Cooperation partner

The Centre for Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg (CHREN) is a joint project undertaken by academics from various faculties and disciplines at FAU. It provides academic and practice-related contributions to research into the regional, national and international development of a human rights culture.

Two universities (Augsburg and FAU) and various disciplines (literature studies, linguistics, theology, philosophy and European cultural history, political science and media studies) are involved in the interdisciplinary Elite Master’s degree programme in the ‘Ethics of Text Cultures’, which was financed by the Bavarian Elite Network from 2006 until April 2016 and was permanently established in April 2016. It explores, from systematic and historical standpoints, the background to the ethical dimension of texts from a variety of fields and categories, the linguistic dimensions of ethics as well as the linguistic structure and vocabulary of historical and current ethical outlooks and judgements.
The degree programme director in Erlangen, Prof. Dr. Christine Lubkoll (Chair of the History of Modern German Literature) has been extensively involved in developing the INTEGRA programme.

The Innovation in Learning Institute (ILI) researches and develops innovative processes in the field of lifelong learning and teaching, education, and skills development from a systemic perspective and in relation to relevant social changes.

In conjunction with FAU INTEGRA, ILI developed a smartphone app in 2016 – 2017 that provides information and orientation to refugees and anyone else around the world who is interested in studying in Germany and at FAU in particular.

The purpose of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Modern Literature and Culture (IZG) is to bring together the various research projects in modern literature and culture within the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology to identify synergies and improve communication between the disciplines.

S-INTERNATIONAL – International Affairs is the coordination centre for all international matters at the University concerning studying, teaching and mobility. It acts as the coordinator, initiator and contact partner for all international activities of the University in close cooperation with the University Administration and the five FAU faculties.

From an organisational point of view, FAU INTEGRA is based at International Affairs and has close links to all the services the office provides.

The Language Centre at FAU is one of the largest and longest-standing institutions of its kind in Germany. As a central institution at FAU, it supports the internationalisation of the University and encourages students, professionals, researchers and administrative staff to become internationally mobile and gain qualifications relevant in an international context. Students from a wide range of degree programmes, not least those focusing on foreign languages, come to the Language Centre to improve their proficiency or acquire skills in a foreign language. It is the first port of call for everything to do with foreign languages across FAU and the key focus is on courses in foreign languages, tailored to suit the needs of a university.

The Central Institute for Anthropology of Religions (ZAR) provides an academic platform for interdisciplinary and inter-faculty research related to religion and anthropology. One of the special tasks of the ZAR is to promote collaboration between other disciplines and FAU’s ongoing research into Islamic religion, the Interdisciplinary Centre for Islamic Religious Studies (IZIR) and the Erlangen Centre for Islam and Law in Europe (EZIRE). In addition, the ZAR is responsible for nurturing collaboration with the universities of Bamberg and Bayreuth in anthropological and religious matters.

The Centre for Area Studies (ZI) is responsible for the content and organisation of research projects associated with the various regions (North America, Ibero-America, regions in Europe, Franconia, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific). These can involve cross-regional comparisons and are sometimes funded by one or several sections. The structure of the ZI means that interdisciplinary research focus areas and groups can be recombined as required, based on the subject expertise offered by the sections.
The ZI organises interdisciplinary, cross-regional comparative conferences, symposiums and colloquiums with national and international involvement. These revolve around topics of both historical and current interest that are of relevance to all the various regions. Moreover, the ZI at FAU provides the opportunity for exchanging ideas across disciplines. On average, the 115 members of the ZI organise over 100 collaborative events.

adidas is a German globally-operating sportswear manufacturer based in Herzogenaurach near Nuremberg. It is the second-largest manufacturer of sports products in the world and is an important employer in the region.

During winter semester 2019/20 and summer semester 2020, adidas and FAU INTEGRA carried out the ‘Integration through sport’ project which involved running sports courses specially set up for refugees, such as swimming lessons for beginners. Once a year, FAU INTEGRA and the HR department at adidas offer a job application workshop for refugees. Some of the participants are offered an internship at adidas at the end of the workshop. adidas is also an important sponsor of the ‘Spieglein, Spieglein an der Wand’ (‘Mirror, mirror on the wall’) exhibition.

The cooperation between adidas and FAU INTEGRA is currently being developed into a comprehensive inclusion project with the aim of reaching other disadvantaged groups, such as students with disabilities.

For many centuries, the history of the City of Erlangen has proven that migration and integration can be a success. A tradition of openness has prevailed in the city over the years, and is even reflected in the city’s motto ‘Offen aus Tradition’.

Around a third of the population of Erlangen has a migrant background. They are all citizens of Erlangen and shape the city with their various cultural, social and religious experiences. Nowadays, the question of one’s origins and traditions is rapidly losing significance; instead, society in modern cities is dominated by a wide variety of values and pluralistic ways of life.

The city of Erlangen supports FAU INTEGRA with organising and financing cultural events.

Erlangen Public Library is the public library of the city of Erlangen. It is located in ‘Palais Stutterheim’ together with the Kunstpalais Erlangen art gallery. The library has a department for adults, a children’s and young people’s library and a music library. The mobile library stops at 17 different places across the city and at 6 schools in Erlangen. The public library offers more than 160,000 physical media and 56,000 digital media.

Erlangen public library is an important location for exhibitions and readings that FAU INTEGRA organises as part of the ‘Kulturforum’.