Vice President for International Affairs at Freie Universität Berlin Professor Verena Blechinger-Talcott explained, “Freie Universität’s liaison offices are set up in regions that, on the one hand, are of particular academic interest for members of the university and offer a great deal of scientific potential. On the other hand, however, collaborating with these regions often involves particular challenges. Freie Universität Berlin has been active in Russia and a wide range of other Eastern European countries for more than seventy years. This is a feat that is in large part due to the Institute for East European Studies. As a result of this long history, Freie Universität saw itself unable to withdraw from the region entirely, yet unable to remain in Moscow due to current circumstances. By relocating its liaison office to Tbilisi, Freie Universität has thus emphasized the continued importance of the region for the university. We are looking forward to working more closely with institutions in Georgia, Ukraine, and other countries in the region.”

Tobias Stüdemann, director of the liaison office, said, “The welcoming, open nature of Georgia meant that Tbilisi was a clear choice for a liaison office. The country is now known as an important place of exchange, not only for academics and scientists who have fled Russia, but also for many displaced researchers from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This is something that we wish to support on site through our physical presence in Georgia. Furthermore, we see this as an opportunity to build up Freie Universität’s networks in the area. One example of a recent event that brought together several institutions from the region is the conference “Universities at the Crossroads: Academic Freedom in a Changing World,” which took place in Tbilisi at the beginning of the month with the support of Freie Universität.”

In addition to numerous informal collaborations, Freie Universität and various departments within Freie Universität have concluded many contracts with institutions in the region over the years, including six Ukrainian universities and the Council of Rectors of Ukrainian Institutions of Higher Education, as well as five universities in Russia (with whom relationships have currently been suspended). Furthermore, Freie Universität is involved in three collaborations with Georgian institutions and two Armenian institutions. It also maintains partnerships with three research institutions in Uzbekistan and the Kazakh-German University. Discussions are currently taking place to organize additional projects with partner universities in Armenia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Freie Universität Berlin maintains a network of liaison offices that, in addition to the Eastern European Office in Tbilisi, includes the São Paulo Office, responsible for Brazil and South America; the Cairo Office, responsible for Egypt and the Middle East; and the New Delhi Office, responsible for India and Southeast Asia. Freie Universität also maintains a liaison office in Beijing, China, that is currently being run from Berlin. The liaison offices are tasked with supporting Freie Universität researchers in creating and maintaining international networks, boosting the university’s profile within the target regions, and promoting the recruitment of talented young researchers.