Following an invitation from the Rectorate, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Federal Foreign Minister, visited the University of Greifswald on the 13th July 2016. Before his public speech with the title “German Foreign Politics in Turbulent Times”, he found out more about the small subjects that cover eastern Europe at the Institute of Slavonic Studies.
At the end of 2015, the Federal Foreign Office and the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern arranged the creation of a junior professorship for Ukrainian Cultural Studies at the University of Greifswald. The costs of approximately 1.6 million Euros for the next ten years are being shared by the Federal Foreign Office, the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the University of Greifswald.
“It is the teaching of Ukrainian Studies that distinguishes the University of Greifswald in particular. Ukrainian language, literature and culture are taught here in a unique way for Germany. That is right and important; and it has to be maintained, because if you take a look at the crises in our neighbouring countries, it is apparent that we need this regional competence more than ever. That’s why I am very happy that last year we were able to secure this unique profile of Ukrainian Studies here in Greifswald, together with the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern”, said Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“The Federal Foreign Office helped to maintain our Ukrainian and Baltic Studies with generous project funding in a critical situation. I am very grateful to Frank-Walter Steinmeier that he managed to find time to visit our Institute of Slavonic Studies and I’m looking forward to an interesting speech on current issues,” explained Rector Prof. Johanna Eleonore Weber.
The junior professorship for Ukrainian Cultural Studies has now been advertised. The goal is to find someone for the position as soon as possible.
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