The President’s Executive Council of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has decided to suspend all ongoing agreements for collaboration with Russian partners in research and teaching until further notice.

In concrete terms, this means:

• Collaborative and mobility programmes with Russian universities are being suspended.
• No business trips or excursions to Russia are taking place.
• Procurement and orders of research equipment from Russia are being halted.
• Collaboration in joint research projects has been suspended.

Humboldt-Universität distinguishes between institutions and individuals. This means that these measures will not result in any consequences for Russian students in bachelor's, master's or doctoral programmes at HU – they are HU students. However, the decision will have an impact on joint doctoral and double degree programmes. Individual solutions will be developed for students and doctoral candidates who are enrolled in such programmes. The same applies to students from Russian partner universities who are currently in Germany on programmes.

"In view of the dramatic developments in Ukraine, we are forced to take such a stand," says Prof. Dr Peter Frensch, Acting President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. "This war in the middle of Europe threatens peace, freedom and democracy, and thus also the very foundations of academic freedom and academic collaboration." The university’s management acknowledges the statement from hundreds of Russian scientists coming out in opposition to the war of aggression in Ukraine. “Humboldtians see themselves as builders of bridges between countries and cultures. This applies, above all, with regard to Eastern Europe – especially in view of our own history,” says Peter Frensch. “We will resume our collaborations with our partner institutions in Russia as soon as the preconditions for this have been satisfied. Above all, that means an end to Putin’s war against Ukraine.”

Support for students and academics

Humboldt-Universität’s solidarity goes out, in particular, to the people in Ukraine. All Humboldtians are invited to take a stand together against war and violence on Friday, 4th March. In addition, Humboldt-Universität is offering tangible support to Ukrainian students and researchers.

This includes the following measures:

• Humboldt-Universität is setting up an emergency aid fund for Ukrainian students.
• As part of "Refugees Welcome @ HU" and "Scholars at Risk", Ukrainian academics and students are being given comprehensive advice on residency issues and matters of social welfare.
• Ukrainian students and researchers at HU as well as faculties with research collaborations in Russia and Ukraine are being given a special range of advisory services.
• Humboldt-Universität is striving to enable Ukrainian academics and students to press ahead with and complete their studies and their own research projects in Berlin as part of funding programmes.

"We will not leave our Ukrainian fellow students or our Ukrainian colleagues alone," says Dr Yoan Vilain, the President's Representative for International and European Affairs. “Our offers of assistance are closely coordinated with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany. Furthermore, we want to pool our joint efforts in the Berlin University Alliance to an even greater degree in the future.”

There are currently several doctoral students and research associates from Ukraine doing research at the HU. Humboldt-Universität also collaborates with the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in Ukraine, and it runs three exchange programmes with these institutions.

There are currently around 200 students with Ukrainian citizenship studying at Humboldt-Universität. Around 460 students with Russian citizenship are enrolled at the university.

Information for Russian students of Humboldt-Universität

Further Information

Contacts

Hans-Christoph Keller
Press Spokesperson of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin

Phone: 030 2093-12710
hans-christoph.keller@hu-berlin.de

Dr. Yoan Vilain
Presidential Commissioner for International Affairs and Europe

international-department@hu-berlin.de