Institute for Conflict Management

Universities are currently under considerable pressure: debates about “cancel culture,” how to deal with protests on campus, and hostility toward researchers and teachers are dominating current public discourse. In light of an increasingly polarized culture of debate, universities are being called upon to take a stand on socio-political issues and find ways to resolve the conflicts that arise from them.

Universities face particular challenges due to the tension between the freedom of scientific research and teaching on the one hand, and the protection of vulnerable groups and the guarantee of constructive spaces for discourse on the other. How can universities, as places of academic freedom and free expression, simultaneously create safe spaces that prevent discrimination and exclusion of their members? How can universities successfully handle this complex responsibility? What are the possibilities and limitations of conflict management in this field? And what role do universities play in resolving social conflicts?

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, starting at 1 p.m. (MET) via Zoom, Mario Clemens and Dr. Christian Hochmuth will speak on this topic at ConflictA.

"Simply better teaching" - Faculty Learning Community at the Viadrina gets lecturers talking

The Faculty Learning Community (FLC) "Simply better teaching - with minimum effort to maximum effect" under the leadership of Mario Clemens came to a close with its final meeting on 15 July. Teachers and students from different disciplines and status groups - from professors and research assistants to students - met every two weeks to look at the findings of teaching and learning research and discuss specific ways to improve their teaching.

The focus was always on the question: Which small didactic interventions have a demonstrably large effect - and how can they be integrated into your own teaching with reasonable effort? Topics such as pre-knowledge activation, the optimal level of difficulty of exercises ("desirable difficulty"), motivational course design and the question of how the teaching of learning skills can be combined with the teaching of specialised knowledge were discussed.

The FLC was not only a place of scientifically sound inspiration, but also of collegial exchange. The change of perspective brought about by the participation of a student was particularly enriching. Professor Fabian Bald emphasises how valuable it was "to see how certain teaching strategies are actually received from a student perspective". Diana Koppelt, another participant, draws a positive conclusion: "The FLC showed me how even small changes - such as the introduction to the seminar or the more active involvement of students - can have a big impact. That gave me the courage to try out new things."

The interest in the FLC shows that lecturers at the Viadrina are looking for ways to further develop their teaching based on evidence - without overburdening themselves.

On 28 June, the European University Viadrina participated in the Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften in Berlin for the first time. In her interactive lecture "Goal conflicts and dilemmas in German peace engagement", Dr Anne Holper discussed with the audience uncomfortable questions such as: How can we effectively protect the civilian population in Gaza and at the same time commit to Germany's unwavering solidarity with Israel? Must we allow Ukraine to pay the predictably immense price to persuade Russia to cease hostilities, or can we shoulder the enormous costs and risks necessary to enable Ukraine to negotiate with Russia on acceptable terms?

Such foreign policy dilemmas are not theoretical games, but the daily work of decision-makers in the German government, diplomats, and international actors who have to struggle hard to find any solution that is even remotely acceptable. Holper, who researches politics in practice, made it clear: "A dilemma only becomes solvable when it is recognised in all its horror and insolubility, including the fact that there will probably be no way around sacrifices. Only when you let go of the expectation that you can solve it completely can you think of new options".

We are delighted to welcome Dr. Tetiana Kyselova as a Fellow at the Institute for Conflict Management (IKM).

Tetiana Kyselova has been working closely with the IKM and the Centre for Peace Mediation (CPM) on various projects since 2014, including the Track-III-Dialogues in Ukraine. She was already active as a Visiting Fellow at the IKM after the Russian invasion.

With the MSCA4Ukraine Fellowship, the long-standing cooperation in the field of peace mediation is now being intensified. Her expertise, particularly on Ukraine, "will allow us to finally bring together our many efforts into a meaningful and long-term synergy", says Kyselova.

In addition, she will contribute her in-depth knowledge of Ukraine and the topic of the impact of peace work (impact analyses) to the Impact Hub project. She herself says: "This will also give me a chance to dive into the professional diplomatic world and to get access to a direct transfer of my research findings into policy and practice."

We look forward to continuing our collaboration and wish her an inspiring and productive time at the IKM.

How can German integrated peace engagement leverage its full potential with greater impact – both in principle and in light of a fundamentally shifting global conflict landscape?

This question and many others on the topic of peace engagement and stabilisation are at the heart of the Impact Hub that has recently begun its work. Together with consortium partners from IFSH, SCRIPTS FU Berlin and the Federal Foreign Office, the ICM is working in the areas of conflict mediation, democracy and resilience promotion and security sector reform (SSR). Particularly relevant regions such as the Western Balkans, West Africa, Ukraine and the Middle East will be worked with and analysed in the project until 2026.

Anne Holper has published an article in the Forum for International Culture Relations that is dedicated to dilemmatic basic patterns of international relations in the context of value heterogeneity and systems competition. No Rotten Compromises - Dilemma routines for dialogue in the context of systemic competition offers a concrete methodological approach to avoid unacceptable costs in compromise-making.