"You can better understand other people’s point of view"

© Kyle Glenn - Unsplash To mark the first Humboldt Day on 30 January at the University of Münster, Prof Hans-Christian Pape , president of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and researcher at Münster University, talks in this interview about international academic mobility, the University's Research Alumni Strategy and the importance of the financial support provided by the Humboldt Foundation. Why is international academic mobility and cooperation important in today's world? Dialogue and exchange are more important than ever today in a world which has many conflicts but which at the same time is moving ever closer together. Personal relationships and networks such as those promoted by the Humboldt Foundation can play a significant role in this process. One consequence is that scientific exchange becomes a means of diplomacy and 'soft power'. Trust, freedom, peace and good livelihoods for everyone: these are the aims to which 'Humboldtians' all over the world are committed. They have an impact not only through the research they do, but also through the key positions they hold in other fields. In this way, they can make a difference as facilitators not only for progress of a scientific nature, but for political and social progress too. In our network, the awareness of the responsibility of this role is very widespread and is an integral part of people's lives in a great number of international collaborations. Academic work enables people to experience just how worthwhile cross-border collaboration is. In addition, you can better understand other people's point of view. That's always worthwhile. To what extent can the University's Research Alumni Strategy (RE.Al) boost Münster as a location for research marketing?