fiit-broschuere2024 - Flipbook - Seite 48
Manfred Lautenschläger proved to be a savior in times of need
for the research center, which was entirely dependent on so-called
third-party funding, by agreeing to cover part of the rental costs for ten
years. As FIIT immediately took off with attractive programs, further
third-party funding was soon acquired, amounting to 6 to 7 million
euros in the long term raised by the managing director alone.
Dr. h.c. Manfred Lautenschläger
A spectrum of research programs was developed. Initially, twenty-five colleagues were recruited to head eleven research areas (now fifteen), not only from all disciplines of theology but also from religious
studies, archaeology, medicine, psychology, gerontology, musicology,
law, and the School of Jewish Studies. Two attractive rooms for small
consultations and workshops have been created at the Institute, as well
as six workstations for Scholars in Residence.
In the seventeen years since FIIT opened its doors to guests from all
over the world, more than one hundred colleagues from twenty-five
countries have benefited from the Institute‘s academic hospitality – interrupted by a two-year coronavirus break. The length of stay of the
guest researchers ranged from a few weeks to a year.
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