First graduate program for Ukraine studies on the Viadrina starts!

First graduate program for Ukraine studies on the Viadrina starts!

On Monday, June 16, 2025, the first graduate program for Ukraine studies will be opened at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Twelve doctoral students start their dissertations in the new competence network Interdisciplinary Ukraine Studies Frankfurt (Oder) - Berlin (KIU). The ceremony for the programmatic opening takes place at 6 p.m. in the university's lodge hall. The event will be held in English, registration is possible by email to kiu@europa-uni.de by June 13th.

As part of the opening ceremony, Volodymyr Sheiko, director of the Ukrainian Institute in Kyjiw, will give a lecture on the importance of the Ukrain studies for the security of Ukraine and Europe. Sheiko, Prof. Dr. Yuliya Yurchuk from Södertörn University in Sweden and Prof. Dr. Oksana Mikheeva from Ukrainian Catholic University in LWIW on the resilience of Ukraine and the role of universities and research for the reconstruction of the country.

interdisciplinarity in focus

dr. Susann Worschech, the scientific coordinator of the Kiu, emphasizes the interdisciplinarity of the program. The topics of the dissertations range from Ukrainian resistance in World War II to aspects of the inclusive easy language in Ukrainian. The goal of the Kiu Graduated program is the formation of a new generation of scientists who develop a networked understanding of Ukraine in historical, political and institutional contexts.

The opening event is also accompanied by musical performances by the Frankfurt pianist Søren Gundermann, followed by a reception of the KiU at 8:00 p.m., which gives the participants the opportunity to exchange and network.

support from the DAAD

This initiative is supported as part of the funding of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), which finances the establishment of two centers for interdisciplinary Ukraine studies at German universities. The European University Viadrina and the University of Regensburg will receive around five million euros from the Federal Foreign Office by 2028. Mukherjee emphasizes that this funding is a sign of cooperation and solidarity and is intended to strengthen Ukraine competence in Germany.

Cooperation partners from Germany and Ukraine are expressly welcome to promote science communication and the networking of scientists and actors of civil society. Exchange for strengthening Ukraine competence.