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

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 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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News

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KIU Recommends - Endsongs. кінечні пісні. reading & talk with ukrainian poet Iryna Shuvalova

Join for an inspiring evening with acclaimed Ukrainian poet Iryna Shuvalova, featuring a reading and conversation in Ukrainian and English with Host Peggy Lohse in the Kukuryko Bar. Experience powerful contemporary poetry and an engaging discussion about language, identity, and Ukraine’s literary voice. Free entry – all are welcome!

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New KIU Publication: Freiheitschauplatz Ukraine by Susann Worschech

We are delighted to announce the release of Freiheitschauplatz Ukraine, a groundbreaking new volume published by Dr. Susann Worschech, KIU Scientific Coordinator.

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Mikhailo Minakov Membership in the EU: Perspectives of Ukrainian elites and society

28.04.25 Mykhailo Minakov (European University Viadrina), Membership in the EU: Perspectives of Ukrainian elites and society Since 2014, Ukraine has paid — and continues to pay — a significant price for its European choice. But who or what influenced this choice? How did various social groups perceive the European perspective during different periods of contemporary Ukrainian history? What achievements have been realized so far? Mykhailo Minakov will provide answers to these questions. He will examine the evolution of Ukrainians’ views on Europe and the European Union and offer insights into how a society can make a historical choice. (Lecture in cooperation with Viadrina Master of Arts in European Studies/DAAD, followed by a reception)

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Panel Discussion - Ukraine in Europe: What controversies complexities and agency determine our common future?

We are happy to announce the start of Ukraine Lecture Series on Monday, 14 April, 6 P.M. at Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder). Location: Gräfin-Dönhoff-Building (GD 102)Europaplatz 1, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder) The lecture series will be opened with the PANEL DISCUSSION ´Ukraine in Europe: What controversies, complexities and agency determine our common future?´ This panel discussion ist the opening debate for our Ukraine lecture series. It will explore Ukraine's relationship with Europe and the EU, examining key events, policies, and milestones since Ukraine’s independence. It will address the EU’s commitment to Ukraine’s accession, perspectives from the Baltic states, and whether European research overlooked the East. Additionally, the panel will consider Europe’s role in restoring peace in Ukraine, exploring both EU and Ukrainian expectations. This discussion will serve as an introduction to broader topics in the lecture series. Participants: Timm Beichelt (European University Viadrina), Ljudmyla Melnyk (Institut für Europäische Politik e.V.), Fausta Šimaitytė (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Lithuania); Moderation: Jan Claas Behrends (European Universty Viadrina, ZZF Potsdam) Language: Englisch Supported by DAAD Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst with funds from the Foreign Federal Office (AA.)

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KIU Guest Professorship Competition Winter Term 2025/2026 - The application portal is now open!

The application portal for the KIU Research Fellowship has been opened. The position is dedicated to interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies and welcomes scholars from diverse fields to teach MA courses at the European University Viadrina. The umbrella topic for the semester is: ‘Infrastructural Fragmentation, Infrastructural Resilience – Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Techno-Politics and Crisis.’ The monthly stipend is €2300, plus a one-time travel allowance of up to €600. Deadline for applications: 30 April 2025.

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Welcoming Guest Professor N. Steblyna – Exclusive Courses Now Available!

Exploring Media in Times of War – Guest Professor Nataliia Steblyna at Viadrina We are excited to welcome Ukrainian journalist and media scholar Dr. Nataliia Steblyna as a guest professor at Viadrina for the summer semester of 2025! As the first visiting professor at the KIU Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies, she brings unique insights into the challenges of contemporary media landscapes. In her courses, Dr. Steblyna will engage students in critical discussions on digital media analysis, Russian propaganda, and communication in times of war. Her expertise is shaped by firsthand experience, as her university was forced to relocate from eastern Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an expert on the frontlines of media and political analysis! Digital instruments for media and political analysis, Thursday, 11-13 A.M. (GD 201) Hacking and Restoring the Truth (Modern Russian propaganda studies): Thursday, 9-11 A.M. (GD 2021) Media. War. Digitalization, Wednesday, 2-4 P.M. (GD 201)

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NEW Lecture Series Summer Semester 2025

Europe and Ukrainian European identity have long been important topics in Ukraine, while from a Western European perspective, Ukraine was in a marginal position for a long time. Today, Ukrainian-European entanglements are being researched more intensively, and the issue of Ukrainian membership in the European Union has gained new momentum. The lecture series analyses Ukrainian-European relations, cooperation, conflicts, cultural references and dynamics, both in relation to Europe as a whole and to the European Union.

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Course Catalogue Sommer Semester 2025

New Courses Summer Semester 2025

New Lecture Series and 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. At EUV, students can explore courses such as "Ukrainian Literature: Texts and Their Translations" and "Ukrainian Language Courses" for various proficiency levels, including A1, A2, B1 & B2.1. We look forward to welcoming students to engage in these enriching academic experiences.

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"When War Ends, Peace Does Not Automatically Begin" – An Interview with KIU Fellow Tetiana Kalenychenko

How do you resolve social conflicts in a country that is at war? How do you facilitate dialogue within society and what role does religion play in the cohesion of societies? Sociologist Dr. Tetiana Kalenychenko has been working on these questions for a long time and is deepening her research during her KIU scholarship at the Viadrina. Tetiana Kalenychenko is based in the Bucha district and works all over Ukraine. That used to include the Donetsk and Luhansk region. Since more than three years, it doesn’t anymore. Tetiana Kalenychenko is one of the KIU fellows, who was supported directly on site in Ukraine. She holds a doctorate in sociology of religion and primarily conducts research on peace and conflict, but also works actively as a dialogue facilitator and mediator. The fact that she deals with these topics on several levels mainly has advantages, she says: “As a researcher, I deal with the issues and then can check directly in the field whether it works. I really enjoy that.” She has been researching these topics since 2015. A lot has changed since then, the situation is very dynamic. The Russian attack on Ukraine in particular was a major turning point in her work and research.

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First episode of interview series 'KIUrious' out now

We are launching the first episode of KIUrious - an interview format that sheds light on the research undertaken within the KIU network. Susann Worschech, KIU academic coordinator, speaks about KIU and Ukrainian Studies and its potentials within academia and society.

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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)