Thinking globally
When Bernd Widdig first experienced the international dimension of academia, in 1983, the world was a very different place. Widdig had just graduated from the University of Bonn, in his native Germany, and embarked for Stanford University to pursue his PhD. At the time, there were two Germanys; the Cold War was frozen in place; and China and India together accounted for about 10 percent of global economic activity, a figure that has since doubled.This fall, Widdig has joined MIT in a new position for the Institute, director of international affairs, where he will help to expand MIT’s global programs and engagements in a world of complex changes. To further advance knowledge and educate students, Widdig will develop partnerships with overseas universities, governments and industry, while giving students the chance to engage with the world. “MIT is a thoroughly international community,” Widdig says. “At the same time, the big problems...