Days of Ukraine in Bavaria 2025

The Days of Ukraine in Bavaria, held on 1–2 October at the University of Bayreuth, continued the successful tradition of Days of Ukraine events initiated by the German-Ukrainian Academic Society. With the theme “Bridging Ideas, Building Knowledge – Shaping Excellence and Partnership”, this year’s event showcased the strength and diversity of German-Ukrainian academic cooperation in Bavaria and its importance in fostering excellence and innovation.

Over a hundred participants from Germany, Ukraine, France, the UK, Austria, the Czech Republic, Canada, and Turkey came together to discuss opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine, developing future joint projects and establishing binational consortia. The conference thus provided an excellent platform for scientific exchange in the fields of higher education, research and innovation, while additionally making an important contribution to strengthening international cooperation at Bavarian universities and research institutions.

Organized by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Glatzel and Dr. Nataliya Yadzhak (Chair of Metals and Alloys, University of Bayreuth) and funded by the Bavarian State Chancellery, Bavarian University Centre for Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe BAYHOST, and the Universitätsverein Bayreuth e.V., the conference featured high-level addresses by university leaders, city representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps, such as Yurii Nykytiuk, Consul General of Ukraine in Munich; Thomas Ebersberger, Mayor of Bayreuth; Prof. Dr. Nina Nestler, Vice President for Internationalization, Gender Equality & Diversity; Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stefan Schafföner, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Science; Prof. Dr. Olga Garaschuk, President of the German-Ukrainian Academic Society, University of Tübingen; and Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uwe Glatzel, Chair for Metals and Alloys.

Sessions highlighted successful academic bilateral cooperation in engineering, natural sciences, and the humanities. The evening keynote session was devoted to German-Ukrainian historical dialogue in times of change: Prof. Dr. Jana Osterkamp (University of Augsburg) discussed the transformation of the dialogue from a long-term historical perspective, while Prof. Dr. Larysa Didkovska, Rector of the Ukrainian Free University Munich, marked the 80th anniversary of the university in Munich, highlighting its historical and contemporary developments. The UKRAINET PhD Thesis Presentation Contest showcased the excellence of young scholars, with Sofia Kovalchuk (University Medical Center Freiburg) awarded first prize.

Further discussions explored funding opportunities, mobility schemes, and the possibilities for German-Ukrainian cooperation. The event concluded with the annual DUAG assembly and a tour of the Chair for Metals and Alloys, underscoring the event’s role as a platform for sustained academic partnership between Germany and Ukraine.

Welcome Session of the Days of Ukraine in Bavaria. From left to right: Yurii Nykytiuk, Consul General of Ukraine in Munich; Thomas Ebersberger, Mayor of Bayreuth; Prof. Dr. Nina Nestler, Vice President of the University of Bayreuth. Bayreuth, 01 October 2025. Foto: Chair for Metals and Alloys, University of Bayreuth.