Opening of the Ukrainian Week at Viadrina

Anyone interested is warmly invited to attend the opening in the Logensaal at the Viadrina, Logenstraße 11, in Frankfurt (Oder). For more information on the programme and registration: www.europa-uni.de/ukrainianweek

“Back in July 2026, Viadrina was the only German university to be honoured by the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies for its efforts in establishing Ukrainian studies – and by launching Ukrainian Week, we are reaffirming our commitment,” says Dr Susann Worschech, coordinator of the KIU – Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies
Frankfurt (Oder)-Berlin. On the opening day of Ukrainian Week, Viadrina will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies as the first public German university. The aim of the agreement is to further strengthen German-Ukrainian university cooperation and to expand Ukrainian Studies in Germany, and particularly at Viadrina University. In doing so, the European University is underlining its profile in Ukrainian Studies – unique in Germany – and providing clear impetus for its targeted further development.

Programme

1 pm: Official opening featuring, amongst others, Viadrina President Prof. Dr Eduard Mühle, Oleksii Makeiev, Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, as well as representatives of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, the Federal Foreign Office and the State of Brandenburg

1.45 pm: Dr Olha Oseredchuk, Head of the Project Office of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies presents the Coalition’s work

2 pm: Signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation

2.15 pm: Opening of the exhibition ‘Crimea: Over a Decade Under the Russian Occupation’

Coffee break

3.30 pm: Researchers from all Faculties at the European University Viadrina present current projects of Ukrainian Studies at Viadrina

4.30 pm: Panel discussion on the topic “Security & Resilience for a European Future” with

• Pavlo Klimkin, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and former Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany
• Dr Andrea Lübcke, Member of the German Bundestag
• Prof. Dr Jan C. Behrends, historian, Viadrina
• Prof. Dr Olena Palko, historian, University of Basel

Moderated by Dr Susann Worschech, Viadrina

Coffee break

6 pm: Keynote speech on the topic ‘Freedom despite: why Ukraine matters for Europe’ with Prof. Dr Volodymyr Yermolenko, philosopher, journalist and writer, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy

From 7 pm: Reception

The event will be held in English.

Background: Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies

The Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies was launched in July 2024 by Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine. The Coalition’s work is coordinated by the Fund of the President of Ukraine for the Support of Education, Science and Sports, the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Ukrainian Institute, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. Since its establishment, the Coalition has already organised Ukrainian Weeks in Spain, France, Poland and the United Kingdom. To date, 93 international academic institutions have signed the Coalition’s Memorandum of Cooperation.

Background: Ukrainian Week

Ukrainian Week in Germany will take place from 12 to 16 October 2026 at selected German universities and academic institutions; in addition to the opening event at the European University Viadrina, universities in Tübingen, Regensburg and Munich, amongst others, are taking part. The event is organised by the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, the Ukrainian Institute and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Federal Republic of Germany.

The aim of Ukrainian Week is to strengthen cooperation between German and Ukrainian universities, to further expand Ukrainian studies at German higher education institutions, and to establish lasting links between the two countries with regard to teaching and research on Ukraine. A key element of this is the signing of cooperation agreements between German universities and the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies. The agreement covers, amongst other things, the expansion of course programmes on Ukrainian topics, academic exchanges with Ukrainian universities, and joint programmes and projects.