- Goals and Tasks
- Focus Areas
- Main Research
- Conference 2011
- Team
Development of Focus Areas at Freie Universität Berlin
The core idea of the concept of Focus Areas is that researchers from various disciplines work together on large-scale research projects aimed at exploring topics that are highly relevant across a broad cross-section of society. Source: Bernd Wannenmacher
The future concept of the "International Network University” put forward by Freie Universität received distinction in the Excellence Competition conducted among German higher education institutions. A central element of the university’s restructuring is the targeted development of research alliances termed “Focus Areas.”
The core idea of the concept is that scholars and scientists from various departments, disciplines, and institutions work together on large-scale research projects aimed at exploring topics that are highly relevant across a broad cross-section of society. This approach helps strengthen and further develop emphases within the research conducted at the university.
The Center for Cluster Development is tasked with providing assistance and support for the successful building, management, and development of these overarching Focus Areas at Freie Universität, along with other cooperative research projects.
This approach of pursuing joint research on specific topics within Focus Areas and collaborative research projects helps to maintain and ensure the high quality of the research performed at Freie Universität. In addition, close ties with the Center for International Cooperation help to raise the international profile of the Focus Areas at Freie Universität. These clusters also offer outstanding educational conditions and opportunities for professional and career development for junior scholars and scientists. Structured educational programs and the additional courses offered at Dahlem Research School are factors that provide particular support for doctoral candidates.
The university’s Focus Areas form academic networks and working platforms that can be used as a basis for applying for various kinds of support for specific projects, from collaborative research centers via the funding provided by the DFG (German Research Foundation) for excellence to European alliance projects. The life cycles of the Focus Areas are dependent on the scientific and academic progress made within the cluster, the development of resources and competencies, and society’s demand for the topics on which the researchers are working.
