University of Vienna professor Sebastian Schütze (right), speaks with Queen's Principal Daniel Woolf (middle) and Keith Banting, a professor in the Department of Political Studies, during a recent visit to campus. 

Sebastian Schütze, who co-ordinates the University of Vienna’s exchange agreement with Queen’s, recently visited campus to promote the partnership among Queen’s faculty and staff. He was accompanied by Austria’s ambassador to Canada, Werner Brandstetter. Dr. Schütze is Professor of Early Modern Art History and Chair of the Department of Art History at the University of Vienna, and a former Queen’s faculty member in the Department of Art and the first Bader Chair in Southern Baroque Art from 2003-2009.

Queen’s and the University of Vienna signed a general memorandum of understanding in September 2011, which allows for the exchange of graduate students. It was a result of discussions Principal Daniel Woolf had while attending a conference at the University of Vienna in 2010 where he recommended some possible common fields of endeavour including economics, musicology, humanities, art history and life sciences.

Although the agreement is in its early stages, a number of Queen’s faculty members and graduate students have expressed interest in collaborating with colleagues at the University of Vienna, and attended the presentation by Dr. Schütze. Among the attendees were representatives of the departments of Art, History, and Political Studies, and the School of Music. Additional collaborations from other disciplines are also encouraged.

Ambassador Branstetter said the cooperation between the two universities fits well with the expanding bilateral relationship between Canada and Austria, and he encouraged more collaboration between Queen’s and other Austrian universities.