Ukraine Days NRW at the University of Duisburg-Essen, 29. – 28. September 2023 of the German-Ukrainian Academic Society (DUAG) & the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

On September 28 and 29, the University of Duisburg-Essen and the German-Ukrainian Academic Society (DUAG) with the support of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) hosted the “Days of Ukraine in North-Rhine Westphalia 2023” in Essen. The Advisor to the Vice Rector for International Affairs of the University of Bonn, Amanda Henson, attended the two-day conference as a representative of the Cologne/Bonn Academy in Exile (CBA). The CBA was represented among the poster presentations and the connection of two of our Ukrainian CBA fellows, Professor Dr. Iryna Petrova and Professor Dr. Daria Vystavkina, to DUAG activities was also recognised. With talks from representatives of the DUAG, DAAD, universities in NRW, as well as universities and civil society organizations in Ukraine on numerous collaborative academic projects in research, learning and teaching; not only on the scientific level, but also in higher education administration, our advisor walked away with a better understanding of the bi-national project and funding landscape. The attendance of the conference – which also included a speech from the Consul General of Ukraine in Düsseldorf, Iryna Shum, and a musical performance from the folk music trio from Donetsk, Dyvyna, as well as ample opportunities for networking with researchers and representatives of various organizations – certainly enriched the foundational knowledge the Academy needs to progress in its work.