and counseling to international degree-seeking students, exchange students, and visiting faculty; managed the contracts for international university partnerships; and represented the university in international committees, networks, and at education fairs. In addition, her responsibilities included applying for, administering, and reporting on national and international funding programs such as ERASMUS+, DAAD, Fulbright, and the Rhineland-Palatinate Scholarship Foundation. She also worked closely with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the European Union departments responsible for education and higher education, and regional and national authorities.
In addition to her role as head of the International Office, Kerstin Gallenstein pursued further training in areas such as mediation and resilience training and served as a certified Mental Health First Aider at HWG. She was also involved in the “Learning Language in Ludwigshafen” (LeLaLu) project run by the Ludwigshafen Community Foundation and Inner Wheel Ludwigshafen, a reading mentorship program for students at the Bliesschule elementary school in Ludwigshafen.
Even after officially retiring, Kerstin Gallenstein intends to continue contributing her international and intercultural expertise to society.
