Centre for Biblical Studies PhD student reports back from German (and) Theology Summer School

Siobhán Jolley, a PhD candidate in the Centre for Biblical Studies, spent July in Germany, on a German (and) Theology Summer School at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz.

Siobhán followed in the footsteps of fellow PhD candidates Sam Rogers and Justin Daneshmand who attended the programme - now in its fifth year - in the last two years. Like Justin, Siobhán was awarded a full scholarship from the Deutscher Akademischer Austauchdienst (DAAD).

The International Summer School ‘German (and) Theology’ is provided by the Faculty of Protestant Theology in liaison with the Centre for Continuing Education (ZWW) and DaF - German as a Second Language, in cooperation with the School of Divinity, University of St. Andrews.

The objective is ‘to provide young international academics with an intimateness with German theology’.

Scholars, doctoral students and other post-graduates of theology, religion or related fields were invited to study at the evangelisch-theologische Fakultät of Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, and to experience the language, thought and intellectual world of German theology. Lecturers on the programme included: Professor Ulrich Volp (Ecclesiastical History and History of Doctrine), Professor Ruben Zimmermann (New Testament), Professor Michael Roth (Systematic Theology), Professor Volker Küster (Intercultural Theology), Professor Wolfgang Zwickel (Biblical Archeology), as well as specialized language tutors from the department of Deutsch als Fremdsprache.

The course was attended by participants from five continents with a range of backgrounds and German-language ability. In addition to daily lectures and workshops in Theology, participants completed a language course which offered an introduction into theological and conversational German in order to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the German theological discourse.

The curriculum was complemented with excursions to central sites of German theological and ecclesiastical history located in Mainz, Worms and Speyer. Furthermore, all participants were welcome to attend the regular theology lectures and seminars in order to get an impression of the teaching program of one of the leading German theological departments.

Libraries and further academic institutions were also available for the participants’ own research.

As well as improving her German and knowledge of German theology in context, the course offered Siobhán a unique opportunity to meet and study with a diverse group of academics.

She looks forward to putting all of the above to good use as she continues with her research.

The programme will next run in 2021 and more information is available here.