News

Students at the University of Bayreuth had a unique opportunity to engage in a dynamic discussion with former Ambassador Brita Wagener about careers in the Foreign Office. The event featured an extended Q&A session, offering invaluable insights into diplomacy, career development, and balancing professional and personal life.

Amb. Brita Wagener  studied law in Bonn and Hamburg and joined the Foreign Service of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1983 after passing the Second State Examination in Law. Over the course of her career, she held postings in Cairo, New Delhi, Tel Aviv, and at the headquarters in Bonn and Berlin. In her last ten years of service, she served as Consul General in Istanbul and New York and as Ambassador to Iraq and, until 2020, to Ethiopia, with simultaneous accreditation to the African Union.

Drawing from a distinguished career, Ambassador Wagener shared candid anecdotes, professional advice, and personal reflections on the challenges and rewards of international diplomacy. Students eagerly took advantage of the opportunity to ask about career paths, essential skills for a diplomatic career, and the realities of life in foreign service.

The event was part of the "African Studies and Professional Practice" module, offered by Dr. Biruk Terrefe, which allows students to connect with experienced professionals beyond academia and gain valuable insights into alternative career paths.