Berlin Metropolitan Area
Johannes Kast is a Senior Communications Manager at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) in Berlin, Germany. With over a decade of experience in communications, project coordination, and cultural management, Johannes has a proven track record in managing complex projects and fostering intercultural dialogue. He holds an MA in Communication for Development from Malmö University and a BA in media economics from University of Applied Science Mittweida. He is currently pursuing an MBA in Artificial Intelligence from Brand University.
EURASIA Institute is working with a large university network to place eligible international students for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Since good German language skills are a prerequisite for the enrollment at 95% of the German universities, EURASIA Institute offers university pathway programs focused on German language courses and supports the candidates during the application process. Our pathway programs embrace a comprehensive preparation for university studies. I started out in student services and as an Event-Manager and later became product manager for academic short term programmes. My duties included the administration of student arrivals and accommodations, the organization of extracurricular activities, the set-up and maintenance of corporate and career networks, as well as our alumni network.
Through the regional Goethe Institute head office in Jakarta, Indonesia, I have worked as a project coordinator and organized, facilitated and promoted several intercultural projects, workshops and seminars including the annual Science Film Festival (2011-2013), the history seminar "Cambodia 1965 until today" with acclaimed historian Dr. Bernd Schäfer (2011-2013), the regional shadow puppetry project "Puppets Beyond Borders" (2011) and the puppet project "How to Talk to Dragons" (2014) with artist Ernst Altmann and Bjela Proßowsky, the photo exhibition and workshop "Foreign Familiar" (2013) with German photographer Wolfgang Bellwinkel, as well as several workshops and seminars in conjunction to the regional documentary film network DocNet.
Set on more than 500 square meter the newly built center accommodates a large gallery/multi-function room, the German language school, the M.E.T.A film school, a rooftop cinema and the “Art Café”. Besides exhibitions and film screenings, META HOUSE: CAMBODIAN GERMAN CULTURAL CENTER also hosts dance, theatre and music events, as well as providing space for meaningful public events where NGOs are invited to conduct workshops and seminars. Highlights in 2013 - among many others - included: Film Festivals (Interfilm Berlin, YXINE, PRIDE, Tropfest SEA, Chop Shots) FIlm presentations with international filmmakers: The Five Obstructions, They Call It Myanmar, The Choice, A River Changes Course, Cross Currents, Even A Bird Needs A Nest, From Hollywood To Hanoi, Girl Rising. Exhibitions, among others, with Tim Page (in coop. with GIZ), "Half A Century of Friendship and Cooperation Beyond Reconciliation" (German/French Embassy), "Requiem" with Tim Page and several Vietnam war photojournalists, "20 Years of UNTAC" (AUS Embassy), "Exiled to Nowhere" (Greg Constantine), "Night Vision" (Chris Coles), "Quest for Land" (John Vink), "Life Is" (Daniel Rothenberg), Nepalese Historical Photos (Kiranman Chitrakar), Global Hybrid (Denise Scott, art collaboration) "Message Stick: Indigenous Identity in Urban Australia (AUS Embassy). Talks and Lectures with Dr. Bernd Schäfer (Woodrow Wilson Institute for Cold War Studies, Washington DC), H.E. Phai Siphan (on Preah Vihear), Patrick Heuveline (UCLA), Henri Locard, Lilian Abel, Ute Meta-Bauer and Transparency International. Music and Theater Performances: The Vagina Monologues, Benny Lackner Trio, Feral is Kinky, MIMETIC (Art Zoyd), Carousel (Switzerland), Bloco Madagasi (Percussionists from Madagascar) PAN GU, etc As well as regular events such as the environmental "Green Night" and the "Little Kitchen" charity dinner.
Four month introductory course on Cultural Management.