The Institute of African Studies (IAS) is the overarching organisation at the University of Bayreuth for research, teaching and outreach related to Africa and the African diaspora. The IAS is overseen by a steering committee, elected biennially, which is responsible for the basic internal and external alignment of the IAS.
The steering committee comprises representatives from the University of Bayreuth's various member faculties, the Mittelbau, and the Institute of African Studies' central units. These units include the Iwalewahaus, the Africa Multiple Cluster of Excellence, and the FZA.
The steering committee elects a director and vice-director every two years, who in turn appoint an academic coordinator. The academic coordinator is also a member of the steering committee. These three representatives are responsible for the management of day-to-day activities at the IAS, as well as the implementation of its resolutions. They are assisted in their duties by the IAS secretary (team assistant) and student assistants.
The Steering Committee meets three times per semester from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the FZA, Room 0.22. The next dates are:
09 October 2026 • 04 December 2026 • 05 February 2027
The IAS organises a general assembly once a year to keep its members informed. In 2026, the general assembly was held on 16 July.
Members of the Steering Committee
Director
Phone: +49 (0) 921 55-2262
Room: GEO II, 134
Mail: stefan.ouma@uni-bayreuth.de
Vice Director
Room: GW II, 2.14
Mail: joel.glasman@uni-bayreuth.de
Daniel Koßmann
IAS Academic Coordinator
Phone: +49 (0) 921 55-6902
Room: FZA, 1.29
Mail: daniel.kossmann@uni-bayreuth.de
Faculty IV - Faculty of Languages and Literature
Faculty IV - Faculty of Languages & Literatures
Member of the BayCEER Steering Committee and Vice Director of BayCEER
Faculty III - Faculty of Law, Business & Economics
Faculty IV - Faculty of Languages & Literatures
Mail: ndishang@yahoo.co.uk
Academic Director, Iwalewahaus
Mail: kelly@uni-bayreuth.de
Faculty II - Faculty of Biology, Chemistry & Earth Sciences
Faculty V - Faculty of humanities and social sciences
Faculty IV - Languages & Literatures
Additional Team Members
Program Coordinator, afriZert
Dr. Claudia Gebauer
Phone: +49 (0) 921/ 55-6926
Room: FZA, 1.10, 1st Floor
Mail: afriZert@uni-bayreuth.de
Secretary
Daniela Löwinger
Phone: +49 921 55-6901
Room: FZA, 2.23, 2nd Floor
Mail: ias@uni-bayreuth.de
Student Assistant
Nasir Abbas
Mail: nasir.abbas@uni-bayreuth.de
Student Assistant
Adrian Brenner
Mail: adrian.brenner@uni-bayreuth.de