Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies

Ukraine@viadrina

Profile

Founded in July 2023, the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies (VCPU) merges the Center for Interdisciplinary Polish Studies and the Chair for Entangled History of Ukraine into a new research institution at the European University Viadrina. The VCPU focuses on interdisciplinary research on Polish and Ukrainian history and the present day, as well as on the transfer of science-based and up-to-date knowledge about Poland and Ukraine to the public.

Interdisciplinary conferences, workshops, open lectures, summer academies, research trips as well as university lectures and seminars by the VCPU’s academic staff and international guest researchers, several publication series, an academic blog and a YouTube channel stimulate research on Poland and Ukraine and underline the special role of the Viadrina as a place of European intellectual exchange.

Große Scharrnstraße 59, DE 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
+49 335-5534 2445
vcpu@europa-uni.de
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Visitor address

Große Scharrnstraße 23a
DE 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
Räume 301-311

News

Reimagining Soviet Georgia: Podcast with Stephan Rindlisbacher

How did internal borders get delimited after the establishment of Soviet power in the 1920s and 30s? What role did borders play in nation building? And how do economic factors shape the border delimitation process? A talk with Stephan Rindlisbacher from VCPU.

The beginning of the Holocaust: forced labour – a new book by Frank Grelka

In his book ‘Mörderische Verschwendung’ (Murderous Waste), published on 24 September 2025, historian Dr Frank Grelka describes forced labour in the Polish territories occupied by Germany as the beginning of the Holocaust. Read more [in German]

4th Prof. Jan Winiecki International Scientific Conference

University of Gdańsk, University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszów, European University Viadrina, and the Association of Polish Economist (TEP) invite submissions to a scientific conference themed: “A Changing World: Challenges for Economics and Economies”. This is the fourth conference (the second international), which aims to commemorate Prof. Jan Winiecki. CALL FOR PAPERS

“We created a community across borders” – Interview with Prof. Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast

Since 2014, Dagmara Jajeśniak-Quast has been Professor of Interdisciplinary Polish Studies at the European University Viadrina’s Faculty of Business Administration and Economics. She also serves as Chair of the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies (VCPU). But her connection to Viadrina goes back to its very beginnings: she was among the first students to enroll when the university was re-founded in 1992. In this interview, she talks about those pioneering years, her personal journey across borders, and the future of Viadrina as one of Germany’s most international universities.

Events

Jan

Monday 18.15

Franziska Davies (ZZF Potsdam): Befreiung vom Imperium. Die Ukraine, Polen und die Entstehung des neuen Europa 1980- 1991 [DE]

Jan

Monday 18.15

Christian Dietrich (Landesamt für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt): Sicherheitsauftrag: Völkerfreundschaft. Staatssicherheit, Volkspolizei und die Arbeits- und Ausbildungsmigration in die DDR (1972-1990) [DE]

Feb

Monday 18.15

02.02.26 Lisa Palmes und Lothar Quinkenstein (Berlin) Der Puppe neue Kleider“. Zur Neuübersetzung von Bolesław Prus großem Gesellschaftsroman „Lalka“ [DE]

Research | Teaching | Transfer

Research

The research carried out at the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies is dedicated to Poland and Ukraine in a broad transregional context, considering the close entanglements – commonalities as well as conflicts – in this multi-layered contact zone. Recognizing the cultural and political agency of Poland and Ukraine, we treat our research as an integrative endeavor with a strategic interdisciplinary focus.

Teaching

In line with its research focus, the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies pursues the strategy of integrating Polish, Ukrainian, as well as Central and Eastern European studies into as many courses at the Viadrina as possible. For this reason, courses are generally offered in English and German, together with a number of seminars in Polish and Ukrainian, and are aimed at students from all three faculties at all levels of qualification – BA, MA and PhD.

Transfer

We want to share the results of our enquiries with the public. Scientifically based, trustworthy knowledge and information, especially about the complex situations and conditions in Central and Eastern Europe, are urgently needed in Germany. In order to transfer the findings of the Viadrina Center of Polish and Ukrainian Studies projects into an enlightened public debate, we will further develop our existing formats.