Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies Frankfurt (Oder) – Berlin (KIU)

About

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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 and the “Denkraum Ukraine” Regensburg, led by the European University Viadrina, 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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KIU – Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukraine Studies

Frankfurt (Oder)-Berlin

News

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New publication: Identity Speaks: How Language Ideologies Are Reshaping Ukraine from KIU Fellow Liudmyla Pidkuimukha

The latest ZOIS Spotlight explores how language ideologies are reshaping Ukraine’s cultural and political landscape. It examines the conscious “linguistic conversion” of many Russian-speaking Ukrainians to Ukrainian as an act of identity, as well as the complex role of decolonising language in everyday life, education, and culture.

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UKRAINE LECTURE SERIES | Panel Discussion: From the Weimar Triangle to the Frankfurt Quadrangle – new perspectives for European cooperation

Monday, 14 July, 6 p.m., Senatsaal HG 109 | Guests: Marek Prawda (Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Poland; former Head of Representation – Poland at European Commission), Sophie Lambroschini (Research associate, Université Paris Nanterre, Centre Marc Bloch), Oleksandra Keudel (Associate Professor, Graduate department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Kyiv School of Economics), Roderich Kiesewetter MdB (Foreign Affairs Committee; Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Panel), Jan Tombiński (Poland ambassador to Germany) | In this last session of our lecture series, we will discuss the future of Ukrainian-European cooperation and the potential for a very particular four-party partnership for European-Ukrainian affairs. Can the 'Weimar triangle' be transformed into a strong alliance for Europe's future and security, spanning from France and Germany to Poland and Ukraine? What impetus, ideas and bold decisions could emerge from this European quartet? What is needed to bring our European interests together and become a driving force for Ukraine's integration into the EU and a new security partnership in Europe? Can the ‘Frankfurt Quadrangle’ become pioneering for a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Europe?

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‘Milestone for Ukrainian studies’ - KIU opens graduate school

They will spend three years researching Ukrainian art, history, politics and society, looking far beyond Ukraine: the first twelve doctoral students at the Graduate School at the Centre of Excellence for Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies (KIU). On 16 June 2025, the first graduate school for Ukrainian studies in Germany was opened at Viadrina. The Logensaal, which was packed to the last seat, discussed the future significance of Ukrainian studies, the benefits for international academia and the topics of the doctoral students.

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KIU LUNCH LECTURE | Gaëlle Le Pavic (KIU Research Fellow) / Sabine von Löwis (ZOiS): Social support and solidarity towards Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s full-scale invasion in counter-intuitive settings: the case of Transnistria

Wednesday, 9 July 2025, 1 p.m., GD 206, Gräfin-Dönhoff-building, Europaplatz 1, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder) | This presentation explores social support and solidarity practices towards Ukrainians displaced to Transnistria following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Existing research highlights the crucial role of personal networks in providing social support, alongside the limited involvement of Transnistrian authorities in delivering humanitarian help to displaced Ukrainians. It also aims to speak about these support mechanisms within Transnistria’s complex geopolitical landscape. The exploratory studies of the displaced Ukrainians’ experience emphasise the importance of geographical proximity and social networks in the choice of Ukrainians to relocate to Transnistria, where 26% of inhabitants identify as Ukrainian.

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On War and Empathy: Lithuanian Volunteer Engagement in Ukraine

8 July 2025, 12 am to 1.30 pm, ZOiS, Mohrenstraße 60, 10117 Berlin KIU BRIEFING ON UKRAINE/ Lithuania stands out as one of Ukraine’s most ardent supporters – not only at the governmental level, but also through extensive civil society engagement. Dozens of Lithuanian volunteers and organisations are actively delivering humanitarian aid and medical support to Ukraine – often at personal risk. What motivates these people and what is the end goal of their sustained involvement?

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Roman Petrov (National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy): Can EU External Action ensure justice and fair Peace Deal for Ukraine in Trump 2.0 era? Mission im/possible?

UKRAINE LECTURE SERIES/ Monday, 7 July 2025, 6 pm, GD 102 EU External Action took its recent shape in 2009 when the Treaty of Lisbon entered into force. Since than the EU External Action has been seen as a successful tool for the EU to act as a global player and to promote its common values and its acquis via soft power, conditionality policy and EU enlargement. However, since 2014 the EU has faced a new world order where some superpowers annexed territories, launched brutal military aggression and consistently disregarded international law. Arrival of the Trump Administration in 2025 urges the EU and its Member States to consolidate mutual solidarity and to enhance their common foreign and security policy and to build up common defence mechanisms and to ensure justice and fair Peace Deal for Ukraine.

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KIU Summer School 2025: Application portal is now open

Viadrina University invites students to the second KIU Summer School in Frankfurt (Oder), 8–19 September 2025. Under the theme ‘Ukraine in Europe: Controversies, Complexities and Agency’, the programme brings together international students and scholars to explore Ukraine’s cultural, political and historical ties with Europe. Highlights include a European integration simulation, conflict management workshops, and sessions on Crimean Tatar studies, alongside Ukrainian language courses, excursions and public discussions. Participants will receive travel reimbursement (up to €350) and a daily allowance. Deadline: 20 July 2025. | Open to BA, MA and PhD students worldwide.

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Conference The Civil Sphere in Central and Eastern Europe

Conference: The civil sphere in Central and Eastern Europe

On 30 June and 1 July, the conference ‘The civil sphere in Central and Eastern Europe’ will take place at the European University Viadrina. It features presentations and discussions with scholars from Europe and the U.S., focusing on case studies from Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria, and post-socialist East Germany. The event focuses on the roots of special civic and social dynamics in the region and their implications for current political realities and Europe's broader geopolitical context. | Participation in the full conference or individual sessions is welcome. Registration: civilsphere@europa-uni.de

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Keynote lecture: Can civil peace extend beyond the nation state? Europe, NATO and the US in the shadow of the Russia–Ukraine war

6 p.m. - 8p.m. | Jeffrey C. Alexander, Lillian Chavenson Saden Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Yale University, founder of cultural sociology and leading theorist of the civil sphere, will give a public lecture at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder). His lecture, titled ‘Can Civil Peace Extend beyond the Nation State? Europe, NATO, and the U.S. in the Shadow of the Russia-Ukraine War,’ will take place in the Senaatssaal HG 109 (Große Scharrnstraße 59) and will be followed by a Q&A session and reception. Join us at the Viadrina for this special occasion!

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Fellowships and Programmes

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Fellowships

The KIU Research Fellowship in Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies supports innovative and significant research on topics related to Ukraine.

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Programmes

The KIU Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies Frankfurt (Oder) – Berlin offers various programmes. Among them is its first Summer School on "War in Ukraine: Destruction of heritage – mastering legacy".

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Partners

Funded by

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with funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA)