International researchers are starting exciting projects in Essen!

International researchers are starting exciting projects in Essen!

On March 11, 2025, ten international researchers began their six-month fellowships at the College for Social Sciences and Humanities. This program is part of the third cohort of the Senior Fellowship Program, which aims to promote interdisciplinary exchange. The new fellows come from numerous countries, including Austria, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Great Britain, the USA and Uzbekistan. During the 2025 summer semester, they will actively work with partners from the Ruhr University Alliance, give lectures and organize various scientific events.

At the Welcome Day on March 4, 2025, the Senior Fellows presented their research projects and gave an outlook on planned activities with their tandem partners. The fellows' thematic focuses include, among others, the sociology of aging, the philosophy of mind, German literature and culture, Egyptology, linguistics, socioeconomics, international relations and university policy. This wide range of topics promises to be a valuable enrichment for academic discourse at the university.

Interdisciplinary exchange

The College's Scientific Board warmly welcomed the visiting scientists and wished them a productive stay. Prof. Dr. Ute Schneider from the University of Duisburg-Essen emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary exchange and emphasized that the fellows represent a valuable addition to the scientific landscape. This is in line with the goals of the international senior fellowship program, which promotes sustainable international partnerships and multilateral research collaborations.

Every year, up to 20 internationally recognized scientists are selected who are active members of foreign universities or research institutions and can demonstrate an outstanding research profile. The thematic openness and collaborative approach through tandem partnerships are at the heart of the program, which promotes exchange between the fellows and the scientists of the Ruhr University Alliance.

Strategic importance and promotion

The federal government is pursuing a clear strategy for the internationalization of science and research. This strategy has three focuses: strengthening professional expertise worldwide, promoting global research collaborations and training young scientists. As current developments show, cross-border questions in research, such as regional studies in Germany, are a clear indication of the need for international cooperation.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) plays a central role by promoting the communication of scientific knowledge. These include programs such as Horizon Europe, which, with a budget of approximately 95.5 billion euros between 2021 and 2027, represents the largest research and innovation funding within the EU. Horizon Europe's Cluster 2, entitled “Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society”, provides 2.3 billion euros in funding to better understand societies and accompany social transformations.

The National Contact Points (NKS) offer advice for applicants, while the Net4Society network supports international networking and partner searches for projects. An example of such a project is EMBRACE, which examines obstacles to democratization in the European neighborhood and seeks solutions.

In summary, the current fellowship program in the College for Social Sciences and Humanities not only represents a valuable opportunity for exchange and collaboration, but also reflects the ongoing development and support of international research efforts. Further information about the fellows and their projects can be found on the college's website.