The Haifa Center for German and European Studies (HCGES) is a joint project of the University of Haifa and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD – Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst). Since 2007 it is informing students, researchers and the community at large about the rich spectrum of topics related to modern Europe and Germany post 1945.

NEWS:

14th March 2022:

In their article “Akademische Solidarität“, the Jüdische Allgemeine reports on our Ukraine Emergency Fellowship.

Ukraine Emergency Fellowship

In response to the current situation in Ukraine, we have canceled dinners, publication grants, conferences and everything that makes a center tick. Also, Stefan Ihrig, Director of the HCGES, has put in money from his own research funds to offer one Ukraine Emergency Fellowship for one female scientist that had to flee the country for up to one year.

We are offering one one-year fellowship in residence at the Haifa Center for German and European Studies for one scientist from Ukraine with a background in the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law (with a doctorate). The fellowship holder should work on aspects of modern European history and have a conversational command of English. We will be flexible concerning the scope and area of studies (Europe in its wider dimensions).

Preference will be given to female scientists who had to flee the country with their children.

Starting date: as soon as possible

The fellowship will include the flight as well as a stipend of 30.000 US dollars for the year.

The fellowship is paid by funds of the German Academic Exchange Service – the DAAD – and the personal funds of the head of the center. We hope that others around the world will follow our example and give these people in need a home from where they can regroup in dignity, continue their careers, and can continue to be part of the academic and social leadership of Ukraine, if only from a safe distance.

If you are interested and think you might meet the criteria, please contact us at hcges@univ.haifa.ac.il.

* This fellowship does not confer refugee status! We will have to obtain a regular visa for post-doctoral fellows.

MA in German & European Studies
The HCGES is offering a MA Program in Modern German and European Studies. The courses take place in English. The goal of the course is to widen the knowledge of the students about Germany and about Europe. The program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes different fields of study. These include the subjects of economics, law, political science, geography, environmental science, sociology, history and literature, as well as German as a foreign language. In addition, weekly seminars with internationally renowned guest lecturers round out the range of courses. A highlight is the annual study tour. Numerous scholarships are available.

German Language Classes

Every semester the HCGES offers German courses with different levels and intensities. Our courses are open to students and faculty members of the University of Haifa as well as to the general public. Class sizes are small, and our instructors are native German speakers who teach primarily in German. Our courses focus on improving students’ reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. The courses are taught according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (A1-C2).

Events at the Center

During the semester, the HCGES organizes academic conferences, workshops and lectures which are open to all university students as well as to the public. Our most regular forum is the HCGES Colloqium, which takes place on Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and to which are invited Israeli and internationally-based lecturers on current German and European topics. Our last academic conference focused on populism, decarbonization strategies and European integration. The upcoming themes for the academic year 2020/21 are COVID 19 and Conspiracy Theories and COVID 19 and European Solidarity.