“Denkraum Ukraine” celebrates its 1st anniversary!
“Denkraum Ukraine” at the University of Regensburg is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) though the funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) from 2024 to 2028. The goal of our center is to contribute to establishing interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies structurally in Germany and to strengthen research, education, and public dialogue about Ukraine.
About “Denkraum Ukraine” / “Think Space Ukraine”
“Denkraum Ukraine” at the University of Regensburg is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) though the funds from the Federal Foreign Office (AA) from 2024 to 2028. The goal of our center is to contribute to establishing interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies structurally in Germany and to strengthen research, education, and public dialogue about Ukraine.
The center’s topics range from language and cultural heritage to war and peace, as well as flight, migration, and regional diversity. Learn more about our research areas
Events and collaborations with partners from Ukraine, Germany, and other countries foster scholarly exchange and create a platform for dialogue across disciplinary boundaries.
“Denkraum Ukraine” was officially opened on October 2, 2024, with a festive event in the Historical Imperial Hall of the Old Town Hall in the city of Regensburg.
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Guido Hausmann, Co-Chair the Center, emphasized:
“The ‘Denkraum Ukraine’ center is intended to be a place of open dialogue and academic debate about Ukraine. At a time when Ukraine is at the center of global political discussions, it is more important than ever to research and communicate its history, culture, and prospects.” To the press release (in German)
You can learn more about the project's goals, its topics, the center's significance for the University of Regensburg and the city of Regensburg, and DAAD programs supporting Ukraine in short interviews on our YouTube channel.
Our network
The Management Board of “Denkraum Ukraine” brings together nine renowned experts on Ukraine from various disciplines. Its members bring many years of research experience, international networks, and specific expertise in the politics, society, law, culture, and history of Ukraine, and work in four research areas:
• Language and cultural heritage,
• Flight, migration, and value transfer,
• War, peace, and post-war order,
• Regional diversity: comparing industry and border regions.
The interdisciplinarity is a central foundation of our work: it enables us to consider current developments and historical contexts in all their complexity, while combining different scientific perspectives.
The Management Board advises on strategic decisions, develops thematic priorities, and actively participates in the development of our projects, events, and publications.
The expertise of the members also flows into collaborations with 15 partner institutions and other research projects, as well as into public debate - for example, through lectures, interviews, and publications.
Ukrainian language courses
Starting in the winter semester of 2024, Ukrainian courses for different target groups and language levels are offered at the University of Regensburg. The courses are led by Dr. Oksana Turkevych and take various formats. In addition to the courses for students and employees of the University of Regensburg, the course “Ukrainian Language for Everyone” is open for anyone interested, regardless of their affiliation with the university.
“With this new offering, we want to not only promote language skills, but also strengthen understanding of Ukrainian culture and society,” explains Prof. Dr. Mirja Lecke, Co-Chair of “Denkraum Ukraine” and professor of Slavic literature and cultural studies at the University of Regensburg.
International Fellowship Program
The first round of our International Fellowship Program began in 2025. From over 200 applications, 35 people were selected for 24 sur-place fellowships, 9 short-term, and 2 long-term fellowships. While the short- and long-term fellows work and conduct research on site in Regensburg, the sur-place fellowships are designed to support and stabilize academic life in Ukraine during these difficult times.
You can learn more about our fellows here
Our fellows' research interests span a wide range of topics — from modern German literature and the impact of forced Ukrainian migration on EU demographics to 20th-century Ukrainian theater and the study of mental health in academia during wartime.
In our blog, the fellows share insights from their research, personal impressions, and reflections on current issues surrounding Ukraine.
“My DU Fellowship was marked by the team's incredible support and a wonderfully friendly atmosphere, alongside the stimulating environment of the university and city, creating ideal conditions for research. The Workshop „Forced Migrations and Refugees in modern Ukraine: War and Post-war arenas” was particularly inspiring—its depth and discussions opened new perspectives for my work. This experience proved immensely fruitful both professionally and personally,” - Tetyana Panchenko, Fellow of „Denkraum Ukraine“ 2025.
“I have long envisioned a study on the representation of Ukrainian migrants in the media — tracing its historical development, comparing narratives across outlets, and uncovering the subtle tools and codes that shape public behavior. I designed a detailed research algorithm to guide this work, but the realities of the full-scale war postponed its implementation. I am deeply grateful to the coordinators of Denkraum Ukraine for recognizing the value of this idea and giving me the opportunity to bring it to life. I wish the Denkraum Ukraine team the courage to continue fostering spaces where stories can be told, examined, and transformed into the shared understanding that shapes a democratic future,” - Iryna Matsyshyna, Fellow of “Denkraum Ukraine“ 2025.
*This winter school was organized in collaboration with the project “HER-UKR: Challenges and Opportunities for EU Cultural Heritage Diplomacy in Ukraine,” funded by the European Union under the ERASMUS+ Jean Monnet Policy Debate Action. The event was organized in close cooperation with the following partner universities: Kyiv-Mohyla Academy National University (Kyiv, Ukraine), Södertörn University (Stockholm, Sweden), Ilia National University (Tbilisi, Georgia), and in Germany with the Ukrainian Free University (UFU, Munich), Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and the Leibniz Institute for East and Southeast European Studies (IOS) Regensburg.
You can find out more about the winter school in the report at the link >
You can learn more about the workshop in this report >
Organizers: Leibniz Science Campus “Europe and America in a Modern World,” Graduate School for East and Southeast European Studies at the University of Regensburg, Denkraum Ukraine, University of Regensburg, Bavarian University Alliance for Peace, Conflict and Security Research.
Organizers: “Denkraum Ukraine,” Ukrainian Free University Munich, Zentrum Liberale Moderne, and Peutinger Collegium, Photo: Denys Dolzhenko
Events
Book presentations, lectures, exhibitions, discussions, workshops, and much more - in our first year of work, we (co-)organized over 30 events. These ranged from smaller formats such as readings of contemporary Ukrainian literature or lectures on historical and political topics, to events lasting several days, such as our winter school or thematic workshops.
This way, we create spaces for in-depth engagement with Ukraine in all its cultural, historical, and social diversity. The events are aimed equally at an academic audience, students, the interested public, and actors from politics, media, and culture.
Our events are deliberately interdisciplinary and multilingual. They bring together researchers, cultural professionals, media representatives, and activists in direct exchange - not only from Germany and Ukraine, but also from other countries in Europe and beyond.
Outlook
After an intensive first year, we are looking to the future with enthusiasm.
Coming calls for scholarship applications will enable us to stimulate new research and strengthen international cooperation. In addition, we are planning thematic conferences, interdisciplinary workshops, and events for a broad audience, including readings, exhibitions, and discussions.
Our goal is to further establish the “Denkraum Ukraine” as a platform where science, culture, and the public can meet. We want to build bridges - between disciplines and countries - and thus contribute to a well-founded, multifaceted, and sustainable dialogue about Ukraine.