News in detail

At the University Ball on 21 October 2017, the University of Konstanz Society (UGK) and the University of Konstanz will launch their new funding programme “For science. For dialogue. For freedom”. Through this initiative in support of scientists who are refugees or victims of persecution, the UGK intends to assume increased public responsibility and calls upon all Konstanz lecturers and researchers to support their international colleagues.

“The freedom to conduct research, to teach and to study, along with the freedom of speech and opinion, is enshrined in our Basic Law. We may take these rights for granted, but from the perspective of many of our international university peers, they are becoming an increasingly important topic”, emphasises Professor Ulrich Rüdiger, rector of the University of Konstanz. He adds that during periods of political unrest characterised by civil wars and a surge in anti-democratic tendencies, it is crucial "that we keep communication channels open with the affected countries, advance our pursuit of personal dialogue with our colleagues from abroad and promote scientific discourse in any way we can”. It is exactly such exchange and collaboration endeavours that the University of Konstanz Society (UGK) intends to support with its new initiative “For science. For freedom. For dialogue”. The UGK’s initiative will launch a long-term funding campaign at the beginning of the current winter semester. Initial donations for the initiative will be collected through charitable contributions via casino games during the University Ball.

Dr Johannes Dingler, acting director of the university’s International Office, explains that “in the broader context of educational policy, it is programmes such as ‘Scholars at Risk’ or the ‘Philipp Schwarz Initiative’ of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation that serve and support scientists who are refugees or victims of persecution”. Working closely with the involved universities, these networks are able to literally save individual lives and academic livelihoods by providing threatened or persecuted academics at least temporary professional employment prospects.

Besides supporting individual scientists, the new initiative at the University of Konstanz will also focus on providing project-based funding for research collaborations, exchange scholarships or conferences that foster dialogue and build bridges between international peers in research and higher education. In order to be able to sustainably integrate the project into the UGK’s funding portfolio, all Konstanz researchers and academics are invited to join the society. Upon request, the membership fee can be earmarked as a donation to the funding initiative “For science. For dialogue. For freedom”. As a non-profit association, the University of Konstanz Society supports research and teaching at the University of Konstanz and sees itself as an intermediary between the university, the region and the public at large. Anyone can submit a project proposal to the University of Konstanz Society, regardless of their membership status.

Facts:

• University of Konstanz Society (UGK) and University of Konstanz will launch new initiative entitled “For research. For dialogue. For freedom” to support scientists who are refugees or victims of persecution. 
• Individuals and especially project-based research collaborations, exchange scholarships and conferences will be funded in order to foster dialogue and build bridges between international peers in research and higher education.
• The University of Konstanz Society (UGK) was founded on 1 February 1965 with the title “Gesellschaft der Freunde and Förderer der Universität Konstanz” (association for friends and supporters of the university), two years prior to the foundation of the university. Its long-established aim is to support the development and the activities of the University of Konstanz and to cultivate new and existing contacts between the university and the region.
• The initiative will be launched during the University Ball with initial donations collected through participation in the charity casino.
• www.uni.kn/ugk