Seen from Germany, recent trends in the internationalization of research present a paradox, reflecting the intricated nature of current international politics. On one side, we are witnessing a geographical widening of internationalization. More and more countries have successfully developed their research capacities, particularly at universities, thus deepening their integration into the global science system. This expansion has fostered more collaborations, particularly in North-South and South-South partnerships, which have long been marginal, but are now increasingly gaining traction. The question remains on how to design them to foster equitability between the partners involved. On the other side, geopolitical tensions are having a growing impact on international research collaboration. Research and innovation have developed into a focal point of a fierce global competition. In this context, governments across various regions are becoming more inclined to restrict international cooperation in strategically sensitive fields or to prioritize collaborations with politically aligned countries. This track of the Staff Week will address how universities navigate these contradictory trends in internationalization. The program will consist of a mix of inputs from staff of the Berlin University Alliance (the consortium of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin) as well as participant presentations.

Further information: BUA Berlin Center for Global Engagement

  

Please review our draft agenda. As this is a preliminary version, the program remains subject to change and will be further developed in the coming months, also taking into account participants’ input.

Participation in this track is limited to a maximum of 30 participants.

The application period will end on 26 January 2026. As we usually receive more applications than available places, the motivation questions in the application form are an important part of the selection process – we therefore kindly ask you to complete them carefully. The program is designed for active participation, and contributions from participants are warmly welcomed.