Internationalizing German Communication Studies: learning from the world
The DFG-network Cosmopolitan Communication Studies has recently pointed out the deficits in international and transnational orientation in academic research and teaching in the academic community in Germany. Hence, neither do cosmopolitan structures nor cosmopolitan culture exist to an extent that would allow a sustainable learning process from international/transcultural perspectives. To identify and assess efforts for a “deep” internationalization in everyday academic action, the network will get in dialogue with researchers from communication studies communities from various parts of the world.
Impression from the conference
Program
Location: IBZ – Internationales Begegnungszentrum, Michaelisstraße 38, 99084 Erfurt
Date: Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Organizers: DFG network “Cosmopolitan Communication Studies” and Division “International and Intercultural Communication” of the DGPuK
The pre-conference consists of two roundtables:
The first panel features a roundtable of scholars who have been socialized both in a “foreign” and the German communication studies community and thus can refer to both “worlds” in terms of a deficit analysis, but also regarding best practices for a “deep” internationalization in communication studies. The roundtable is meant to share their (subjective) experiences and ideas of what could be improved and what should be continued regarding a cosmopolitanization of study programs, university structures, and research foci in German communication studies institutes.
Speakers:
- Hanan Badr (University of Salzburg) – expertise on Egypt and Arab
- Subekti Priyadharma (Universitas Padjadjaran) – expertise on Indonesia
- Anna Litvinenko (Freie Universität Berlin) – expertise on Russia and Eastern Europe
The second roundtable engages in an in-depth dialogue about various international perspectives on discourses and improvements concerning cosmopolitan academic structures and cultures with scholars deeply entrenched in different communication studies communities in the world. The aim is to learn about the status quo of internationalization in these academic communities, about their discourses, and about potential possibilities for improvement. A comparative perspective can help to identify common challenges and opportunities. As internationalization requires being in touch with the world, the panel also attempts to fulfill this claim at the level of academic self-reflection.
Speakers:
- Herman Wasserman (Stellenbosch University, South Africa) on South Africa/ Subsaharan Africa
- Afonso de Albuquerque (Universidade Federal Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro) on Latin America/Brazil
- Marwan Kraidy (Northwestern University Qatar) on the Arab world
