The Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile (CBA) founded in the summer of 2022 supports researchers from Ukraine who fled the war in their country. It additionally supports researchers from Belarus and Russia who had to flee their countries due to their opposition to the war. The researchers have been invited to continue their academic work at the Universities of Cologne and Bonn. Considering the potential of Ukraine to become a member of the European Union in the future, the work of the researchers and the academy will focus on the expansion of region-specific knowledge and European integration, as well as their incorporation and that of their research into the European scientific community while preserving national ties.

After the first selection round, 11 researchers will be welcomed into the Academy, of which six are from Ukraine, three from Russia and two from Belarus. Six of them will continue their research projects in the fields of law, history, culture, language, as well as social and political sciences at the University of Bonn and five at the University of Cologne. While the Academy does not provide direct funding, it will assist them in applying for third-party funding for their projects. In addition to equipped offices and administrative support, they will also be mentored by German researchers at the two universities in their respective fields, facilitating their integration into the local, national and European academic landscape.

In addition to integrating the visiting scholars and scientists into existing networks, the Academy will develop its own scientific formats for the targeted promotion of the admitted members and their research. The first of these will be its opening event, the upcoming Winter School on the topic of “The Future of Eastern Europe” from 16 to 19 January 2023 in both Cologne and Bonn. Here, the new members will have the opportunity to present their projects. The thematic framework will be provided by current research debates on German and international politics since 1989 in relation to Eastern Europe as well as the current situation in Ukraine, which will be discussed by Academy Professors Martin Aust, Andreas Heinemann-Grüder, Johanna Hey, Fabian Klose, Claus Kreß, Birgit Ulrike Münch, Angelika Nußberger and others.
 

Media contact:
Universität zu Köln
Prorektorat für Internationales
cb-academyuni-koeln.de

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Prorektorat für Internationales
cb-academyuni-bonn.de