UrFU Is to Continue Cooperation with Friedrich Ebert Foundation

10:17, June 24, 2019

The organization’s representatives and bundestag deputies visited UrFU

A delegation of German Bundestag deputies and representatives of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation met with UrFU staff to discuss possible options of cooperation. Particularly, the potential and benefits of UrFU as a regional research center, the involvement of the university in national and regional educational projects, international cooperation.

‘We want to understand what we can do in Russia, and not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in the regions. We are determined to establish contacts, cultural and social exchange,’ — explains Christoph Matschie, deputy of the German Bundestag.

The cooperation between UrFU and the Ebert Foundation began in 2012, when Reinhard Krumm (one of the Fund's leaders in Russia) had a meeting with the university Rector Victor Koksharov on the development of the “Scenarios for the development of relations between Russia and Germany until 2030”.

‘Scenario development is a joint project of the Foundation, UrFU and the Viadrina European University. The scenarios were presented in Berlin with the participation of Frank-Walter Steinmeier and in Moscow with Viсtor Koksharov,’ Maria Guzikova, Director of the UrFU Department of International Relations, says.

Besides that, the UrFU Rector and the university representatives took part in the Foundation’s projects in Russia and Germany. In 2016 the scenarios for the development of cooperation were renewed.

‘We want to continue cooperation, and there are specific proposals. This year, in November, the scientific group "Polylingualism and multiculturalism in the era of post-literacy" plans to hold a workshop Multilinguism for Peace. The workshop is one of the events of the conference “Communication trends in the era of post-literacy,’ Maria Guzikova notes. ‘And we would like to contact the Ebert Foundation to help attract leading foreign scientists and spread information about the upcoming conference.’

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation is the oldest political foundation in Germany. It was founded in 1925. The Foundation has rich traditions. It bears the name of the first democratically elected president of Germany, Friedrich Ebert. In Russia, the Fund’s branch began operations in 1989 (the first office was opened in Moscow).