Academic staff members (holders of PhD / Candidate of Sciences and Doctor of Sciences degrees) of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic” are invited to apply for the prestigious KIU Guest Lectureship fellowship, organized within the Competence Network Interdisciplinary Ukrainian Studies Frankfurt (Oder) – Berlin (KIU). Coordinated by European University Viadrina, KIU unites prominent German research and academic institutions:
- Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS);
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU Berlin);
- Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin);
- Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW);
- Berlin Institute for Advanced Study (Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin).
The program is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with financial support from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany (Auswärtiges Amt).
Purpose & Strategic Mission
The KIU Guest Lectureship aims to amplify Ukrainian scholarly voices within Western European academia, deconstruct outdated regional paradigms, and foster high-level academic transfer.
The visiting scholar will contribute directly to the curriculum of the newly established Ukrainian Studies Certificate Program at Viadrina by designing and delivering innovative, master-level seminar courses. Furthermore, the fellow will participate in colloquia, workshops, and joint research initiatives across the network, laying groundwork for sustainable bilateral cooperation between our home institution and German partners.
Grant Details & Financial Conditions
Duration: 5 months (1 April 2027 – 31 August 2027).
Location: European University Viadrina, Frankfurt (Oder), Germany (approx. 1 hour by train from central Berlin).
Monthly Fellowship Allowance: €2,300 per month (covering living costs, housing, and health insurance).
Travel Grant: a lump-sum international travel allowance provided in accordance with official DAAD mobility flat rates.
Academic Infrastructure:
Dedicated workstation in the KIU co-working space;
Unrestricted access to Viadrina’s library system, interlibrary loan networks, and state/regional digital research databases across Berlin-Brandenburg;
Full access to campus IT infrastructure, research centers, and academic services.
Logistical Assistance: dedicated administrative support from the KIU team in securing local accommodation in Frankfurt (Oder), visa-related procedures, and local registration.
Semester Umbrella Topic (Summer Term 2027)
“Labour Market and Social Policy in Transition: Institutional and Social Changes in Ukraine”
The term's academic focus scrutinizes the multidimensional shocks, institutional realignments, and policy pathways of Ukraine’s labor economy and social architecture under full-scale warfare, European integration commitments, and future reconstruction frameworks.
Indicative sub-themes for seminar design and scholarly engagement:
- Labor Market Transformation under Crisis: mobilization dynamics, workforce shortages, forced migration, refugee outflows, the brain drain dilemma, internally displaced persons (IDPs) economic integration, platform and remote work adaptability.
- Welfare Systems & Social Security Reforms: social safety net resilience during severe fiscal constraints, means-tested assistance, pension system sustainability, anti-poverty strategies, and international donor coordination.
- Veteran Policy & Societal Reintegration: transition frameworks from military to civilian life, psychosocial and medical rehabilitation networks, accessibility and disability mainstreaming in the workplace, and evolving legal/social veteran status.
- Legal Harmonization & EU Accession: modernization of Ukrainian labor law, alignment with the EU acquis communautaire, the new draft Labor Code, collective bargaining, and trade union rights in times of emergency.
- Gender Dimensions of Work: the gendered division of wartime labor, the burden of unpaid care work, women's entrepreneurship, and leadership across public and private sectors.
- Civil Society & Grassroots Welfare Provision: the emergence of volunteer collectives, charitable foundations, and civic initiatives bridging institutional welfare gaps.
- Human Capital & Demography in Post-War Recovery: demographic forecasts, return migration incentives, human capital preservation, and green/digital job creation in municipal reconstruction.
Teaching Commitments & Pedagogical Profile
The selected fellow will deliver three distinct seminar courses (in English) over the course of the semester:
- Target Audience: Master’s degree students across the Faculty of Social and Cultural Sciences, the Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, and the Faculty of Law.
- Course Structure: each course comprises 15 seminar sessions of 90 minutes each (equivalent to 2 SWS in the German academic credit system).
- Didactic Expectations: high level of student interaction, seminar-style discussions, problem-based learning, case-study analysis, and critical engagement with primary source materials.
Eligibility & Candidate Profile
Scholars and university lecturers currently affiliated with a Ukrainian higher education or scientific research institution.
Holder of an earned doctoral degree (PhD / Candidate of Sciences / Doctor of Sciences) conferred at least 2 years prior to the application deadline.
Strong disciplinary background in: Sociology, Economics, Law, Public Administration, Political Science, Contemporary History, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies, European Studies, or Science & Technology Studies (STS).
Proven excellence in academic teaching and a fluent command of English (minimum CEFR level B2/C1, both written and oral).
Established publication records relevant to the semester topic.
Application Dossier (All materials must be in English)
Applicants must submit the following documents via the online portal:
Letter of Motivation and Academic Profile (max. 750 words):
Overview of research specialization and academic trajectory;
Previous involvement in Ukrainian Studies or international cooperative initiatives;
Teaching philosophy, student engagement methodologies, and didactic standards;
Objectives for joining KIU and prospects for future institutional ties.
Three Master-Level Course Proposals:
For each of the three individual courses, provide:
Course Title and disciplinary classification;
Syllabus outline (15 thematic 90-minute blocks);
Course abstract (max. 150 words: objectives, learning outcomes, target student group, evaluation mode);
A reading list of at least 3 essential English-language academic sources.
Teaching Track Record:
Comprehensive list of courses taught (indicating level: BA, MA, or PhD);
Documented participation in pedagogical training, didactic development workshops, or curriculum design programs;
Teaching awards, fellowships, or formal student evaluations (where applicable).
Curriculum Vitae (CV):
Detailed academic CV detailing education, academic appointments, grant history;
Complete bibliography of scholarly publications;
Mandatory requirement: clearly highlight up to 5 key publications most relevant to the semester’s umbrella topic.
Selection Criteria
An interdisciplinary selection committee appointed by the KIU steering board will review applications. Key assessment criteria include:
- Academic rigor, originality, and intellectual coherence of the proposed courses.
- Alignment of the syllabi with the semester umbrella theme and their interdisciplinary appeal to Viadrina students.
- Candidate's research profile, international peer-reviewed publication standing, and academic merit.
- Demonstrated teaching excellence and commitment to innovative higher-education didactics.
- Strategic potential to build long-term institutional cooperation between the applicant’s home university and the KIU network.
Deadline & Submission Procedure
Application Deadline: 15 November 2026.
All applications must be submitted exclusively online via the official KIU application management system.
Official Call & Portal Registration Link: https://www.kiu.europa-uni.de/en/research/guest-lectureship-competition/index.html
For institutional nomination support, syllabus consultation, or official affiliation letters, prospective applicants should contact our University’s International Relations Office: interoffice@nupp.edu.ua (Room 213-C).
