International

HU es­tab­lish­es part­ner­ship with the Col­lège de France

Thomas Römer, Administrateur at the Collège de France, and Yoan Vilain, Vice-Provost for International and European Affairs at HU, have signed the new partnership agreement. Photo: David Glowksy

With the Collège de France (CdF), Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has gained one of France’s oldest and most prestigious research institutions as a partner. A new agreement aims to facilitate exchange with leading researchers across a wide range of disciplines.

Through this partnership, HU not only strengthens its visibility in the French-speaking world, but also gains direct access to a unique institution that combines world-class research with a strong commitment to public engagement and social responsibility. At the heart of the cooperation lies the reciprocal exchange of guest researchers.

Up to three invitations may be extended annually by each institution. These research stays are intended to foster academic networking, the exchange of innovative research approaches, and the organisation of joint events such as public lectures, seminars and workshops. For 2026, HU has already invited three distinguished scholars as guests: anthropologist, sociologist and physician Didier Fassin; legal scholar Samantha Besson; and linguist Luigi Rizzi.

A contribution to science diplomacy

To mark the signing of the agreement, Thomas Römer, Administrateur of the CdF, visited Humboldt-Universität on 2 July. Yoan Vilain, Vice-Provost for International and European Affairs, welcomed Römer and signed the partnership agreement on behalf of HU. On 3 July, Römer visited the Faculty of Theology, where he gave a public lecture on the story of Joseph – drawing on his expertise as one of the world’s leading scholars of the Old Testament.

Founded in 1530, the Collège de France is part of the Université Paris Sciences et Lettres, with which HU had already concluded a broader cooperation agreement in June 2025. Together, these agreements pave the way for a deeper institutional partnership and represent a contribution to Franco-German science diplomacy.

03.07.2025