Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies Frankfurt (Oder) – Berlin (KIU) • European University Viadrina

KIU Launches: Certificate Programme in Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies for Master’s students

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Check out the Lecture Series for Summer Semester 2026!

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New Course Catalogue for the Sommer Semester 2026 has arrived!

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Discover our latest publications!

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About

The KIU competence network is a four-year DAAD-funded project to strengthen Ukraine-related research, teaching, networking and transfer activities. The competence network, initiated and led by the European University Viadrina, includes the ZOiS, the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, the Freie Universität Berlin, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin.

KIU – Competence Network for Interdisciplinary Ukraine Studies Frankfurt (Oder)-Berlin, led by the European University Viadrina, and the ‘Denkraum Ukraine’ Regensburg are the two Ukraine Centers in Germany funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service). Together, they are working on building Ukraine-related academic research and teaching, disseminating Ukraine expertise in politics, academia, media, and civil society, as well as promoting a Europe-wide dialogue with Ukraine.

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News

20. April 2026

Mykola Riabchuk: Civicness by Default – Constructing Inclusive Nation against the Challenges of Exclusivity

MONDAY, 4 - 6 p.m. | Hybrid format I How did Ukraine build an inclusive civic nation while navigating deep political and cultural divides? In this talk, Mykola Riabchuk explores how compromise between competing elites, civil society, and contrasting nation-building models helped shape modern Ukraine’s multiethnic civic identity against persistent pressures of exclusivity. More details...

22. April 2026

Ukrainian (Working) Lives: Vulnerabilities, Shifting Geographies, Resistance

On 22 April 2026, the Centre Marc Bloch, ZOiS and the KIU Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies will host a workshop on research in wartime Ukraine, particularly the period after the full-scale Russian invasion. More details...

Viktoriya_Sereda_credits Maurice Weiss 900x600

13. April 2026

‘Rearticulation of belonging: the regionalism, identities and the role of minorities’ - Opening Lecture by Viktoriya Sereda

This talk addresses the challenges of researching identity in a conflict-affected context and the methodological difficulties of capturing shifting hierarchies of belonging and changes in the symbolic structure of national identities. It examines the consequences of Russian aggression and war-induced displacement on minority groups that are often overlooked by both Ukrainian minority studies within Ukraine as well as by international migration research. More details...

KIU Launches: Certificate Programme in Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies for Master’s students

The Certificate Programme ‘Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies’ is a supplementary academic programme focusing on Ukraine, its history, culture, and society. It is open to Master’s students at the European University Viadrina and other German universities. The programme is the first comprehensive Ukrainian Studies programme at master’s level in Germany. It offers an interdisciplinary perspective on Ukraine by bringing together approaches from the social sciences, cultural studies, law, economics, and media studies. More details...

26. March 2026

The new Ukraine Lecture Series for Summer Semester 2026 is here!

Minorities, nationalities, and identities constitute a vital element of Ukraine’s social and cultural fabric. The country comprises more than 100 ethnic groups, numerous national minorities, and three officially recognised indigenous peoples. Communities such as Crimean Tatars, Roma and Sinti, Hungarians, Romanians, and Jews contribute significantly to Ukraine’s multilingual and multicultural landscape. More details...

Upcoming Courses: Summer Semester 2026

New Ukraine-related courses at the Europa-Universität Viadrina, Humboldt-Universität Berlin, and the Freie-Universität Berlin. We are excited to announce a new series of lectures and specialized courses focusing on Ukraine at the EUV, HU, and FU. These courses cover a wide range of topics, including Ukrainian language, literature, political history, and media analysis, offering students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of Ukraine's rich cultural and political landscape. Ukrainian Language Courses for various proficiency levels are also available, providing learners with the chance to build or strengthen their language skills alongside thematic academic studies. Courses are eligible for the certificate programme ‘Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies’.

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