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Studies finally finished: Diplom-Politologe – Thesis published

bjoern — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 09:25:36 +0000

The last two weeks I had been back to Europe and enjoyed the starting summer and non-humid climate a lot. The reason for my trip were that I had to attend my last two oral exams and hold diverse meetings with the FES headquarter, German partners and ministries to get introduced to my new working sphere. But before I went for the exams to Berlin Hans and me took the car from Munich and went on an Italy-trip, which we enjoyed a lot: Verona, Appenin, Toscany, Siena, Lago di Garda and back to Germany. Coming from Singapore the differences could not been higher. With the amazing cultural heritage from Roman empire and thousand of years of history the artifical world of my home-island Singapore was not really able to compete. And the trip was exiting as well, as I managed to challenge the car in a field. But with the help of Italian farmers you can solve all problems – even at 7 oÂ´clock in the morning.

Afterwards I went back to Berlin and it felt really great meeting so many friends and feeling home again. I hold my oral exams with Prof. Grottian and Dr. Peters and received there also my note for my master-thesis: I was really amazed to get the best note – 1,0 (summa cum laude) from MP DÃ¤ubler-Gmelin, who is the former federal minister of justice and head of the commitee for human rights and humanitarian aid in the federal parliament. That seriously honoured me – now I proofed myselfes and the world of scientists, that I can also do scientific work! I am now a graduate – Diplom-Politologe and celebrated a lot in Germany. LetÂ´s see what the future brings but I am very happy to finally finish almost ten years of studies! :)

As I published my diploma-thesis also as book, please find here the opportunity to order if you are interested in the topic.

Master-thesis was sucessfully handed in!

bjoern — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:31:50 +0000

After three months of field-research in Southern Africa with the GTZ in Botswana and trips to South Africa, Mozambique and Tansania and afterwards one month writing my master-thesis in Singapore I finally handed in this “masterpiece” yesterday to my university in Berlin. The thesis elaborates before the background of transboundary water-management in the SADC region to work out, how experiences from methods of European integration policies could improve the harmonization of national water-laws in the SADC region. My supervisers, Prof. Dr. Herta DÃ¤ubler-Gmelin (MP) and PD. Dr. Ulrich van der Heyden, already have the thesis and I also sent it to GTZ and SADC office and hope, that the results could help establishing a substainable water-governance in the water-sector of Southern Africa to avoid potential conflicts. I will realise therefore a big party back in Berlin combining my 30th birthday and this master-baby – hope to see you in “1a Lauschgift” in the evening on 28th February!

Download in German: Master-Thesis “Transboundary Watermanagement in SADC”
Executive Summary in English language: Master-Thesis “Transboundary Watermanagement in SADC”

First days in Singapore: eating and shopping :)

bjoern — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:33:44 +0000

After arriving in Singapore last Monday it took me some days to get familiar with the climate and the speedy city as I was still on Botswana mode. Four million inhabitants are gathered on a small island almost at the equator and so itÂ´s not only warm with 25 – 30 degrees but also very humid. And the city is very speedy and has a phenomenal traffic-system with millions of cars, subway-lines, buses and around 17.000 cabs – almost everywhere are the blue cabs and helped me a lot during the first days. And if you ask Singaporians their beloved hobbies are: eating and shopping, so the shopping-malls are amazing. I am currently living together with Susi in a flat share at 10th floor with swimmingpool, tennis court and other cool gadgets to use. ThatÂ´s great stuff and we even manage to smoothly agreeing how to share our small room. :)

After arriving and experiencing the town I was already working on my thesis at the Central Library of National University of Singapore, which is an amazing huge university with all what I need for the next weeks to finalise my thesis. Besides this work I got in contact with some potential job-partners and will continue this Â´networking experience from the scretchÂ´ the next weeks to find my dream-job for March/April or so.

If you want to reach me here you can send an email or phone to (+65) 977 58 334 but please be aware that we are seven hours before Europe. :) Next week weÂ´ll visit Brunei, so if anybody has some suggestions or contacts there, please forward me.

My home is my swimmingpool!

bjoern — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:02:50 +0000

When I arrived in Gaborone our garden showed almost no green and no flowers and it was quite depressing but after the rain from last weeks it totally changed. Our garden is amazing green and blossom all around, now it makes fun to use the swimming-pool and enjoy life over there. But as you see Martin and me are also hard working with our thesis in the GTZ office, which will move finally this Thursday to new office-building – almost five months later than planned but right in time for good start into 2009.

About consultancy and speed

bjoern — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:33:25 +0000

When I started thinking about my thesis I just wanted to realise a topic, which had afterwards an effect on real life and did not end up in a dustbin after reading by the professor and maybe me. Than it speeded up fast… I managed to convince an MP as my supervisor, got an internship in Gaborone and most astonishingly I managed to finish all other stuff for my university in time. But it gets even more crazy and better: on Monday I finished an overview about integration theories and got support from one of the best profs at my university. Today SADC confirmed, that this paper will be the input to a workshop, where the water-guys decide upon their future integration method. Amazing – from university to consultancy in four weeks… I hope for even more speed, lets see where it drives me. ;)

But this day got even more crazy, after FES called me and asked what I am supposed to do next two days. Well, I just had normal working days in mind and so they told me, that the flight is almost booked and I have to represent the FES in a training in Francistown. Two hours later everything was agreed and booked and nobody was really surprised about the short preparation: “normal procedure, as we do not even have the final programme”. I really want to figure out, what real speed means over here. ;)

Trip to countryside and continue working

bjoern — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:10:19 +0000

After some days in Botswana I feel already home because of the amazing friendly people and the great weather with around thirty till fourty degrees. After we had been in an Botswana club on last Friday where we enjoyed dancing with crazy people until early in the morning I used Sunday to grap a car and experience countryside towards Lobatse in the West. On the way I saw great hills with around 1.400 meters, nice animals and big birds but as well hot weather and no tourist – quite relaxing for the moment.

But I also work on my thesis, after my university finally confirmed that I can start officially and that all documents were handed in to start my thesis. This was a magical moment cause in March I had not sooo much uni-papers and after intensive six months I finally managed and uni will soon be finished. I already drafted my thesis-structure and negotiate at the moment with my profs about and started to work for FES and GTZ also on some events in the SADC region (one in the regions of Botswana and one in Mocambique).