NEWS
FUB-ContinuEd Teaches Skills for the Future In-person
The international continuing education program, Freie Universität Berlin Continuing Education Program (FUB-ContinuEd), offers certificate courses mainly taught in English for people who would like to acquire academic knowledge and key skills to further boost their professional and personal development. New to the program are two-day, in-person courses in Berlin dealing with topics like diversity, conflict management, or problem solving. The in-person courses qualify as educational leave (known as “Bildungszeit” in Berlin or “Bildungsurlaub” in Brandenburg). Additionally, participants from Brandenburg can apply for financial support, called Bildungsschecks ; this also applies to online courses. The courses are subject to a fee and designed to fit around work and studies.
Mar 09, 2023
FUB-ContinuEd: Special Offer for Alumni of Freie Universität Berlin
FUB-ContinuEd, the international, part-time continuing education program of Freie Universität Berlin, has prepared a special gift exclusively for Freie Universität Berlin Alumni: Book an online course for Spring Term 2023 and save 75€ (that's over 10% off the total cost). Please find more information at the program’s Social Media channels Instagram LinkedIn Facebook
Dec 19, 2022
Registration for FUBiS Term II and III is open
You can now register for FUBiS Term II 2023 and FUBiS Term III 2023 through our online registration form. All courses will be offered on-site in Berlin. Click here for the Term III 2023 course overview and here for the Term III 2023 course overview. You can find all information on fees, dates and deadlines here .
Dec 19, 2022
FUB-ContinuEd, a part-time online continuing education program, is set to launch in fall 2021
Lifelong Learning at University Level: New International Continuing Education Program to Expand Freie Universität Berlin’s Educational Portfolio
Sep 17, 2021
English-language panel discussion series “Berlin Talks” at Freie Universität Berlin, broadcast live on September 16, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. (Central European time)
On Thursday, September 16, Freie Universität Berlin’s international short-term study programs FU-BEST (European Studies) and FUBiS (International Summer and Winter University) will present an online panel discussion on “Populism and the Future of Democracy in Europe.” The discussion will feature four experts, whose research and publications deal with the phenomenon of populism in politics and society. What forms of populism are there and why are we experiencing this phenomenon so strongly today? What role do factors such as globalization, migration, and nationalism play in this context? How has the corona pandemic affected the phenomenon of populism? Should populism be seen primarily as a threat, or does it also open up new, useful insights into the dynamics of political development in Europe? These and other questions will be the focus of the panel discussion. The event will be live-streamed in English via Webex, and viewers are invited to participate virtually via the chat function. The event will be held in English. Panelists Dr. Dirk Verheyen (moderator): Academic director, FU-BEST Dr. Catherine Fieschi : Director of Counterpoint and senior adviser to the macro-advisory firm MAP Nicole Loew : Research assistant and doctoral candidate at the Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science at Freie Universität Berlin Prof. Dr. Sebastian Büttner : Assistant professor at the Institute of Sociology, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, and guest professor of Macrosociology at the Institute of Sociology, Freie Universität Berlin Dr. Kai-Olaf Lang : Senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP) Panel Discussion Broadcast Thursday, September 16, 2021, 7:00–8:30 p.m. CET Live stream via Webex Events: https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin-en/onstage/g.php?MTID=ea841ef46c5a3bc10f6fda6ca428e4157 (password: berlintalks); available later on the website www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks as well as on the YouTube channels of FU-BEST and FUBiS , the organizers of the event. The event will be held in English and will be broadcast live from the Academic Senate Hall of Freie Universität Berlin. Online viewers are invited to participate via the chat function with questions and comments. Further Information About “Berlin Talks” This interactive and public online event series addresses social issues, discussed and examined from different perspectives by internationally recognized experts, and is organized by the international short-term study programs of Freie Universität Berlin, FU-BEST and FUBiS: www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks About Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-BEST) and Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) These international short-term study programs include German language instruction as well as a large selection of courses in a variety of subjects, many taught in English. Participants can choose between a semester-long program or the summer/winter program. For more information visit www.fubest.org and www.fubis.org. Both programs have been awarded the Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) quality seal by the Forum on Education Abroad. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the programs also offer academic online programs, awarding internationally recognized ECTS credits, as well as free online public lecture series. The online courses offered by FU-BEST and FUBiS were recognized in 2020 by the initiative “Germany ‘Land of Ideas’: Beyond Crisis.” Further Online Initiatives Events “Berlin Talks” panel discussion series: www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks Upcoming Event: Thursday, November 18, 2021, 7:00 p.m.: “The Corona-Pandemic from a Gender Perspective: Lessons Learned?” FU-BEST/FUBiS free lecture series 2021 “What’s Next? – Voices from Dynamic Berlin,” June to November 2021: www.fubest.org/online and http://www.fubis.org/online Videos from the FUBiS public lecture series 2020: http://www.fubis.org/online and YouTube Videos from the FU-BEST public lecture series 2020: www.fubest.org/online and YouTube Courses FU-BEST Fall semester 2021 (on site) and Spring semester 2022 (on site and online): www.fubest.org FUBiS term I 2022 (on site and online): http://www.fubis.org Contact Friederike Zähringer, Coordinator Marketing & Communications, Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University FUBiS / Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-BEST), Tel.: +49 30 838 66560, Email: friederike.zaehringer@fu-berlin.de
Sep 17, 2021
Classes will be held on campus again for in-person coursework with special health regulations. Courses include a range of subjects taught in English, German language instruction, and a cultural program.
The European Studies Program at Freie Universität Berlin (FU-BEST) welcomed students from overseas to the university campus at the start of its new semester. The eighteen-week academic program offers participants 15 courses to choose from, including German language classes and various subjects from other fields, such as art history, German history, cultural studies, political science, social sciences, sustainable business, and German. The program runs through December 10 and is synchronized with the North American academic calendar. For the 2021 fall term, Freie Universität’s intensive semester program, FU-BEST, will be offering a broad spectrum of on-site courses for international students in all disciplines. FU-BEST students can select from a variety of academic courses taught in English in addition to different levels of German language instruction. Students can choose between subject courses on European studies, sociology in Europe, German history, Berlin architecture, green business, music in the digital age, art and dictatorships, and film in Germany before 1945. Throughout the program, Berlin’s role as a cultural and historical site is featured prominently. Students can earn internationally recognized credits based on the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) for the coursework they complete. The FU-BEST term starts before the regular German winter semester in order to coincide with the North American academic calendar. That makes it one of the first programs at Freie Universität that will resume on-site teaching this year. “FU-BEST is basically a pilot program this year thanks to how it has organized its fall term,” says Dr. Herbert Grieshop, the director of the International Affairs Division at Freie Universität Berlin. “With our reputation as an international network university, we have a deep commitment to promoting exchange through international partnerships. To this end, FU-BEST is bringing international students back to campus this semester. Of course, they will need to adhere to special health precautions and regulations. The safety of our students and staff are of the utmost importance.” The program is implementing the current measures prescribed by the Berlin Senate and Freie Universität, as well as several additional safety measures of its own. Dr. Kristina Rödder and Dr. Dirk Verheyen, the academic directors of FU-BEST, worked with their team to ensure that the program can accommodate this unique situation. They have developed further measures to better protect program participants and employees. These measures bolster the other precautions already in place, such as the “three G” rule (participants must be vaccinated, have recovered from Covid, or have negative results from a recent Covid test), wearing a protective mask, small class sizes, and track and trace measures. All participants are insured through their enrollment in the program. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a tandem language program, in which they are paired with a German student. FU-BEST, the academic semester program of Freie Universität Berlin, is offered in the fall and spring each year, both online and in person. The program includes various courses, mainly in the social sciences and the humanities, which are primarily taught in English. Students in the program also take German foreign language classes. FU-BEST students can receive credit points in their home countries for successfully completed courses. The program follows the North American academic calendar, making it unique in Europe. The academic quality of FU-BEST was recognized again last year by the Forum on Education Abroad, based in the United States, through its Quality Improvement Program (QUIP). FU-BEST’s digital lecture series also received recognition from the German government’s initiative “Germany, Land of Ideas: Beyond Crisis,” which was launched by the German federal government and German industry. FU-BEST has consistently grown since 2005, with roughly 340 students participating annually. About 3,500 international students have enjoyed the benefits of this program since it was first founded. Further Information Courses FU-BEST 2021 Fall Term (on campus) and 2022 Spring Term (on campus and online): www.fubest.org Events “Berlin Talks” panel discussions held together with the FUBiS program: www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks Upcoming Event : September 16, 2021, 7:00 p.m.: Populism and the Future of Democracy in Europe Public, digital lecture series “What’s Next? – Voices from Dynamic Berlin” in cooperation with the FUBiS program: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/fubest/online/digital-lecture-series_21/index.html Online Courses and Events Open to the Public, June 30 – November 3, 2021 Interactive German language sessions are held live at different times during the day. Please register in advance for the sessions that match your language level. Video recordings of academic lectures in English can be found at www.fubest.org and on FU- BEST 's YouTube channel . Contact Friederike Zähringer, Coordinator Marketing & Communications, Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program, FU-BEST, Tel.: +49 30 838- 66560, Email: friederike.zaehringer@fu-berlin.de Related Links Up-to-date information on FU- BEST’s online and in-person programs and the course syllabi
Sep 17, 2021
Learning and Growing Beyond Borders: Launching FU-BEST Online Fall Semester – New Intercultural Awareness Training Planned for European Studies Program at Freie Universität Berlin
Online courses for international students with academic classes in English, German language courses, and intercultural awareness training / Registration open until July 26, 2021 № 055/2021 from Mar 30, 2021 In the fall semester of 2021, Freie Universität Berlin’s European Studies Program (FU-BEST) will be offering international students a wide variety of courses again. In addition to the regular curriculum, students will be able to choose from 18 online courses during the 14-week program. Subject areas include art history, history, political science, business and economics, media studies, cultural studies, and German. The online courses will now be complemented by an intensive module intended to enrich each student’s personal academic journey with reflective insights (“PIA” – Portfolio Intercultural Awareness). As usual, students enrolled in the program can earn credit points for their coursework according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). Those credits can then be transferred to their home institutions. The online semester will take place from August 27 to December 3, 2021; it follows the North American academic calendar. The registration deadline is July 26, 2021. For the 2021 fall semester, Freie Universität’s intensive semester program FU-BEST will be offering a broad spectrum of online courses for international students in a variety of disciplines. The courses offer an interdisciplinary perspective on core topics in European studies, while helping students to improve their knowledge of academic German from beginner to advanced levels. All courses are interactive and designed around issues that are directly relevant to European studies in Germany today, including a special focus on the city of Berlin with its immense cultural and historical significance. As it will be impossible for most students to visit Berlin in person this fall, it is hoped that the online courses will give them at least an initial impression of this fascinating city. The digital course schedule is also designed to be accessible for students in a variety of time zones, with courses taking place at different times throughout the day. Participants can sign up for one or multiple courses in a combination of their choice. For all FU-BEST online academic courses, Freie Universität Berlin awards ECTS credits. FU-BEST started offering online courses for the first time this spring semester. One of FU-BEST’s two academic directors, Dr. Dirk Verheyen, says, “Students tell us that our online courses offer them much-needed flexibility along with a very individual learning experience. They appreciate being able to choose each course according to their current situation and learning requirements. This approach is beneficial for all students who cannot take part in student mobility programs due to the coronavirus pandemic and how it has impacted travel and academic exchange both immediately and in the long run.” The upcoming fall semester aims to take the online concept one step further. It will also offer a new, self-guided reflective module to every student as a way of enhancing the study experience, called PIA (“Portfolio Intercultural Awareness”). Students will reflect upon their time at FU-BEST in the context of exercises designed to heighten their intercultural awareness, facilitating an open-minded approach to human interaction and communication both now and in the future. Students will also be encouraged to share their questions, feelings, and experiences in a safe space, giving them an opportunity to benefit from meaningful interactions that will help them grow as people during and beyond the program. FU-BEST’s other academic director, Dr. Kristina Rödder, explains, “Our aim is to offer students the best possible opportunities in terms of both their academic development and personal learning experience. With this in mind, we are introducing a new module, PIA, in which students will participate in exercises to develop their intercultural awareness. This intercultural learning journey aims to help students develop a greater understanding of themselves and each other, while also facilitating networking opportunities. PIA thus perfectly complements our international, innovative online course schedule and meets the needs of our highly motivated students.” Rödder adds that Freie Universität’s European Studies Program is part of a vibrant academic community where it has been met with enormous interest from universities across the world thanks to its innovative approach and ability to continually adapt. This interest has also led to the formation of numerous partnerships. FU-BEST is an academic semester program of Freie Universität Berlin. It takes place in the fall and the spring semesters each year, both online and in person. The program includes various courses, mainly in the social sciences and the humanities, which are primarily taught in English. In addition, international students take classes in “German as a foreign language.” As of this fall semester, the program will include a self-guided reflection module on intercultural awareness and networking to enhance the online study experience. FU-BEST students can receive credit points in their home countries for successfully completed courses. The program follows the North American academic calendar, making it unique in Europe. The academic quality of FU-BEST was recognized again last year by the Forum on Education Abroad, through its Quality Improvement Program (QUIP). FU-BEST’s digital lecture series also received recognition from the German government’s initiative “Germany, Land of Ideas: Beyond Crisis,” which was launched by the German federal government and German industry. FU-BEST has consistently grown since 2005, with roughly 340 students participating annually. About 3,500 international students have enjoyed the benefits of this program since it was first founded. Online Courses, FU-BEST 2021 Fall Semester www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/fubest/online/online_fall21/index.html Informational Webinars Informational webinars on April 14 at 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. CET https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/fubest/events/index.html Links to More Information: FU-BEST: www.fubest.org FU-BEST “PIA – Portfolio Intercultural Awareness”: https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/fubest/online/online_fall21/PIA/index.html#pia FU-BEST YouTube Channel with Video Recordings of the Digital Lecture Series: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCMLRWf2Vwf5gvQsrzY7B_Q “BerlinTalks” panel discussion series organized jointly by FU-BEST (European Studies) and FUBiS (International Summer and Winter University): www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks Upcoming Events: April 15, 2021 : Digital Revolution – Opportunities, Challenges, Implications June 17, 2021 : Young Globalization – Role and Impact of Young Leaders in a Post-National World Further Information Contact Friederike Zähringer, Coordinator Marketing & Communications, Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program, FU-BEST: +49 30 838- 66560, Email: friederike.zaehringer@fu-berlin.de
Apr 15, 2021
The Digital Revolution – A Blessing and a Curse? English-language panel discussion series “Berlin Talks” at Freie Universität Berlin, broadcast live on April 15, 2021, at 7 p.m. (Central European Summer Time)
Freie Universität Berlin will present an online panel discussion entitled “Digital Revolution – Opportunities, Challenges, Implications” on Thursday, April 15, as part of its “Berlin Talks” series. Four experts have been invited to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and implications associated with the concept of the digital revolution. They will examine how the digital revolution has brought fundamental changes to society, culture, politics, economics, and education. Their discussion will cover a wide range of questions, such as how digitalization has affected humanity’s ability to interconnect and communicate, and the important role it plays in the globalization of production and markets. The audience is invited to submit questions and comments for the panelists on the “Berlin Talks” website before the talk. The event will be live-streamed in English via Webex, and viewers are invited to participate virtually via the chat function. The event is co-organized by the international short-term study programs FU-BEST (European Studies) and FUBiS (International Summer and Winter University) Panelists Dr. Dirk Verheyen (moderator): Academic director, FU-BEST Prof. Dr. Anabel Ternès : Digital entrepreneur, professor and expert on digital communication; specializations include the future of human resource management, leadership, health care, and developments in the education sector. Larissa Zeichhardt : Electrical engineer; specialist in the fields of IT, traffic and mobility planning, urban development, networking. CEO of the enterprise LAT, which offers a wide range of services and products for the transportation industry, healthcare providers, and public space management, from plant construction (e.g., power rails) to video surveillance. Prof. Dr. Martin Emmer : Founding director and principal investigator (PI) at the Weizenbaum Institute for the Networked Society and, since 2011, professor of communication science at Freie Universität Berlin, where he heads the Division for Media Use Research. Former managing director of the Institute for Media and Communication Studies (IfPuK) at Freie Universität and since 2016, principal investigator at the Einstein Center Digital Future in Berlin. His main research interests are political communication, the use of digital media, and methods of empirical communication research. Dr. Bruno Gransche : Philosopher and futurologist; postdoctoral researcher at the interdisciplinary research center of the University of Siegen (FoKoS, Institute of Advanced Studies); digitalization expert, with a special focus on the philosophy of new human-technology relationships, as well as social and ethical issues. Panel Discussion Broadcast Thursday, April 15, 2021, 7:00–8:30 p.m. (CEST) Live stream via Webex Events: https://fu-berlin.webex.com/fu-berlin-en/onstage/g.php?MTID=e59aaead55cbc0a2edce7eb723a1a6a2c (password: berlintalks); available later on the website www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks as well as on the YouTube channels of FU-BEST and FUBiS , the organizers of the event. The event will be held in English and will be broadcast live from the Academic Senate Hall of Freie Universität Berlin. Online viewers are invited to submit questions for the panelists before the event on the “Berlin Talks” website. They can also participate via the chat function during the talk with questions and comments. Further Information About “Berlin Talks” This interactive and public online event series addresses social issues, discussed and examined from different perspectives by internationally recognized experts, and is organized by the international short-term study programs of Freie Universität Berlin, FU-BEST and FUBiS: www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks About Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-BEST) and Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) These international short-term study programs include German language instruction as well as a large selection of courses in a variety of subjects, many taught in English. Participants can choose between a semester-long program or the summer/winter program. For more information visit www.fubest.org and www.fubis.org . Both programs have been awarded the Quality Improvement Program (QUIP) quality seal by the Forum on Education Abroad. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the programs also offer academic online programs, awarding internationally recognized ECTS credits, as well as free online public lecture series. The online courses offered by FU-BEST and FUBiS were recognized in 2020 by the initiative “Germany ‘Land of Ideas’: Beyond Crisis.” Online Initiatives “Berlin Talks” panel discussion series: www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks Upcoming Event: June 17, 2021 Young Globalization – Role and Impact of Young Leaders in a Post-National World Videos from the FU-BEST public lecture series 2020: www.fubest.org/online , YouTube Videos from the FUBiS public lecture series 2020: http://www.fubis.org/online , YouTube FUBiS summer courses, term II and term III, 2021: http://www.fubis.org/de FU-BEST Fall semester 2021 (on-site and online): http://www.fubest.org Contact Friederike Zähringer, Coordinator Marketing & Communications, Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University FUBiS / Freie Universität Berlin European Studies Program (FU-BEST), Tel.: +49 30 838-66560, Email: friederike.zaehringer@fu-berlin.de .
Apr 15, 2021
International Summer and Winter University FUBiS at Freie Universität Berlin Starts New Year Online with 75 Participants
№ 002/2021 from Jan 05, 2021 On Tuesday, Freie Universität Berlin welcomed students from 19 countries to the start of the 2021 International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS). In the first three-week FUBiS term of the new year, the students can enroll in seven online academic courses in German as a foreign language and other subjects with a strong focus on Berlin, Germany, and Europe. Most of the students this term come from South Korea, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The students – including students from Una Europa partner universities in Helsinki, Leuven and Kraków, who are taking part for the first time under the “Una Europa Mobility in Emergency” initiative – were welcomed on Tuesday with a digital personal greeting from Professor Verena Blechinger-Talcott, Vice President for International Affairs at Freie Universität Berlin. The FUBiS term will run through January 27. Besides German language and culture courses for three different German language levels, FUBiS is also offering four courses in English: “European Studies,” “German Philosophy: From Kant to Habermas,” “Seduction and Terror: Hitler’s Germany,” and “Twentieth-Century Berlin: People, Places, Words.” For all FUBiS online academic courses, Freie Universität Berlin awards credits according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). All the courses are designed with a special focus on the city of Berlin, with its immense cultural and historical significance. As it will be impossible for most students to visit Berlin in person this winter, it is hoped that the online courses will give them at least an initial impression of the German capital. Sophia Schmieder, program director for FUBiS, explains, “Our online courses are very special, using Berlin’s rich cultural, social, and historical heritage as a way into understanding the city and getting to know Germany. This means that while students may not be able to come to Berlin in person, they can still benefit from a study abroad experience with FUBiS.” In 2020, the intensive study program offered courses online for the first time, including academic courses eligible for ECTS credits and a free public lecture series. FUBiS also won recognition in 2020 as part of the initiative “Germany: Land of Ideas – Beyond Crisis.” Sophia Schmieder sums up the past year: “In 2020, we were able to consolidate our expertise in digital teaching to a really outstanding level. There’s a huge demand for good online teaching, and of course, working online has become especially important for maintaining international connections during the pandemic. We’re glad that we have been able to help strengthen these networks through our work.” Schmieder adds that the program is continually expanding its online program, making the most of a variety of technologies to create an attractive and varied teaching and learning environment. For the summer terms, FUBiS is offering courses both online and in person. The FUBiS Summer University was held for the first time in 1998, and in 2007 a winter term was added. In 2018 the academic quality of FUBiS was reevaluated and again recognized by the Forum on Education Abroad through its Quality Improvement Program (QUIP). It is the only summer and winter university in Germany that successfully completed the QUIP evaluation. In past years, FUBiS has regularly welcomed around 600 students from 40 countries to Freie Universität Berlin. You can find up-to-date information on FUBiS’ online and in-person programs and the course syllabuses at: www.fubis.org. Further Information Flyers for 2021 summer courses A video link to the 2020 free public lecture series is available at http://www.fubis.org/online and YouTube . FUBiS has joined up with the FU-BEST program to offer a new series of panel discussions, Berlin Talks! www.fu-berlin.de/berlintalks February 18, 2021: Sustainability – From Buzzword to Guiding Principle April 15, 2021: Digital Revolution – Opportunities, Challenges, Implications June 17, 2021: Young Globalization – Role and Impact of Young Leaders in a Post-National (?) World Contact Friederike Zähringer, Coordinator Marketing & Communications, Freie Universität Berlin, International Summer and Winter University, FUBiS, Tel.: +49 30 838- 66560, Email: friederike.zaehringer@fu-berlin.de https://www.fu-berlin.de/en/presse/informationen/fup/2021/fup_21_002-fubis/index.html
Jan 13, 2021
Freie Universität Berlin’s European Studies Program FU-BEST Launches Free Digital Lecture Series
Sep 10, 2020
We are proud to announce the launch of our online program in this summer!
It consists of online courses with the possibility of ECTS credit transfer and a public digital lecture series . For detailed information, please see here .
May 20, 2020
Current News – Action against the COVID-19 virus
Dear visitor to this homepage, due to currently prevailing circumstances, our offices are closed until further notice. We are nevertheless still there to assist you! All staff members can be reached via telephone or e-mail. We wish you good health! Team of ERG Universitätsservice GmbH
Mar 20, 2020
