International

Cen­tral Eu­ro­pean Net­work for Teach­ing and Re­search in Aca­d­e­m­ic Li­ai­son

All the buildings of the Czech capital, Prague.
Charles University in Prague is one of the five members of CENTRAL. In the foreground, the Faculty of Law. Photo: istockphoto.com

In the CENTRAL network, five renowned universities from Central European capitals are working on making the academic contribution of the Central/Eastern Europe region more visible on the continent and beyond.

Since 2014, Humboldt-Universität has been part of the CENTRAL network, which unites five universities from Central European capitals to realise the full potential of Central Europe as an outstanding centre of research and academic excellence. Together with Charles University in Prague, the University of Warsaw, Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest and the University of Vienna, we are working on making the academic contribution of the Central/Eastern Europe region more visible throughout Europe and beyond.

Our long-standing connection with Eastern Europe and strong partnerships in the region enable us to play an active shaping role in the network. CENTRAL is not only an association of universities, but also a driving force for change and innovation at the centre of Europe. We are jointly committed to pushing the boundaries of science, promoting the exchange of knowledge and addressing the challenges of our time through collaborative research and education.

In 2024, we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the network with a conference, on the basis of which an anthology is to be developed that presents the fruits of our joint research efforts. In this way, we are not only celebrating a decade of successful cooperation, but are also laying the foundations for the coming years of intensive scientific collaborations and ground-breaking research.

CENTRAL supports collaborations in the following three areas:

Research collaborations

As part of the CENTRAL workshops, researchers of Humboldt-Universität can deepen their networks and organise specialist meetings at the highest level. Holding two to three-day specialist meetings at one or two of the participating CENTRAL partner universities is promoted.

Additionally, researchers of Humboldt-Universität can realise bilateral cooperation projects with our CENTRAL partner universities. This occurs in particular through the Eastern Partnerships DAAD programme or the Erasmus+ programme.

Promotion of young talent

The CENTRAL Academy for Science Communication offers exclusive training for doctoral students who wish to expand their competences in the field of science communication. The CENTRAL Leadership Programme offers a tailor-made management programme for master’s students and doctoral students who wish to assume responsibility for and in Central Europe in a managerial position in their future career, particularly in politics and diplomacy.

Third Mission

CENTRAL supports projects with appeal in society, such as public lectures or small exhibitions. Applications for this purpose can be submitted at any time, unaccompanied by a form, to the CENTRAL coordinator of Humboldt-Universität, Dr. Stefan Karsch. Be a driver of innovation and help us to shape the future through your creative and socially relevant projects. We look forward to hearing your ideas!

In March 2024, the CENTRAL workshop Transformation of Memory Cultures and Politics was held at Humboldt-Universität. This workshop focused on the perspective of remembrance in the context of the dynamic and diverse transformations of societies in Central and South-Eastern Europe. In this regard, the characteristics of politics and cultures of remembrance in post-conflict, post-socialist and transition contexts in these regions were discussed, on the one hand, and case studies were placed in the broader transcultural framework of the European culture of remembrance, on the other.

With “The Vienna Circle – Exact Thinking in Demented Times”, CENTRAL designed an exhibition on the history of philosophy and presented it to the general public on the premises of three partner universities for several weeks. The exhibition could be seen at Humboldt-Universität in 2023. In the University of Vienna’s video, the curators of the exhibition also speak.

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Contact

    • Dr. Ste­fan Karsch

      Project manager CENTRAL | contract management | sensitive cooperations

      International and European science cooperation Unter den Linden 6, 10099 Berlin Room 2246b ste­fan.karsch@hu-berlin.de +49 30 2093 46714

Consultation

The consultation for HU members on collaboration opportunities as part of CENTRAL and the Eastern Partnerships takes place on the first Wednesday of every month from 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm.

Zoom link to consultation

    • CEN­TRAL Lead­er­ship Pro­gram

      With the CENTRAL Leadership Program, we are strengthening the leadership skills of young researchers to prepare them for challenging positions, particularly in politics and diplomacy. The core element is a three-week tour of the five CENTRAL locations.

      A group of girls sitting together and laughing. In the background, you can see a few people, streetlights, trees, and a building.