Check out the full report here!

Starting from 2007, Tongji Summer School has successfully took place for sixteen times, offering students from UoC and member institutions of China-NRW University Alliance (Uni Siegen, Uni Wuppertal, Uni Münster, TU Dortmund, Hochschule Bielefeld) to learn Chinese language and get to know local people, their way of life as well as Chinese culture.

-Well structured and intensive Chinese language courses, up to 45 learning hours, both at beginning level and advanced level

-Cultural events, about twice a week- Excursion to neighboring city: Hangzhou and Wuzhen

-Company visit to Taicang Industrial Park

-The host university is Tongji University, the Chinese university with most contacts with Germany.

Everyday we started with intense lecture, but still very rewarding, because we all learned a lot. We got challenges, but we succeeded and learned a little bit Chinese. We explored the city Shanghai, and Hangzhou and Wuzhen together. We had a wonderful program, perfectly designed. I think we all enjoyed the stay here, learned a lot and would like to show our gratitude to those who organised it and the teachers.

Student, University of Cologne

Die Summer School ist definitiv eines meiner größten Highlights aus dem Studium. Ich habe in China sehr gute Freunde gewonnen und Shanghai mit denen erkunden dürfen. Ich will auf jeden Fall nochmal nach China und könnte mir auch sehr gut vorstellen für ein paar Jahre dahin zu ziehen und dort zu arbeiten.Durch die Summer School habe ich gemerkt, dass ich sehr viel neugieriger über andere Kulturen geworden bin und auf jeden Fall mehr Sprachkurse an der TU belegen möchte.

Student, TU Dortmund

The KölnAlumni WELTWEIT Summer School 2025 brought together international alumni of the University of Cologne under the title “Fake² – Fake News and Deep Fakes.” For one week, participants from diverse disciplines discussed the opportunities and risks of digital developments and artificial intelligence. The program featured lectures by Prof. Dr. Berit Völzmann, Prof. Dr. Stephan Packard, Ingo Kleiber, and Oliver Rath, as well as contributions from international alumni. Highlights included a virtual reality tour of Cologne Cathedral, a visit to the RAMSES supercomputer and the 3D CAVE at the IT Competence Center. The welcome event, shared meals, and farewell dinner at Haus Unkelbach reflected the Summer School’s role as a vibrant meeting point of the University’s global alumni network. The event fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, strengthened long-standing academic connections, and offered space for new collaborations–linking innovation, research, and community across continents.

From September 29th to October 2nd of 2025, the University of Cologne hosted the KölnAlumni WELTWEIT Summer School under the theme “Fake² – Fake News and Deep Fakes.” International alumni from Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, all of whom once studied, researched or worked at the University of Cologne, came together to explore key questions of the digital information age. The event was supported by the Cologne University Foundation and Cologne Summer Schools.

The week began with a festive Welcome Event at the International House, featuring a catered reception and a talk celebrating ten years of KölnAlumni WELTWEIT. It offered the perfect opportunity to reconnect, exchange ideas and prepare for the academic discussions ahead. 

The academic programme examined fake news and deep fakes from legal, media and technological perspectives. Professor Berit Völzmann (Humboldt University Berlin) discussed legal aspects of deep fake pornography and the right to sexual self-determination. Oliver Rath (University of Cologne) analysed online disinformation and financial fraud. Professor Stephan Packard (University of Cologne) reflected on fake news and democracy in contemporary society. Ingo Kleiber (University of Cologne) spoke about the use of artificial intelligence in higher education. Alumni from Latin America, Asia and Europe added further case studies and perspectives, creating a lively interdisciplinary exchange.

A special highlight was the excursion day on Wednesday 1st. Participants experienced a virtu-al reality tour of Cologne Cathedral, linking history and innovation in a vivid and immersive way. After a shared lunch, the group visited the IT Competence Center for a tour of RAM-SES, one of Germany’s most powerful high performance computing systems. A demonstration in the CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) concluded the visit, showcasing three-dimensional visualisations used in advanced research. The closing day featured a certificate ceremony, followed by a cheerful farewell dinner at Haus Unkelbach and traditional bowling.

The KölnAlumni WELTWEIT Summer School 2025 combined academic depth, international perspectives and personal exchange. It showed how critical reflection, technological awaren-ess and global collaboration are essential for navigating today’s digital realities and how Cologne continues to be a place of learning, reunion and inspiration for its worldwide alumni community.

“I will especially remember the good mood of all participants, the organization of the and the friendliness of all summer school staff.”

Anonymous

“The tour of the cathedral was extremely exciting and really like traveling back in time! It was great to look back a few centuries and it was really immersive! I had a lot of fun! It was very nice!”

Anonymous

The Field School: URBAN COMMONS focuses on how we can conceive the complex fabric of contemporary cities as a commons. Departing from ideas for inclusivity, accessibility, and democracy in urban spaces, the Field School aims to widen our perspective on the city’s organization of human social life towards everything that contributes to it and is present in the city: not only buildings, streets and transportation but also plants, ground, water, air, pebbles, rocks, and animals. By understanding ourselves as part of the cities’ fabric, alongside all these fellow temporary and long-term inhabitants, we will think through our entanglements in the city with what appears unintentional and unplanned in the original urban order. Can commoning become a democratic-political opportunity to get involved and experience agency in one's own everyday life when understanding the city from the human’s others?

The second part of Field School: Urban Commons, hosted by the University of Cologne, started its intensive program on Monday with a Welcome for all participating students including a welcome dinner. Tuesday was dedicated to an introductory workshop titled “Hidden in Plain Sight”, which centered on exploring the surroundings of the campus, as well as the research and presentation of specific places, followed by individual project work, setting the foundation for their creative explorations that would be continued each day. On Wednesday, Lea Krommen presented her research and gave a workshop called “Soft Spoons”, on artistic practices around care, food preparation and recipy writing. After lunch, participants joined “Nourishing the Commons”, a student-led workshop based on the communal self-organized „Pflanzstelle Kalk“, a community garden, in which a hands-on explorative workshop on common experiences of specific ingredients was held, followed by a collective recipy making and cooking session, concluding in a communal dinner. On Thursday, the group reconvened for “Allmende, Grüngürtel & Commons”, another student-led workshop that examined urban ecologies, the green belt of Cologne, and the notion of Allmende – emphasizing collective responsibility and ecological stewardship, which was followed by a photography based workshop on the usership of common spaces. Friday transitioned into a plenary session focused on reflection and peer feedback and critical dialogue for the individual projects, developed during the week. The day concluded with a screening by Sachin Narrain and a workshop and discussion on the film‘s topics. Saturday culminated with “Leaving Footprints”, a public presentation and ad-hoc exhibition featuring all participants’ projects. After the exhibition opening, guided by a student-led tour and final reflections on the work, the exhibition and the two parts of the Urban Commons Field School, the program concluded with a farewell dinner celebrating the collective experience.

“I was deeply impressed by how the initial week in Johannesburg had already created strong bonds within the group. The Field School provided a welcoming space to explore the concept of urban commons – examining access to city resources and the relevance of traditional commons models today. What made the experience unique was the intense yet informal format focused on community and participation, collaboratively shaped by both students and lecturers – unlike typical university settings.” 

Michael, University of Cologne

“Through one of the workshops, I discovered a new creative side of myself by engaging and connecting to personal memories and writing a text about footprints. Collaborating with a colleague, I transformed my reflections into a poetic performance, which revealed to me that I can think and express myself like a poet, using sensory experiences and memories to convey meaningful messages.” 

Nkabinde, University of Johannesburg

“The Field School in Cologne was a rewarding experience for me, as it gave us the opportunity to continue the exchange with the students from UoJ and to rediscover both our daily lives and the city through their perspectives. A particularly meaningful moment for me was the Nourishing the Commons workshop on cooking as an artistic practice, which was developed by a group of us students. Through this, we engaged in conversations about food and its social significance, and were able to explore and expand our artistic practice in the context of cooking in a new, sensory way.” 

Meret, University of Cologne

In this collaborative workshop with art students from the University of Cologne and the University of Applied Arts Vienna, we developed a multi-part stage design for the symposium “Die Güte der Gewohnheit / The Virtue of Habit”. How do habits, everyday rituals, and reproductive labor shape our social interactions and subjective perceptions? How can we challenge the conventions of certain spatial conditions and academic formats? Notions of inclusion/exclusion, accessibility/barriers, and visibility/invisibility in socio-spatial situations have been at the center of our critical examinations. Using various artistic methods and materials, we explored forms of spatial division in relation to the place of the symposium itself–the Auditorium of the University of Applied Arts. The final installation consisted of cardboard sculptures that could be used by the speakers as standing desks, as well as textile works that have been displayed as curtains or wearable objects for the audience.

This Art School, developed and run in collaboration with the Department of Art and Music of the University of Cologne (Prof. Mirjam Thomann, Michel Gockel) and the Department for Knowledge Transfer at the University of Applied Arts Vienna (Prof. Eva Maria and Sen. Sc. Mag Jenni Tischer), consisted of two parts and was dedicated to the artistic and scientific exploration of strategies of repetition.We started with hybrid Zoom sessions in October. Even though we have been at two different places and within a strict schedule at this time of the collaboration, all participants have been eager to develop a vivid work environment for in-depth discussions and exchange. The aim was to develop a multi-part stage design for the symposium “The Virtue of Habit,” which took place in November in Vienna. In various artistic assignments, breakout sessions, close readings, and group presentations, students from Cologne and Vienna developed the conceptual framework for the implementation of the project. Thus, these online meetings turned out to be a very productive preparation for the collective onsite work in Vienna. A lecture by visual artist Pauline M’Barek, which has been joined by students in Cologne in class and online by students in Vienna, has been another important opportunity to share and discuss artistic research and production methods.However, the week-long stay in Vienna was, of course, the real highlight of the Art School. There was an intense program with visits to exhibitions and collections, a welcome dinner, and a working lunch. Above all, the guided tour of the spectacular collection and archive of the University of Applied Arts Vienna was of crucial importance for the group's artistic work process. The joint production of textile works and cardboard sculptures in the workshops of the academy also had a particular impact on the participants. In this way, they learned different techniques but also became familiar with staffand students from different departments and backgrounds. Ultimately, it was a particularly enriching experience for students and professionals alike to get to know the institution from within and learn about the people who study and work there.The presentation of the students' artistic work at the symposium, the interaction with their sculptures, build-ins and textile works by speakers and audience have been a great success and a magnificent conclusion of the Art School. The internationally renowned symposium has been an exceptional chance to connect with artists, writers, and scholars from Austria and abroad for students and professionals alike.This Art School will not only enable future projects with this renowned cooperation partner but also contribute to extensive international networking among art students. For sure we will continue to build on this collaboration in the semester to come. A publication with a documentation of the workshop and the results is planned for autumn 2026.

The exchange was a very enjoyable and lasting experience for me. Not only were the results of the symposium particularly valuable to me, but above all the exchange with the Viennese students and working together on an artistic project. I was able to take away a lot of inspiration and new ideas for my work from this collaboration.

Matay, University of Cologne

The opportunity to participate at the Vienna exchange programme was very exiting for me. It was the first time that I was able to not only visit another university but also work there. Working in the various and very well equipped work spaces together with the other students was a new experience for me. On the one hand, it was a challenge for me to find my way around the new rooms but on the other hand, with a lot of very kind help, it enabled us to develop new ways of working together. The highlight for me was the exhibition of our final work as part of the symposium. Seeing the end product of a successful collaboration was very enriching for me.

Clara, University of Cologne

During the field trip to Vienna, I was able to work on my skills with textiles, especially thanks to the support of a specialist in tailoring and access to the textile workshop at die Angewandte. The symposium setting allowed us to learn how to work collaboratively and to design a large-scale setting artistically and installatively. It was also exciting to exchange ideas with the students from Vienna and gain an insight into the art program in Vienna.

Melanie, University of Cologne

I am really glad to have taken part in this project in Vienna, as creating a joint work of art in such a short time was a very special experience. I particularly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know another university in this way and to be able to use the textile workshop, where I could experiment with tools not normally available to me at my home university. The exchange with the students from Vienna was also really valuable and I got new ideas for my own artistic work.

Miri, University of Cologne

After discovering shared interests in spatial working methods, material experiments and questioning established habits, the collaboration became particularly exciting. The work on the theme of ‘soft walls’ led to many discussions about boundaries, comfort, access and familiar spatial arrangements. By working together on an installation, we were able to actively question and change existing routines, ways of using furniture and also how we deal with materials. This became particularly clear in the installation, in which the symposium speakers took up different speaking positions.The exchange between the students from Cologne and Vienna was very valuable and provided insights into different artistic working methods and perspectives. In addition to the hybrid work sessions, informal conversations and shared experiences strengthened the cohesion within the group and deepened the exploration of their own artistic practice. The summer school left a lasting impression and demonstrated the potential of joint experiments to rethink spaces and entrenched habits.

Michel, University of Cologne

The Trilingual Programme (TLP) is a special language course allowed only for the top-10% students of the University of Tokyo, the highest-ranking university in Japan. Those who selected German language visit the University of Cologne every year for two weeks. In the morning they get extensive language class, and in the afternoon they visit various laboratories in our university as well as cultural institutes in and around Cologne. They also communicate with local students. Providing the best and brightest students in Japan with the extensive knowledge and experiences of science, culture and history of Cologne and Germany promotes future relationship between the two countries.

This year 18 students from Tokyo participated in the program. In the morning, they took a 10-day intensive language course provided by the instructors of the “Deutsch als Fremd-sprache (DaF)” division at the International Office of Univ. Cologne. In the afternoon, they visited the CAVE 3D Virtual Reality Facility and the laboratory of Prof. Dr. Kei Ito at the Institute of Zoology to learn the analysis of neuronal network, Prof. Dr. Stefan Wesner – head of the IT Center Univ. Cologne to learn supercomputing, Dr. Ann-Kathrin Klaas at the Institute of Energy Economics to learn hydrogen-based sustainable energy, and Dr. Jens Hopperdietzel at the Institute of German Language and Literature to learn comparative linguistics. They also visited Prof. Dr. Michael Rohrschneider at the Center for Historical Peace Research at Univ. Bonn. In addition, they enjoyed two exchange-meetings with the students of Univ. Cologne and Univ. Düsseldorf.

They visited the headquarter of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Bonn and the Japanese Culture Institute in Cologne to learn their activities for promoting international cultural exchange. They also learned how to produce Kölsch beer at the Brauwelt brewery. Many students are fan of German classic music; they enjoyed Don Giovanni at Cologne Opera and a concert by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra at the Kölner Philharmonie Hall. One student offered a mini piano concert at the Japanese Culture Institute.

During weekends they had excursion to Aachen, Bonn, Brühl and Duisburg to see historic buildings and industrial heritage. During free time in Cologne, students visited the Cologne Cathedral as well as various museums.

“The language course I took covered the topics that were interesting and educational: German politics, food, jobs, administrative divisions, famous people, forms of partnership, etc. I enjoyed each lesson not only because it made me more familiar with German culture, but also because it gave me the opportunity to encounter new vocabulary which I was not familiar with. On the other hand, I also felt the inability to understand each other, which cannot be explained only by a lack of language skill. I learned that there are people who live under different assumptions about language, culture, etc.”

Student, University of Tokyo

“The program in Cologne was a valuable opportunity not only to improve my German language skills, but also to deepen my understanding of German history and society. In particular, through interaction with local students and residents, I was able to come into contact with real historical perceptions and values that I could not learn from textbooks. I felt the burden of history when I visited the NS-DOK (National Socialist Documentation Center), which preserves records of the Nazi era. Through the conversation with local students, I learned how Germany is dealing with its past and making use of it in the present. I was able to gain a multifaceted perspective on contemporary issues such as immigration and freedom of speech. It was very interesting to learn about how Germany rebuilt trust and faced the international community after the war. These experiences will have a great impact on my own learning and thinking in the future.”

Student, University of Tokyo

“I was impressed by the visits to various research institutes. For example, the lecture at the Institute of Energy Economics of the University of Cologne about Hydrogen Thermal Science was easy to understand even for a non-expert like me, focusing on the economic aspects of energy production and transportation. At the University of Bonn's Center for Peace Research, the director explained the methods of historical research based on documents. I was particularly impressed by his talk about the decryption of historical correspondence documents.”

Student, University of Tokyo

“I looked up German slang before I left for Germany, and I was quite happy to hear it being used in real life. It seems that if you understand a little bit of slang, the psychological distance between you and the people you meet will be greatly reduced. I would have liked to say “Hey Digga!” etc., but because I do not yet know any Germans with whom I am that close, I will save it for later in my life. I also learned a bit about German dialects. Kölsch seems to be more like Dutch, and many of the words do not seem to be German at all. In Cologne I often saw Kölsche Grundgesetz. It was difficult for me to decipher what it says, but I guess it symbolizes something like the spirit of Cologne.”

Student, University of Tokyo

From September 21 to 29, 2025, the German-Georgian Summer School on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) took place in Tbilisi, organized by the Institute for Geography Education and the Institute for German Language and Literature II in cooperation with Ilia State University. The program brought together students and lecturers from both countries to address global and local sustainability challenges and explore innovative teaching methods, digital media, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Through seminars, workshops, excursions, and cultural activities, participants deepened their knowledge of ESD, reflected on German and Georgian approaches, and strengthened language and academic competences.. Beyond academic learning, the Summer School fostered intercultural exchange and built a strong international network, preparing participants to integrate sustainability topics into future teaching.

The German-Georgian Summer School on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) offered participants an intensive and multifaceted program that combined academic input, practical workshops, excursions, and cultural exchange. Each day contributed to the development of knowledge, skills, and networks, while creating a vibrant atmosphere of collaboration between students and lecturers from both countries. A first highlight was the official welcome on September 23 at Ilia State University. Presentations by Georgian and German scholars provided an overview of sustainability at ISU and introduced ESD from both perspectives. This was followed by workshops on language education and innovative teaching methods, such as the “Whole Institution Approach,” which immediately engaged participants in interactive learning. The day concluded with a lively welcome dinner that set the tone for an open and friendly exchange throughout the week. 

On September 24, participants explored Georgia’s cultural and natural heritage during an excursion to Mzcheta, the ancient capital, and the rock-hewn city of Uplistsikhe. The program was enriched by a hands-on biodiversity activity, where Georgian and German experts guided students in observing and collecting species, linking ecological knowledge with sustainability education. Academic focus returned on September 25 with lectures and a biodiversity workshop, complemented by an afternoon of independent cultural
exploration in Tbilisi’s museums. This balance between academic study and immersion in local culture was a key strength of the program.
September 26 was dedicated to innovative teaching practices: participants created OER learning units, tested escape-room-based climate change games, and discussed resilience in the face of global challenges. These workshops demonstrated how digital tools and playful methods can enrich ESD, while providing valuable transferable skills for
future teaching practice.
A major highlight was the excursion on September 27 to Telavi in Eastern Georgia. Language animations, a visit to Telavi University, exploration of the Gremi Historical Complex, and a traditional wine tasting offered deep insights into Georgian history, culture, and everyday life. These shared experiences fostered a spirit of community and strengthened intercultural bonds. On the final day, September 28, workshops focused on promoting action competences, critical perspectives on ESD, and the joint development of
German-Georgian teaching and research projects. The closing discussion reflected on the future of ESD in schools and universities and highlighted the importance of international cooperation. A festive farewell dinner rounded off the program and celebrated the networks and friendships that had been created.

"Ich habe an einer internationalen Summer School in Tiflis (Georgien) teilgenommen, die gemeinsam von der Universität zu Köln und der Ilia State University organisiert wurde. Das Thema Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung stand im Mittelpunkt und wurde durch spannende Vorträge, Workshops und Diskussionen vertieft. Besonders bereichernd war der Austausch mit Studierenden und Lehrenden aus unterschiedlichen kulturellen Kontexten. Neben dem akademischen Programm hatten wir auch die Möglichkeit, die georgische Kultur und Gastfreundschaft kennenzulernen. Insgesamt war die Summer School eine wertvolle fachliche und persönliche Erfahrung, die meinen Blick auf Bildung für nachhaltige
Entwicklung erweitert hat." 

Robin, Universität zu Köln

"My participation in the German-Georgian Summer School on the topic of ”Education for Sustainable Development" was particularly important, as it allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that sustainable development faces in both the Georgian and German education systems. The program included very important seminars, workshops, excursions and cultural activities. I am especially grateful to the German and other international participants who shared their experience, knowledge and Western European perspectives with us." 

Nika, Ilia State University, Georgia

“The German-Georgian Summer School was the place for a great intercultural exchange. We participated in various workshops on the topic of education on sustainable development. We were sensitized to diverse concrete tools, methods and projects which enabled us to reflect on its implementation in a school context and their capacity to empower students on this thematic. The georgian participants were very welcoming. They shared a lot about their culture, traditions, educational systems, which was a great highlight and discovery!” 

Mirana, Universität zu Köln

"Was hat diese Summer School so besonders gemacht? Auf jeden Fall der intensive Austausch zwischen den Teilnehmenden aus Deutschland und
Georgien, die Begegnungen über Fächer- und Altersgrenzen hinaus. Das Programm beinhaltete eine sehr gute Mischung aus eher theoretischen Inhalten und dem Erproben von BNE-Unterrichtsmethoden. Besonders die beiden Exkursionstage außerhalb von Tiflis werden mir in Erinnerung bleiben, denn am Ende geht es darum, (B)NE in die Praxis zu bringen." 

Stefan, Universität zu Köln

Compared to past years, this year’s edition of [six!] had a unique and outstanding profile, as it allowed the summer school setting concluding into that of an international conference of approx. 1000 participants: having IFTR 2025 as a framework did not only establish the academically or socio-culturally engaging topic »Performing Carnival: Ekstasis | Subversion | Metamorphosis«, but also enabled guiding our participants throughout their first academic conference experience, which is a crucial step for aspiring academics. The days prior to the conference, were dedicated to joint readings, interactive teaching modules and talks with the keynote speakers, research presentations, all in all discussing and offering a broad view of carnivalesque cultural performances, their social positions and impact from an intercultural perspective. Throughout the conference days, [six!] continued with daily sessions, guiding the student participants through the overall event and chosen panels.

[six!]@IFTR 2025 will remain a unique and unrepeatable experience. It was particularly great how certain [six!] teaching formats could evolve by getting incorporated into the conference schedule, whilst allowing a much bigger exposure to an international and interdisciplinary audience: it was e.g. immensely enriching to both students and faculty seeing the usual poster and research presentations within the conference framework of IFTR 2025. As it is an objective of [six!] paving the way for students and young scholars for their future academic career, IFTR overall and additionally the ›Agora‹ format – a space to get in touch with leading (funding) agencies from Europe and Germany informing on support for individual research or research networks – were in this means a great chance that most [six!] students happily seized. 

It is important to underline, [six!] actively promoted community-building activities to ensure the group will grow and stay together throughout the conference with around 1000 participants. The usual ›Kegeln‹, a [six!] tradition that has been established since the beginnnings of this program, was scheduled right in the beginning. Additional activities, as a second welcome with the UoC Team and the student volunteers moreover the Meet and Greet with the IFTR New Scholars, followed up swiftly. The Meet and Greet is a day to be highlighted: the ativity took place in cooperation with Cologne’s Circus Dance Festival. [six!] and IFTR participants had the opportunity to interact while enjoying catering and watching a series of performances. Cologne Summer School specifically supported [six!] with joining the energising and inspiring performance of Mélissa Guex, »RAPUNZEL«, which was followed up by an artist talk organised and moderated by the IFTR UoC team and UoC New Scholar Ariane Gros. Additionaly, for the very first time we cooperated with Kolumba, one of the oldest museums in Cologne: [six!] had the opprtunity to hold their teaching units here and get a guided tour. We hope to keep this cooperation going for any upcomming summer schools. Another memorable event was the IFTR2025 Welcome Ceremony. Our [six!] participants joined the UoC Team on the main stage, welcoming the IFTR participants in Cologne with the Kölsch song »Unsere Stammbaum« by Bläck Fööss – a very emotional and bonding experience, which fully expressed the close relationship with our summer school participants. This moment was, if at all, topped by experiencing the IFTR diner and party in »Herbarnd’s«, a location known for it’s connection to Cologne carnival. Many guests followed up on our plea, to were something carnevalesque, get masked or use the provided props and make-up at the event. This was experience did leave a notable impression on both the [six!] and IFTR community.

“The [six!] summer school led to very meaningful and insightful academic engagement. The pre-conference discussions with the keynote speakers at the IFTR 2025 also gave us the opportunity to interact more openly and informally. This was preceded by a more intimate space of brainstorming with students and faculty members involved in the summer school, which sparked off a range of the most novel ideations about and conceptualizations of the carnival and the carnivalesque. The workshop seamlessly blended into the themes of the conference in terms of both continuity of topics as well as the conjunction of the events generously hosted at the behest of the University of Cologne. The organizers of the [six!] summer school ensured a space for building relations and networks that were not just hollow academic career-building exercises, but were imbued with a sense of camaraderie, friendship, and warmth that is necessary for honest and lasting human connections. It would certainly be safe to assume that the [six!] summer school will result in numerous academic collaborations between fellow participants, and this would be a milestone for the solidarity and mutual aid of the various institutions that make this wonderful alliance possible. In this contemporary juncture of shrinking academic spaces, the rise of far-right anti-intellectualism, commodification of education, which has led to academic research being viewed as an entrepreneurial enterprise, both the [six!] Summer school and the IFTR 2025 were a beacon of hope.”

Mohammed, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

“This was not my first time participating in the [six!] summer school, but it was my first time attending the IFTR conference. Taking part in the pre-conference [six!] summer school was incredibly valuable in preparing me for the experience. Thanks to the in-depth discussions and the supportive environment of the summer school, my time at the conference was significantly more enriching and productive. I had the opportunity to connect with other early-career researchers, initiate meaningful conversations, and continue engaging with them throughout the conference sessions. The summer school offered a unique space for deep and thought-provoking dialogue, which greatly contributed both to my academic knowledge and to the development of my personal research.”

Bella, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

“The application process and the final selection of six students by Santander from the University of Ghana, Legon, to attend the [six!] Summer School, held from June 5 to 13, 2023, was a dream come true. The Ghanaian team had prepared and were in high spirits based on the readings and all the information received before we boarded the plane for the University of Cologne. We expected to present our research projects through a poster presentation, to receive feedback from peers and faculty members from various universities, and to network with our peers. However, all these activities turned out to be an exceptional experience, combining fun, learning, and a learning curve for us, as the smaller theatrical learning and networking stage of [six!] was linked to the IFTR’s most significant stage of learning, inspiring, and sharing knowledge. We learnt a lot from our peers, faculty members, [six!] resource persons, IFTR conference presenters, IFTR keynote speakers, New Scholars presenters and resource persons and the funding opportunities that the summer school and the conference afforded us. Specifically, what stood out to us was the variety of presentation styles, the networking and funding opportunities for our research project, the costume exhibition, and, finally, the bowling. It is our hope that the [six!] summer school will continue to secure funding and grow, becoming a hub for nurturing the next generation of theatre, performance, and critical media scholars, with an extended stay in the same format of teaching pedagogy. The [six!] and IFTR conference in the pot is an unforgettable experience that will stay with us forever. As Professor Peter Marx said, this year’s IFTR conference 2025 is a missed opportunity."

Yao Joseph, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

“I have found the [six!] summer school to be a wonderful opportunity not only to connect with fellow scholars of theater and performance studies, but also to engage in productive, intercultural dialogue — something of utmost pertinence both to the field of the humanities and to one’s role as a citizen of the world. The discussions that [six!] fosters, be they in the context of seminars, poster presentations or merely by virtue of its very social nature, have left me with a treasure trove of new insights and as such, I feel much appreciation for the organizers and my fellow participants. Besides the discussions themselves, the places where they occurred have been inspiring, as well: the Theaterwissenschaftliche Sammlung and the Kolumba museum proved to be quite fitting environments for academic exchange and I very much enjoyed experiencing an exhibition in tandem with the seminars. What has also been especially unique and meaningful about this year’s summer school is that it was held in conjunction with the 2025 IFTR, and here I cannot stress enough how helpful [six!] was by way of preparation for the conference. [six!] functioned for me as a much needed preface to the (frankly, daunting in the eyes of a first-timer) IFTR corpus. I thus entered the conference having already amassed some experience in academic exchange and with the added delight of encountering some already familiar faces — among them, the IFTR keynote speakers themselves, whom we had the privilege of getting to know when they kindly presented their research during the seminars. All in all, I am very glad and grateful to have been able to attend this year’s [six!] and I would love to be able to participate again in its future iterations!”

Maria-Ioanna, University of Cologne

The CSS-ERL focused on the ongoing legislative procedure for a Directive o the European Parliament and the Council laying down minimum rules to prevent and counter the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and stay in the Union. After an introduction to the EU legislative procedure and the methodology of European legal linguistics, the participants analysed the articles controversial between the Commission, the Council and the Parliament in project groups and drafted their own text proposals based on the material provided to them and further research by themselves. Particular attention was paid to the comparison of versions of the proposed Directive in all 24 official languages of the EU.

Hightlights were the presentation and discussion of the results obtained by each team, the lecture by an official from the European Parliament on the tasks of lawyer-linguists in the EU institution, followed by a lively discussion, as well as the videoconference with a Member of the European Parliament acting as rapporteur for the legislative procedure on behalf of the European Parliament, who will shepherd the file through the legislative procedure and lead the interinstitutional negotiations with the Council.

“I enjoyed the programme very much! There was always time to ask questions and discuss topics, ideas and thoughts which I greatly appreciated. All topics dealt within the lectures offered new and interesting perspectives”

Anonymous

“The lectures were extremely good and practical. They put into perspective our thesis and insights.”

Anonymous

“The feedback was very detailed. It urged us to look deeper into certain issues. The workload was intense, but we managed well as a team. I liked that we got a deeper insight into the role of a lawyer linguist and of a ME.”

Anonymous

“I liked particularly how interesting the tasks were. Thank you for the opportunity.”

Anonymous

The aim of the Summer School was to make the diversity of Roman urbanism tangible – not only through the direct engagement with the archaeological evidence, but also by linking it with the written sources that shed light on ancient everyday life, social structures, and cultural practices from a complementary perspective. The three cities – Pompeii, Ostia and Rome – served as vivid case studies. Taken together, they offered the CSS participants lasting impressions and insights that extend far beyond the Summer School itself.

The archaeological-historical CSS2025 brought together 18 selected students from across Europe and the UK for an intensive academic journey into the heart of ancient urbanism. Following an online meeting and a two-day preparatory seminar in Cologne (hybrid), the group embarked on a nine-day study trip to three of the best-preserved cities of the Roman world.

In Pompeii, Ostia, and Rome, participants engaged directly with archaeological evidence, complemented by written sources, to explore four thematic strands: public life, religion, domestic space, and death. Guided tours by the seminar leaders were combined with student-led presentations and group explorations, fostering analytical skills and collaborative learning. A specially prepared two-volume reader (maps, plans, reconstructions and ancient texts) and on-site digital resources shared via What's App supported in-depth engagement with each site.

The programme also included visits to the German Archaeological Institute and the British School at Rome, offering insights into research infrastructures, scholarship opportunities, and professional networks. 

Alongside the academic programme, social activities – from welcome and farewell dinners to communal cooking on a shared roof top terrace in Pompeii and a student-organized trip to the beach in Ostia – strengthened group cohesion and made the Summer School an unforgettable experience. The combination of rigorous field-based learning, intercultural and interdisciplinary exchange enriched discussions and created a dynamic exchange of perspectives.

“Although undeniably intense, my time over the 9 days was one of my most valuable academic experiences of my life, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Being able to visit so many sites that I have heard about in lectures for years was a dream come true. Your insight into the archaeology of the ancient world was incredible, and you provided me with a wealth of information that I will be able to apply to my studies for years to come. You also really inspired me to consider a career in academics more seriously.” 

Eve, University of Edinburgh

“This Summer School has taught me a great deal about the archaeological insights into the lives of people in Pompeii, Ostia, and Rome. These insights were enriched by an ancient historical perspective, as we also considered very interesting epigraphic sources. We learned, among other things, how people dealt with issues such as water management, housing, labour, and death in the context of urban development; from town to metropolis. Finally, the fellow students made this a truly wonderful experience. The international composition of the group and the combination of archaeological and historical backgrounds allowed us to learn from and strengthen one another.” 

Wouter, Radboud University Nijmegen

“Ich nehme nicht nur viel neues Wissen, Fragestellungen und (Foto-)Material zur eigenständigen Vertiefung mit, sondern auch Kontakte zu ähnlich interessierten und engagierten Studierenden, für mein weiteres Studierendenleben und meine archäologische Zukunft.” 

Julia, Universität Wien

From 4 August 2025 to 29 August 2025, the third CSS-funded campaign in the teaching excavation project Cold Case CUT was carried out. This is organised in cooperation between the LVR Archaeological Park Xanten, Radboud University Nijmegen and the University of Cologne. The aim is to research a Roman residential quarter in the north of Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The results of the first two years were further developed and supplemented. Beneath the foundation walls of Roman buildings from the Colonia period, numerous pits from the predecessor settlement of Colonia Ulpia Traiana were found, along with a comprehensive layer of destruction from this predecessor settlement, which can be dated to the end of the 1st century AD. The participating students from Cologne and Nijmegen were given a comprehensive introduction to excavation work and, in the accompanying cultural programme, they learned about Roman sites in the immediate and wider vicinity of Xanten.

Geophysical investigations in the northern residential quarter (insula 29) of Colonia Ulpia Traiana prior to the project showed that dense development is to be expected in this area of the city. The excavations carried out were therefore intended to reveal the structure of this insula interior development in particular. Within this framework, three areas were opened up, which brought different findings to light. These included the remains of walls made of both bricks and solid greywacke stones. Among these, 2025 in particular succeeded in documenting extensive remains of a predecessor settlement to Colonia Ulpia Traiana, including the burnt floor of a wooden house from the late 1st century AD and a presumed oven from the same period.

In addition to the scientific questions, the focus was also on the training of students from Cologne and Nijmegen. They gained insights into the surveying work, excavation techniques, documentation and stratigraphy of such a project. In the area of find processing, they also received an introduction to the cleaning, inventorying and chronotypological classification of artefacts made of clay, glass, bone or metal. On the weekends, they went on excursions to the Roman sites in Nijmegen-Noviomagus, the lignite mining area and the LVR branch office in Titz with its open-air museum, as well as the thermal baths museum in Zülpich, to gain further historical and archaeological insights.

“On the first day everyone arrived at the APX centre, and we all drove to the excavation site from there. After our arrival everyone introduced themselves before we uncovered the trenches. We started right after the trench leaders told their teams what the plan was. First, we cleaned the planum and the profile, which was a good thing for getting to know the tools while also doing something necessary. During the next week we uncovered planum 6 in trench 0003. Doing this for the first time, everything seemed exciting and learning while also working was a great experience. We discovered many small finds, which was pretty exciting, especially finding some myself. Seeing bags of finds at the end of the day and the piles of dirt was a great reward. You could really see the work. Over the last two weeks I learned a lot. I was shown not only the work in the trench but also in the department for find processing. I learned how to sort and distinguish finds and how to measure the locations of the most important ones. Leading while working, and doing that with the great people that are here alongside me, was one of the greatest things you did in my first year at the Uni. I am really thankful for this opportunity and hope that this project will go on to support archaeology students for many years to come.”

Alina, Universität zu Köln

”On Monday the 4th of August we started the third campaign of the excavation of Insula 29 in Xanten. Last year I was here for two weeks to do the finds photography, which motivated me to come back this year. This year I am also doing the finds photography as well as some field work, which I am very excited about. I already have some experiences with fieldwork in the Netherlands and I am curious to see the differences between the methods in Xanten and the Netherlands. The first two weeks I have worked in different trenches, and I liked the atmosphere in every trench. The people are very nice and helpful. The work consists of trowelling, shovelling and cleaning. Personally, I enjoy the trowelling the most, because it is very precise work and guarantees you find the most finds. Some of the nicest finds that are dug up are glass objects, decorated pottery and bronze objects like fibulae. Most of the time, however, I am inside where the finds are processed. The inside team is very fun and pleasant to work with. The pottery and the bones are washed, dried and the ceramics are tagged. Thereafter the most interesting finds come to me to photograph. This year I also get to help with classifying the pottery shards, which I enjoy very much, and it expands my knowledge. I am looking forward to the next two weeks and I hope it will be as fun as the first two weeks."

Emma, Radboud University Nijmegen

“The excavation at the Archaeological Park Xanten is a joint project between the University of Cologne and Radboud University of Nijmegen. While we spent the first two days mainly on preparatory work, by the end of the first week we had deepened the area of our trench and discovered many new findings, which we carefully documented during the second week. We are currently deepening the sections again, with exciting developments already emerging in the sediment and some fascinating finds already made. Through exchanges with international students, I was able to make many contacts and gain new perspectives. The expert guidance on the excavation and on the excursion to Nijmegen on the first weekend helped me to understand the context of our work and to better classify it. Although I was a little apprehensive at first about living and working with so many strangers for such a long period of time, these fears did not materialise. Despite the strenuous work due to the weather, the atmosphere is open and friendly. Everyone works together, and in the evenings, we often sit together for a while and play cards or just chat. I learned a lot on the excavation so far and had a very nice time. I am very excited to see what the next two weeks will bring.”

Jonatan, Universität zu Köln

"During the excavation at the Archaeological Park Xanten, a project involving the Radboud University of Nijmegen and the University of Cologne, I got to assist with various tasks. In the first week, we started deepening our trench. This led to some interesting finds: mainly pottery, bones, and iron. However, we also found a completely preserved lid and pieces of bronze. This was followed by documentation. We then deepened our trench again, finding the first and only coin of this year. In addition to the excavating, we also helped with the finds processing: washing and labelling the finds. I really enjoyed this, as it allowed me to see all the nice finds more closely and to see more of the finds from the other trenches as well. I am not an archaeology student at Radboud University, so I had no previous experience with archaeological work, making this my first excavation. The past few weeks have been an accessible and educational introduction to the field. It has given me a good idea of the work involved in an excavation and provided me with new knowledge. The physical demands of the work and the early mornings took some getting used to at first. But I have really enjoyed the excavation over the past few weeks. I particularly enjoyed drawing our trench during the documentation process. The atmosphere within the group is also very pleasant. In the evenings, we often play games or watch films together. Fortunately, there is also enough room to retreat from the group if necessary. Some weekends featured interesting and educational excursions, and there was time to relax. Now that the last days of the excavation are approaching, the focus is on documenting and processing the final finds. I have found these weeks to be a valuable opportunity to further immerse myself in archaeology. So far, I have genuinely enjoyed and learned a lot during this excavation. I am curious to see what the last few days will bring."

Anne, Radboud University Nijmegen

"The educational excavation at Insula 29 in the Xanten Archaeological Park has been taking place since 2023 in cooperation with the University of Cologne and the University of Nijmegen. This year's campaign is taking place in its third year of this excavation. We worked in mixed groups with the Dutch students, divided into three different trenches and a team for processing finds. Communication both within and outside of the trenches worked very well. Initially, we were assigned to fixed trenches, but over the course of the campaign, the trenches were mixed as needed, to assist others with excavation, surveying, and documentation. We spent most of our time outside of work together aswell. The Trenches took turns cooking meals for the whole team, and after dinner we often had a long chat with the international students. Since many of them have other areas of study besides archaeology, we were able to learn a lot about other areas of study. Excursions were organized on two of the three weekends. On the first one of these trips, we went to the De Bastei Museum in Nijmegen, followed by time to explor Nijmegen. In this time, we got to know the city, home to the Dutch students, better. The excursion the second weekend went to the lignite mining area near Titz and to the Thermen Museum in Zülpich. In summary, this excavation not only provided us students with important practical methods for our future archaeological studies, but also enabled us to establish important connections between the students, both nationally and internationally."

Hannah, Universität zu Köln

The Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Cologne organized the interdisciplinary Summer School “Chinese Infrastructures and Common Notions of Wealth and Prosperity” in Thailand from August 1–16, 2025, in cooperation with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the China–Southeast Asia Studies Center at Chiang Mai University. For Cologne’s Master’s and PhD students, it was part of the graduate course “Chinese Infrastructures and Mobilities,” exploring the socio-cultural dimensions of China-centered globalization. Focusing on how local concepts of prosperity intersect with Chinese infrastructure projects in Southeast Asian border regions, particularly along the Mekong and the former “Golden Triangle,” the program combined lectures, workshops, and excursions, encouraging critical reflection, field experience, and international exchange.

A total of 17 Master’s and PhD students participated in CSS, including 10 from the University of Cologne (Anthropology, Geography, Regional Studies China) and 7 from Chiang Mai University (Anthropology and Sociology).

The program featured daily lectures, seminars, working groups, and plenary sessions. Prof. Susanne Brandtstädter (UoC) led seminars on assigned readings, while Dr. Panitda Saiyarod (CMU) and Amtul Shaheen (UoC) facilitated working groups that developed discussion points later presented and debated in plenary sessions with lecturers and participants. The CSS opened with an introductory lecture by Prof. Susanne Brandtstädter (UoC) titled “Wealth Beyond Money,” in which she examined how wealth is culturally constructed, socially distributed, and morally evaluated across different societies. This was followed by a distinguished lecture by Prof. Yos Santasombat (CMU) titled “Global China: Civilizing Missions in Southeast Asia,” where he analyzed how the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reshapes regional infrastructure, economic relations, and political dynamics in Southeast Asia.

Dr. Simon Rowedder (NUS) examined how infrastructures in northern Laos transform local experiences of time, movement, and everyday life, showing communities adaptation to changing material and social landscapes. Prof. Pinkaew Laungaramsri’s (CMU) analyzed how state expansion and growing Chinese economic influence are transforming the political, social, and economic dynamics of frontier communities in Myanmar. Dr. Nanny Kim’s (UoC) explored mining activities in China’s Far Southwest during the Ming and Qing periods, focusing on the migration and mobility of mine workers, recruitment networks and travel routes. Dr. Panitda Saiyarod’s (CMU) examined how local communities adapt to and resist the social, economic and environmental impacts of Chinese-backed railway projects in the region. Amtul Shaheen’s (UoC) explored how Yunnanese Muslims utilize religious infrastructures to preserve their cultural identity across Thailand and Taiwan. Prof. Susanne Brandtstädter and Zhang Zixuan examined how the descendants of KMT soldiers resettled in border regions and engaged in tea cultivation as a means of adapting to local economies.

From August 8–12, students joined a cultural excursion to border regions, visiting the Golden Triangle SEZ (Laos), the Opium Museum, and a local NGO that demonstrated how communities document and resist Chinese-backed projects affecting the Mekong River and local livelihoods. The summer school concluded on August 15 with the plenary “What Have We Learned?”, followed by a discussion of students’ individual projects.

Overall, the summer school combined rigorous academic engagement, cross-cultural exchange, and experiential learning. It equipped students with a nuanced understanding of infrastructure, regional politics, and socio-cultural transformations in Southeast Asian borderlands under China’s growing influence.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to take part in the summer school in Thailand, which was a deeply enriching experience that combined academic discussions with cultural experiences. The program fostered meaningful dialogue on global and regional issues, particularly around Chinese infrastructure and its regional impact, encouraging participants to think critically and collaboratively while unpacking some of the most pressing challenges in the region. I was especially moved by our visit to the border between Laos and Thailand, including the Special Economic Zone, where we observed both a spectacle of rapid development and a space marked by moral complexity and struggle. The discussions that followed were insightful and thought-provoking, offering diverse perspectives and genuine student exchange. I am deeply grateful to the organizers who made this experience possible and one that I will remember for a long time. Overall, the summer school provided a valuable space for learning, reflection, and connection across borders, cultures, and discourses.”

Diana, UoC, Social and Cultural Anthropology

“The summer school in Thailand provided an invaluable interdisciplinary perspective on China's Belt and Road Initiative and its socio-economic impacts across Southeast Asia. Through engaging lectures on Chinese infrastructure development in Laos and Thailand, the complexities of displacement and compensation, and the historical dimensions of trade routes and mining economies, I gained a nuanced understanding of how large-scale infrastructure projects reshape local communities and existing power dynamics. The fieldwork component, particularly examining construction sites and their effects on informal settlements, highlighted the importance of listening to marginalized voices often silenced in development narratives. The discussions on ethno-religious infrastructure, the transformation from opium to tea cultivation in KMT villages, and the emergence of grey economies in borderland regions deepened my appreciation for the multifaceted nature of prosperity and belonging beyond purely economic metrics. This experience has taught me , the need critically analyze development projects not only through their implementation but through their diverse local contexts and unintended consequences.”

Matthias, UoC, Regionalstudies China

“This summer I got the opportunity to attend the summer school in Chiang Mai (Thailand). Personally, as a student of Geography, I benefitted from the interdisciplinarity. It was a great experience to be able to directly ask and discuss with scholars and researchers. The people responsible created a safe space for discussions shed light on many different perspectives. My highlight was definitely the field trip to the Golden Triangle and the Special Economic Zone in Laos. This setting was a surreal experience. Again, I learned a lot from which I can benefit in my academic future in the field of Geography. On another level, the experience was culturally enriching as well because we were able to share a classroom with students from various cultural backgrounds. Adding to that the cultural sightseeing gave more insights in the Thai culture and history. I am very grateful for this experience and the people I met through the program.”

Hanna, UoC, Geography

“Participating in this program allowed me to experience cross-cultural learning and understand the German learner-centered approach that values questioning and peer exchange. Visiting grey zones and special economic areas expanded learning beyond the classroom, revealing unique ways of life shaped by complex infrastructures. I gained insight into how physical and non-physical structures influence daily life and negotiation. Most importantly, diverse friends made the two weeks, including a five-day field trip, truly enjoyable. This experience taught me to cross national, cultural, and intellectual boundaries while building connections with future scholars around the world.”

Korntanat, CMU, Anthropology and Sociology

“The summer school and the learning experiences I gained throughout the two-week period were extremely valuable to me. Meeting scholars and experts in Chinese Studies, as well as exchanging academic ideas with my classmates, allowed me to develop diverse new perspectives and to better understand the current academic trends in East Asian Studies. Participating in this program truly broadened my horizons, as it was my first opportunity as a student to learn alongside international peers. The field trip left a particularly strong impression on me. During our visits to Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, and Kings Romans, I came to understand more deeply the hardships faced by local communities and the consequences of so-called “Development.” I began to see the frightening aspects of capitalism that attempts to penetrate states under the discourse of “Shared Prosperity,” which I found both alarming and thought-provoking. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers for providing me with such an enjoyable and memorable opportunity. Moreover, the meaningful interactions with my classmates allowed us to form genuine friendships and create lasting memories together.”

Worapon, CMU, Anthropology and Sociology

The summer school brought together students of art history, media culture, digital humanities & artistic practice to critically reflect questions of visibility, perception, and value in digital culture. Over the course of one week, participants engaged with a curated selection of key theoretical readings which provided a strong foundation for vivid discussions in seminar-style sessions. Supplemented by lectures and workshops with experts from art and media history, public history and digital humanities, the program provided a platform to examine how digital environments influence artistic production, modes of perception, historiographical and academic practices. In this combination the Summer School facilitated a deeper understanding of attention as a central category in the analysis of (digital) culture. Participants left with new perspectives, critical tools, and networks that will continue to resonate in their future studies and projects.

After a welcome and introduction by the lecturers, we started with a session of introductions, in which participants and lecturers introduced themselves with 10-minute presentations on a topic of their choice and made connections to the theme of the summer school. This format enabled us to get to know each other and establish direct links between our interests and the summer school's theme. It also provided us with common references and case studies that we could draw on in subsequent discussions. In the evening, we concluded the first day with a dinner in the beer garden at Aachener Weiher.

Joint reading sessions of three hours each were on the agenda every morning from Tuesday to Friday. These readings proved to be extremely productive. We experimented with various methods of textual and theoretical analysis. Sometimes, we focused on close readings and definitions of concepts. At other times, we broadened our perspective to include historical contexts or examples from film, media, and art history. At other times, we attempted to relate classical theory positions to contemporary practices, such as digital practices on social media or AI-generated images. With regard to the attention regimes, the participants were generally very interested in discussing the analytical and political potential of artistic, art historical, and media scholarly work.

The afternoons were organized as three- to four-hour workshops led by our guest speakers. Dr. Jacob Birken (University of Cologne) offered a close reading of digital images and AI-culture. Professor Dr. Christine Gundermann (University of Cologne) introduced us to the methods of public history, particularly exhibition analysis within museum spaces, which we tested out at the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum and the Schnütgen Museum: We documented the scenography, sightlines and strategies for directing attention in the exhibitions. Finally, Dr. Nora Probst (University of Cologne, IMT) and Dr. Lisa Dieckmann (Prometheus Digital Image Archive) introduced the topic of attention from the perspective of digital humanities. Exercises involving the analysis of online databases (using Europeana, Haller.net, etc. as examples) and of digital visualisations enabled us to examine these connections more closely and reflect on our own research practices.

The week together ended on Friday with a lecture performance developed by one of the students. This performance worked through the different temporal and affective regimes of the digital world, and of social media in particular, via language and performance. Participants unanimously emphasized and praised the high level of the theory discussions and readings. They especially commented very positively on the high quality of program – including the selection of texts, workshops and guest speakers – as well as on the smooth organization.

“Taking part in the Summer School has been an eye-opening experience. The readings were not only intellectually stimulating but also perfectly chosen to spark deep and nuanced discussions. I particularly appreciated how every text connected theory with current debates in art history and digital culture, giving me new perspectives I hadn’t considered before. The text-based discussions with peers and instructors were incredibly engaging — they pushed me to think critically, articulate my own ideas more clearly, and question established narratives. This Summer School has truly expanded the way I approach both art history and digital media. I left every session inspired and motivated to explore these themes further.”

Student, University of Cologne

“As an art student, joining the Summer School was such an inspiring experience! The readings were super exciting — sometimes challenging, but always rewarding — and they opened up completely new ways of thinking about art in our digital world. What I loved most were the text discussions: everyone brought their own perspective, and it felt like we were building ideas together in real time. I left each session buzzing with new questions and creative energy. This Summer School didn’t just expand my understanding of art history, it also gave me fresh impulses for my own artistic practice.”

Student Kunstakademie Münster

The seminar combined language learning with approaches to literature. Didactically and methodologically, the focus was on performativity, where teaching and learning are understood as holistic processes. Performative learning is based on the connection between cognitive, physical and creative action. It combines sensory-motor processes and impressions with cognitive processes and social interaction. 

The diversity of possibilities was explored in project-based group work throughout the week. The summer school combined literary and media studies, linguistics, literature, language and music didactics, as well as dance and theatre education.

Social interaction during the development of the projects was enhanced by joint excursions. Intercultural learning and future-oriented thinking were integrated goals of the summer school.

The summer school week consisted of seminar units and joint activities. Seminar units focusing on various aspects of literary studies, language teaching and drama education were prepared by lecturers from the universities of Prague and Cologne. 

The seminar days began interactively. This allowed the participants to get to know each other and develop a sense of enjoyment in working together. One highlight was the drama-based adaptation of the picture book ‘The Queen of Colours’ with theatre, movement and music. Small international groups rehearsed the plot using props and various means of expression. 

Another seminar day was devoted to teaching pronunciation with rhythm and music. The students were introduced to rhythmicals and created their own spoken texts. 

The musical approach was deepened through a joint excursion. We visited the Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum of Cultures and took part in a Gamelan workshop.

Throughout the week, the students worked on their own project. The texts were based on Cologne legends. Each legend was implemented using a combination of different methods that the students had learned during the week. The end result was what is pedagogically sought after in the classroom: pride in the product among all participants.

The cooperation between the Czech and the German students worked very well and was found to be enriching by all participants. 

The Cologne students themselves took over guided tours of Cologne's sights. In this way, the guests not only got to know Cologne Cathedral, but also the Flora, the Melaten Cemetery, the Heinzelmännchen fountain and many other places. 

On the last day of our stay, we visited a farm that is financed by solidarity contributions and supplies its members with organically grown and regional vegetables.

“I have fond memories of the sights in Cologne and also of Kölsch beer. I experienced a lot in Cologne, e.g. all the trips around Cologne, getting to know the German students and, of course, there were interesting lessons with them, which I enjoyed. For me, the most important thing I ‘learned’ is that I now have more courage to speak German because of the summer school in Cologne, and now I am also sure that I want to go to Germany with Erasmus. For me, the exchange with the German students was fantastic. We didn't just talk in class, but also in our free time (after the seminar). I am not in contact with them now, but I know that some of us are still in touch with German students.” 

Martin, University of Prague

“I would like to express my gratitude for this truly fascinating and practical block seminar on performative approaches to language and literature. The exchange with the Prague students was very enriching and enjoyable. The lecturers did an excellent job of implementing the seminar content, and the presentation style was very pleasant. This type of seminar design should be continued.” 

Johanna, University of Cologne

The Cologne Summer School 2025 brought together students from Tucumán (Argentina) and the University of Cologne under the title “Dictaduras en Argentina y Alemania en el siglo XX. Culturas de la memoria en comparación” (“Dictatorships in Argentina and Germany in the 20th Century: Memory Cultures in Comparison”). Over the course of one week, participants from history, literary studies, political science, media and cultural studies, and related disciplines explored the political, social, and cultural dimensions of the military dictatorships in both countries. The program combined academic perspectives, personal approaches, and visits to key sites of memory in and around Cologne, fostering an intensive transnational exchange on remembrance, historical reckoning, and responsibility.

The thematic framework was developed and designed by Prof. Dr. Holger Meding and Victoria Torres (University of Cologne) and carried out with the support of Maite Küpper.

The Cologne Summer School 2025 offered an in-depth engagement with the military dictatorships in Argentina and Germany and their respective cultures of memory. The program focused on central academic, historical, and cultural perspectives and combined hands-on workshops with visits to significant sites of remembrance. After a shared breakfast on Sunday and a historical walking tour of central Cologne, Monday opened with an introduction to dictatorship studies by Prof. Holger Meding, followed by a workshop examining similarities and differences between the Argentine and German dictatorships. An evening visit to the Brauweiler Memorial Site deepened participants’ understanding of German memory culture, offering an immediate encounter with locations of political persecution during National Socialism and the postwar period.

Tuesday focused on literary and documentary forms of memory through workshops on disappearance, absence, and Argentine testimonio, as well as a session with Mariana Eva Pérez on the literary use of archival materials. The day concluded with a screening of “Das Lied in mir”, a film exploring identity, remembrance, and the consequences of illegal adoption during the Argentine dictatorship.

On Wednesday, an excursion to Bonn took the group to the House of History. Its permanent exhibition provided a comprehensive overview of political transformations and human rights issues in postwar Germany. The group then visited the Argentine Consulate, where the Consul offered insights into current German-Argentine cooperation and diplomatic perspectives.

Thursday brought cinematic and personal perspectives that left a strong emotional impression on many participants. The sessions included analyses of filmic representations of child appropriation, contributions by Mariana Masera and Raquel Robles, and a screening of “Las voces del silencio”, followed by a discussion with the film’s director, Gabriela Naso.

The final day explored transnational historical entanglements through lectures on Tucumán, the Elisabeth Käsemann Foundation, East German-Argentine relations, and the West German intelligence service. In a concluding debate, participants reflected together on their insights and the transnational perspectives gained throughout the week. The intensive and enriching program concluded with a festive farewell dinner at Haus Schwan.

The Cologne Summer School 2025 successfully combined academic depth, international exchange, and personal engagement with complex cultures of remembrance. It demonstrated how fruitful dialogue between students and renowned authors, scholars, and filmmakers from Germany and Argentina can be – especially when historical research, cultural memory, and personal narratives intersect. The week also strengthened existing partnerships between the participating universities and provided valuable impulses for future collaborative projects in the fields of history and cultural studies.

“My experience at the Summer School at the University of Cologne was wonderful from many different perspectives. I especially want to highlight the quality of the classes we had, which provided us with valuable tools for engaging in our communities on issues related to collective memory. The exchange with the students and lecturers in Cologne was incredibly enriching – they welcomed us with warmth and genuine interest in getting to know us. We return to Argentina with new perspectives, new knowledge, new friends, and the strong conviction that continuing this transnational dialogue is essential.”

Paula, National University of Tucumán

“It was an unforgettable experience, full of learning opportunities and enriching exchanges of ideas. However, what I value most goes beyond the academic aspects: the warmth of the lecturers and students, and the bonds that were formed throughout the course.”

Regina, National University of Tucumán

“My experience at the Summer School was unforgettable. I am grateful to the University of Cologne and the National University of Tucumán for allowing me to be part of this collective experience. What I learned in the course helps me move forward with my research and continue sharing in the province of Tucumán new perspectives on the dictatorships in Argentina and Germany. I also take with me the meaningful conversations, the safe space for debate and learning and the connections I formed with other students, with whom I hope to stay in touch in the future.”

María Emilia, National University of Tucumán

The Sino-German Medical Summer School, hosted by Tongji University School of Medicine (TUSM), recently concluded in Shanghai. The two-week program, focused on “Medical Innovation and Cross-Cultural Collaboration,” gathered 28 students and 15 professors from leading German universities, along with Tongji University students and faculty.

The school included keynote lectures and visits to hospitals and businesses like Siemens Healthineers, offering insights into fields such as oncology, neurology, and digital healthcare. Participants also visited various Tongji-affiliated health institutions, observing clinical departments, surgical procedures, and using VR-assisted rehabilitation platforms. The curriculum also incorporated cultural activities, including exploring traditional Chinese medicine.

The school is part of Tongji University's ongoing commitment to its century-long ties with Germany and its efforts to cultivate medical talent with an international perspective.

The Sino-German Academic Exchange Week for medical students, also referred to as the Tongji - Cologne Medical Summer School Program, concluded in Shanghai on September 6. The two-week program was hosted by the Tongji University School of Medicine (TUSM) and organized by its affiliated East Hospital. The program's theme was “Medical Innovation and Cross-Cultural Collaboration”.

The program brought together 28 students and 15 professors from leading German universities, including Bonn, Cologne, Marburg, Tübingen, and Heidelberg. They were joined by students from the Sino-German Experimental Program in Clinical Medicine and faculty from Tongji University's School of Medicine, Department of German, and College of Architecture and Urban Planning. This year's program expanded on the previous year's success by including more participants and enriching its academic and practical components.

The curriculum showcased advances in various medical fields like oncology, cardiology, neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitation through keynote lectures, as well as hospital and enterprise visits, and cultural activities. Experts addressed topics such as digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, and interdisciplinary medical-engineering research. Participants visited Tongji-affiliated health institutions such as:

• East Hospital
• the Fourth People’s Hospital
• Yangzhi Rehabilitation Hospital
• the Pudong District Mental Health Center
• the Anting Community Health Center 

These visits allowed students to tour clinical departments, observe surgical procedures, attend case discussions, use virtual teaching and VR-assisted rehabilitation platforms, and participate in interdisciplinary art therapy workshops. Participants also visited In addition to the academic components, participants were given the opportunity to experience Chinese culture. They learned about the history of Tongji University, experienced traditional Chinese medicine through acupuncture, massage, and Baduanjin exercises, and explored the vibrant Jiangnan culture in the water town of Zhujiajiao.

The summer school is a part of Tongji University's commitment to its tradition of German exchange and cooperation, which dates back over a century.

"The summer school in Shanghai was an unforgettable experience. The program was excellently structured and gave us valuable insights into various areas of the Chinese healthcare system that you would not get on a normal trip to China. We visited different wards in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and even a psychiatric clinic. In addition to exciting lectures by Chinese and German professors about their research, we took part in cultural activities such as Tai Chi, music therapy, and an excursion to an old water town. I was particularly impressed by the great hospitality of our Chinese hosts and the reliable organization. Coffee, cake, lunch, and water were provided every day, and we often even received small gifts. Shanghai itself is a huge but very well-organized city where you can find your way around quickly and easily thanks to the excellent subway network. The mix of modern skyline, lively shopping streets, and traditional neighborhoods makes the city particularly diverse. I was also impressed by the level of digitalization, because whether in restaurants, markets, taxis, or nightclubs, everything can be conveniently paid for using a QR code. One aspect that could be improved in the future would be more intensive interaction with Chinese students in order to promote cultural exchange even more. Overall, the summer school was an enriching experience that opened up new perspectives for me, both professionally and personally."

Medical student - University of Cologne

“The 2025 summer school at Tongji University in China was an unforgettable experience for me. From the very beginning, I was impressed by the extraordinary hospitality, which made me feel at home even though I was so far away from Germany. The insights into medical research and practice at the university and in the hospitals were inspiring and opened up new perspectives for me. They showed me differences and similarities. Learning from and understanding each other was the main focus. The international exchange was also particularly enriching: together with the other participants, I was able to learn, discuss, and make friends that I hope will last for a long time to come. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in this summer school. And I quickly learned one thing: China not only has world-class science, innovation in robotics, and industrial strength—its cuisine is also so diverse that sometimes you feel like every day is its own little culinary adventure.”

Medical student - University of Cologne

"The summer school at Tongji University in Shanghai was a wonderful and enriching experience for me. Over the course of two weeks, we were able to get to know one of the largest and most modern cities in the world while listening to exciting lectures by renowned researchers on their current projects. The organizers, students, and staff at the hospitals and research centers gave us an incredibly warm welcome and created a great atmosphere with their wonderful hospitality. I think students should be given opportunities for exchanges like this much more often. During this short but intense period, you not only experience genuine intercultural exchange and gain new perspectives, but also make contacts that can be very valuable for the future. All in all, it was an experience that helped me grow both professionally and personally."

Medical student - University of Cologne

The Summer School “Study of European Law in Cologne” gave U.S. law students an introduction to EU law through academic seminars, visits to legal institutions in Cologne, France and Luxembourg, and cultural excursions to enhance their understanding of the European legal system and culture.

The three-week Summer School “Study of European Law in Cologne” (May 17–June 7, 2025) offered U.S. law students a rich and immersive academic experience. Participants earned 5 ECTS credits through courses in Comparative Law, EU Public Law, Data Protection, and Social Law.

A major highlight of the program was the opportunity to visit prominent institutions, including the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and the Sorbonne University in Paris. These visits provided firsthand exposure to European legal practice and cross-border judicial cooperation.

Students also took part in excursions, such as visits to the state parliament in Düsseldorf, a day at the district court in Bonn and a visit to the NS-Documentation center in Cologne which enhanced their understanding for European legal history and culture.

The program concluded with a written exam and gave students the option to pursue internships at international law firms in Cologne, Düsseldorf, or Berlin— making it a formative step in many participants' legal careers.

“Participating in a three-week study abroad program in Cologne, Paris, and Luxembourg was a transformative experience that deeply influenced my future career as a lawyer. Being immersed in different cultures and legal systems expanded my global perspective and solidified my passion for international law. Visiting the European Court of Justice was particularly impactful, as it offered a firsthand look at how justice is carried out on a transnational level. Living and learning in diverse environments helped me refine my existing language skills, allowing me to communicate more confidently and effectively in professional settings. This experience not only enhanced my legal knowledge but also shaped my aspirations to work in a globally connected legal field.” 

Donovan

“Taking part in the three-week program in Cologne, Paris, and Luxembourg was a meaningful part of my legal education. One experience that stood out was the visit to the Cologne prison. It offered a rare chance to see the criminal justice system in practice and made me reflect on how different countries approach incarceration and rehabilitation. It helped me think more critically about the values and assumptions behind our own system. The program as a whole broadened my perspective, both legally and culturally. Being in different environments and learning alongside students from diverse backgrounds gave me a better understanding of how law works across borders—and how connected those systems really are.” 

Shannon

From July 21–27, 2025, the German-Georgian Summer School on European and International White-Collar Crime took place at the Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure Law under the direction of Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Martin Paul Waßmer and Prof. Dr. Bachana Jishkariani. Ten Georgian students attended six English lectures on European Criminal Law, closing arguments, asset confiscation, fitness to stand trial, and international crime in the digital age. The program was enriched by cultural activities including a Rhine boat trip, brewery visits, a tour of Cologne Cathedral, and traditional Kegeln. The Summer School fostered academic exchange on differences and similarities between German and Georgian criminal law while strengthening German-Georgian friendship.

The first lecture was given by Professor Waßmer on Monday. It served as an introduction to European Criminal Law and focused primarily on the criminal law provisions of the European Union and their implementation in national law. On Tuesday, Damien Nippen delivered the only lecture of the day on the topic of "The Role of Closing Arguments in Criminal Proceedings." Using the criminal case State of Florida v. Casey Anthony as an example, Mr. Nippen drew on existing research to illustrate the potential of rhetoric in closing arguments to influence a judge’s or jury’s decision.

Wednesday began with a lecture by Ramona Yazdanbakhsh entitled "When Crime Doesn’t Pay: Understanding Asset Confiscation under German Criminal Law" followed by a lively discussion between the Georgian students and the lecturer about the different approaches of the two legal systems to asset confiscation. Later that day, research assistant Nina Wieland gave the second lecture on "Fitness to Stand Trial in Historical and Comparative Contexts: National and International Approaches." She explained the complex subject matter of fitness to stand trial by presenting concrete examples from international criminal court proceedings. The focus was particularly on cases where the accused invoked incapacity to stand trial.

On Friday morning, Professor Jishkariani gave a lecture on international crime, focusing on the challenges posed by social media and deepfakes.

The academic program was accompanied by excursions, during which the chair’s staff introduced the students to cultural life in and around Cologne. On Tuesday, the cultural program consisted of a one-hour boat trip on the Rhine followed by a tour of popular Cologne breweries, where the Georgian students were able to experience the art of Cologne brewing.

On Thursday, the students were given a tour of the Cologne Cathedral. The day ended with dinner at the Haus Unkelbach, where the students enjoyed traditional German brewery cuisine. After the dinner the students and the staff played Kegeln (a German kind of Bowling).

Overall, this year's Summer School on Criminal Law 2025 proved to be a success. In addition to fruitful discussions on the differences and similarities between German and Georgian criminal law and the opportunities of European criminal law, the German-Georgian friendship was further deepened through numerous leisure activities.

“The lectures were interesting and gave us the chance to compare our legal system in Georgia with the German one. I really enjoyed the following discussions. It was very useful to gain a different perspective and to learn about other criminal law systems.” 

Luka

“The boat trip was the perfect opportunity to take pictures of ourselves and the wonderful city of Cologne. Afterwards, we got to know the local culture by visiting some of the most famous brewery houses in the city.” 

Ana

“The farewell dinner at Haus Unkelbach was actually quite sad because our time in Cologne was coming to an end, but we had a lot of fun playing ninepins afterwards.” 

Salome

“I really enjoyed the tour of the brewery. Although the different beers were all genuine Cologne beers, they all tasted different.” 

Luka

DBi Germany is a short programme offered exclusively for (E)MBA students from our partner universities, designed to offer insights into particular industry sectors. Exploring the Future of Mobility in the energy landscape, students studied how the German automotive sector and the German sustainable transport industry intertwine. The programme places a strong focus on networking and first-hand experiences with the majority of the programme taking place at our corporate partners’ locations throughout Germany. Following an integrated programme model with two dedicated tracks, students visit some corporate partners together while exploring each topic in more detail with their group or track. This year the program’s participants represented 8 of the University of Cologne WiSo Faculty’s exclusive partner universities. The programme combines academic and practical content in a unique way, enabling students to witness theory being put into practice on site.

Energiewende, e-mobility, alternative fuels, zero carbon emissions, climate change, and clean energy. All phrases that have become part of our standard vocabulary - but what do these terms really mean and how do they look on a business, economic, political and even technical level? This 12-day, in-person programme included networking opportunities with institutions and companies where participants gathered first-hand information about current challenges and prospects. Both in small groups and in a larger setting, participants were able to interview and network with experts from all aspects of these sectors. Students explored the Volkswagon factory in Wolfsburg and during a collaborative workshop with Siemens AG, worked on a news case exploring the challenges and finding solution on how to carve out certain aspects of their business portfolio at their Germany headquarters in Berlin. They explored topics such as international corporate strategy, implications of EU policies, lobbying, digital transformation, leadership and communication from a German perspective. From energy producers and German automotive giants to start-ups and policy makers, participants gained a comprehensive overview of the German sustainable transportation and automotive sectors and their role within the EU. 

Overall, the programme strengthened the universities connections internationally by highlighting the advances made at the EWI institute as well as its strong connection with local, regional and national players. Participants gained a new understanding of sustainable transportation, energy economics, the automotive industry, Germany and the universities’ role in the development of a greener and healthier future.

“Very well coordinated. Great exposure to different places in Germany and aspects of German culture. The curriculum was current and felt very relevant.”

Anonymous

“The program was a new and fresh experience for me to see how sustainable transportation and all its branches (from EV to shared mobility to public transportation), while having a wide spread of diverse industries, are all concerned with the current trend to solve climate change and the future of transportation. It is so refreshing to look at different perspectives and share ideas on the research done by universities and market power in action. The highlights of the trip for me were Nurburgring, the tour of the VW factory and the Go Karting event. All are once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are also very interesting and relevant to the programme. Along with this there's a very good balance between the activities, lessons and corporate visits.”

Anonymous

Our summer school “The Living Practice: EU at Work - Excursion to Cologne and Brussels” familiarises students from the University of Cologne and the Turkish-German University with current and fundamental issues in European politics, particularly within the Turkey-Germany-European Union (EU) triangle. This project offers students an excursion to Cologne and Brussels in which they learn about, visit and engage with high-level key institutions of Germany and the EU.

The objective of the summer school is, on the one hand, to enable students to acquire an additional qualification in European law and politics. On the other hand, it provides an opportunity to experience new teaching methods and to develop students' ability to work and communicate in multinational teams. For this year, students participated in a moot court simulation which addressed a fictional legal conflict between the right to freedom of assembly and the free movement of goods within the EU.

The summer schools started with a visit to the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in Düsseldorf. The students received there an in-depth introduction to the responsibilities of Minister Nathanael Liminski, who is in charge of Federal, European, and International Affairs as well as Media in the state government. Following the reception and a Q&A session at the State Chancellery, our students proceeded to the State Parliament of NRW. Although the scheduled meeting with MP Berivan Aymaz from Cologne had to be cancelled due to urgent commitments, but her team kindly welcomed our students to the parliament building. The excursion to Düsseldorf offered a range of informative and enriching experiences and served as an excellent introduction to the political landscape of NRW particularly for the international students from Turkey.

Another highlight of our summer school was the event with Prof. Dr. Julie Smith, Professor for European Politics at the University of Cambridge and member of the House of Lords. 

The excursion to Brussels commenced with a visit to the Permanent Delegation of Germany to the EU. During the visit, Ms Katharina Schmidt provided an insightful overview of the role and structure of Germany’s Permanent Representation to the EU. After this visit, the students get the opportunity to meet His Excellency, Ambassador Faruk Kaymakcı, Permanent Delegation of Turkey to the EU.

On the following day, the group visited the European Commission and met with Vanda Suha and Sophie Marie Rathmes from DG Trade (Multilateral Trade and Sustainable Development Policy). The session provided insights into the EU’s Trade and Sustainable Development strategy, focusing on environmental goals, responsible supply chains and the European Green Deal. After visiting the European Commission, the students met with Dr. Peter Liese, Member of the European Parliament and representative of the European People’s Party (EPP). He highlighted how the powers of the European Parliament have grown significantly since 1979 – in some areas even surpassing those of national parliaments. 

As part of the excursion, our group visited the Parlamentarium and the House of European History. The museum offers a comprehensive and critical perspective on the shared and contested histories of Europe, from the 19th century to the present. 

On the last two days of the summer school, the students participated in a moot court simulation game, hosted at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stephan Hobe (UoC) and Prof. Dr. Enes Bayraklı (TGU), the students stepped into the roles of judges, advocates general, and representatives of the European Commission, Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands. The case – Commission v. Germany (C-136/25) – addressed a fictional legal conflict between two fundamental rights: the right to freedom of assembly and the free movement of goods within the EU.

“As a political science student, I didn’t have many experiences regarding legal procedures and texts. PROTEUS gave me the chance to explore and awaken my interest in this field, while also letting me improve my political knowledge. Meeting so many ambitious, talented students and visiting Brussels together was an amazing experience, but the moot court is my best memory - being proud of your work after having worked on it so long and being able to present it felt rewarding. I would definitely do it again.”

Leah, Political Science student at the University of Cologne

“I really enjoyed the PROTEUS project because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. As a law student, I am usually focused on theory and written exams, but here I had the chance to practice oral pleadings and presentations, which helped me learn a lot. I also appreciated the excursions, such as the museum visit, where I could refresh my knowledge about the history and politics of the EU. Another highlight was connecting with students from different countries and disciplines – it was inspiring to step out of the law bubble and broaden my horizon.”

Pauline, Law student at the University of Cologne

“The excursion, we undertook in Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Brussels, gave us a unique opportunity to put into practice the knowledge we had developed throughout the year on the German constitutional order, the foundations and theory of the EU, and its legal system. Experiencing these concepts firsthand and engaging directly with the actors in their real context ensured that our learning extended far beyond books. The combination of this exceptional experience and the moot court broadened our perspective and opened up a new world of understanding. I am deeply grateful to the organisers and to my cohort—each of them was truly outstanding.”

Hüseyin, European and International Affairs student at the Turkish-German University