#MWSvernetzt: Insights into a fellowship at DHI Washington
The MWS Networking Fellowships enable MWS employees to get to know other locations of the foundation during a stay lasting several weeks. In the series ‘#MWSvernetzt’, fellows talk about their experiences. In this episode, Deepanwita Dutta from the Max Weber Forum in Delhi reports on her experiences at the German Historical Institute in Washington.
Max Weber Stiftung’s Vernetzungsfellowship or the Networking Fellowship offered me an excellent opportunity to visit the German Historical Institute Washington in Washington, D.C. during September–October 2025. The four-week stay proved to be an enriching professional experience and I am grateful to MWS and to my colleagues in Washington for their support and hospitality during my visit.

Activities During the Visit
During my time at the institute, I engaged closely with the members of the administrative team to gain an understanding of the models and practices applied in their daily work. Through a series of individual meetings with staff members, I was able to learn about their roles, responsibilities, and administrative workflows. These discussions offered valuable insights into the procedures followed at the institute and allowed me to reflect on the strengths of different administrative approaches.
Moreover, my visit coincided with an important transitional moment for the institute, when the new director was taking charge from the outgoing director and on that occasion, several internal and public events were being organised. It was an excellent opportunity for me to collaborate with the team responsible for these events. This experience helped me understand their event organisation methods and compare them with those at my own institute.
Differences from My Usual Work and Practical Learning
During my stay at the institute, I was not directly involved in its regular administrative jobs. My colleagues in Washington very thoughtfully arranged meetings and discussions that allowed us to share our experiences with various administrative procedures with respect to finance and accounts, events, travel expenses; and tools and systems that we use in our daily work. One particularly useful area of learning was the management of travel claims and related procedures. The institute follows clear and well-structured processes for handling such matters, and observing these systems provided practical ideas that I am now attempting to adapt and implement at my own institute.
I also attended their regular team meetings, which provided valuable insights into how tasks are coordinated and how institutional events and projects are planned collectively. At the same time, I was able to continue handling certain tasks of my own institute.
As a result of this exchange, the professional connections between the two institutes have become stronger. I believe, the interactions and discussions during my stay have helped create a sense of closer institutional proximity, which may encourage further collaborations and exchanges in the future.
Experiences in the city of Washington, D.C.
Besides professional learning opportunities, my stay in Washington DC also provided me with memorable personal experiences. Walking around and exploring the city on foot in an atmosphere largely free from air pollution, was particularly refreshing for me.

I also explored notable cultural and historical sites, including the Smithsonian museums and the beautiful area surrounding the National Mall, which deepened my understanding of American history and culture while highlighting the role of public institutions in preserving this heritage.
However, the most memorable part of my stay was the warm hospitality and friendliness of my colleagues at the institute. Their welcoming attitude made my visit both comfortable and enjoyable. I am especially grateful to Tugba Mack and Nicola Hofstetter-Phelps who kindly took time out of their busy schedules and showed me the beautiful estate of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the charming neighbourhood of Georgetown. Without these experiences, my visit to Washington DC would have remained incomplete.
OpenEdition schlägt Ihnen vor, diesen Beitrag wie folgt zu zitieren:
Max Weber Stiftung (27. April 2026). #MWSvernetzt: Insights into a fellowship at DHI Washington. [gab_log] Geisteswissenschaft als Beruf. Abgerufen am 18. Mai 2026 von https://doi.org/10.58079/164y7

