Viadrina starts German-Ukrainian study programs: A new educational path!

Viadrina starts German-Ukrainian study programs: A new educational path!

On May 19, 2025, the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) announced the upcoming introduction of German-Ukrainian degree programs in the areas of law and economics. This initiative is part of the project "Learning and Teaching Together. A German-Ukrainian University Network (LTT)", which is scheduled to start in July 2025. Loud europa-uni.de The project is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with 790,000 euros until 2029.

The aim of the project is to develop bilateral study programs and innovative teaching and learning spaces at universities in Germany and Ukraine. Project manager Stefan Henkel emphasizes that the focus of the measures is on creating sustainable structures for cooperation with Ukrainian partners.

Cooperation partners and study programs

Important cooperation partners were selected to realize the project. The Law School of the Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv as well as the Business School of the V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the Kyiv School of Economics are involved. At Viadrina, all three faculties, the International Affairs Department and the Center for Teaching and Learning were involved in the planning.

As part of the new course offerings, a double master's degree program in "Transitional Justice" is planned in cooperation with the Ukrainian Catholic University of Lviv and a double bachelor's degree program in "International Business Administration" with the Karazin University of Kharkiv. Innovative teaching formats should enable students, teachers and researchers to work more closely together.

Innovative teaching formats and exchange

Another important component of the project is the development of common learning spaces, so-called “shared classrooms”, as well as the use of collaborative online teaching to promote academic exchange. The aim of these measures is to strengthen international cooperation and intensify the transfer of knowledge between countries.

The project is part of the already active Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies Frankfurt (Oder) – Berlin (KIU) competence network, which promotes academic cooperation between German and Ukrainian universities. As part of the “German-Ukrainian University Network”, which the DAAD also supports, a total of 29 cooperation projects from German universities were selected that can hope for four-year funding.

Financial support and framework conditions

These extensive projects are financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which is providing a total of 24 million euros for the coming years. 47 Ukrainian universities are also involved in the funding projects, which underlines the intensity and scope of the academic relationships.

The DAAD funding program works in two modules. Module 1 aims to develop joint degree programs and courses, while Module 2 focuses on internationalization and improving university administration at Ukrainian partner universities daad.de.

German universities are becoming increasingly committed to promoting international university cooperation. The development of study programs and faculties abroad is becoming increasingly important. These steps are in line with the code for German university projects abroad, which has defined qualitative and academic minimum requirements for such initiatives since 2013 international-hochschulkooperationen.de.