Summer School 2026

Across many academic disciplines resilience has become a key concept for understanding how individuals, communities, institutions and societies respond to crises, upheavals and change. In the broadest sense, resilience refers to the ability to persevere, adapt, recover and transform in the face of external shocks or long-term stress. Whilst the term was originally associated with the natural sciences and psychology, it has gained increasing prominence in the humanities, social sciences and economics. The Summer School brings together students and scholars from Ukraine and Germany to explore the concept of resilience from historical, cultural, political, and socio-economic perspectives.

Participants will take part in interdisciplinary discussions on resilience, memory, and social change predominantly in Central and Eastern Europe in the 20th and 21st century. As part of the programme, we will examine experiences of displacement and exile, cultural memory and commemoration, as well as alternative forms of opposition and dissent under socialism. We will explore how digital cultural heritage initiatives help to preserve cultural memory and expand access to cultural heritage in times of crisis and change in today’s Europe.

During the summer school we will also examine societal responses to environmental disasters under different political regimes, Ukraine’s financial resilience in times of war – including the role of banking institutions and international support – and the evolving relationship between Ukraine and the European Union.

Participating disciplines:

• Literary and Cultural Studies
• International Relations
• European Studies
• Economics
• History
• Digital Humanities

The DUHN Summer School is part of the German-Ukrainian University Network (DUHN – European Studies 4 Ukraine), an initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation between German and Ukrainian higher education institutions within the European Higher Education Area. The network promotes exchange among students, academic staff, and university administrators, while supporting the joint development of teaching, research, and institutional structures in an international context.

Bringing together perspectives from different academic disciplines and university cultures, the program fosters dialogue among DUHN partner universities, including Friedrich Schiller University Jena and its Ukrainian partner institutions. Further information about the project can be found through DUHN – European Studies 4 Ukraine. de

The Friedrich Schiller University Jena, the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, the Ukrainian Catholic University, and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy invite applications for an interdisciplinary Summer School in Wrocław, Poland.

The Summer School will take place from 20 to 24 July 2026, with 19 and 25 July designated as arrival and departure days.

Requirements for participation

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Enrollment at one of the participating universities
• Academic interest in the topic of resilience
• Willingness to engage in interdisciplinary and international exchange
• Good command of English. The summer school is held exclusively in English.  

Applications from Bachelor’s and Master’s students as well as early-stage PhD researchers are welcome. Students from all academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply if they are interested in the topic.

Application procedure

Applications must be submitted electronically as a single PDF file by 28 June 2026 (midnight on Sunday) to Snizhana Lysiuk (snizhana.lysiuk@uni-jena.de ), DUHN project coordinator at Jena University. They should include:

• A short CV
• A motivation letter (max. 1 page)
• A current certificate of enrollment.

Procedure and participation

After successful selection, participants will receive access to the full Summer School programme, including preparatory readings and further information for academic preparation.

Participants will be awarded a certificate of participation specifying the number of hours spent in preparation and attendance. This certificate may be used as a basis for the recognition of academic credits, where applicable.

Costs and funding

With funding provided under the DAAD programme “German-Ukrainian University Networks”, the University of Jena will cover accommodation and meals for participating students and lecturers. Travel costs will be reimbursed. There are no participation fees.