Academic Mobility in Times of Crisis – Opportunities and Challenges for Young Researchers

These questions were the focus of the KAAD seminar “Academic Mobility in Times of Crisis – Opportunities and Challenges,” which took place from March 30 to April 2 at the “Die Wolfsburg” Academy in Mülheim.

Under the direction of Markus Leimbach, seven KAAD scholars from Armenia, Ukraine, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia came together to reflect on their experiences and perspectives in the context of changing mobility conditions. The seminar was spiritually guided by Fr. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Engel, OP. Discussions centered on the question of how students and early-career researchers shape or restructure their educational and professional paths when external conditions make mobility difficult. The focus was on tensions between emigration and return, individual career development and social responsibility, as well as institutional opportunities and ties to family and contexts of origin.

An analytical perspective was provided by the presentation of Dr. Dorina Dedgjoni from Fulda University of Applied Sciences, who addressed the structural conditions of academic mobility in times of crisis. She addressed political, economic, and institutional factors that influence mobility decisions and raised for discussion how changing conditions affect the course of studies, research conditions, and career prospects. She distinguished between temporary mobility—such as studying abroad or research stays—and forms of academic collaboration that also include longer stays, extending even to permanent migration. Educational migration in its various facets is part of international migration flows and encompasses both North-South migration and, increasingly, South-South migration. Dorina Dedgjoni linked her remarks to her own biographical experiences, which she used as a starting point for reflecting on individual educational paths.
KAADfellow Teresa Markosyan contributed a more discipline-specific perspective. Drawing on her background in music, she addressed mobility in the context of artistic education and practice. She discussed the importance of international study locations for musical development as well as the challenges associated with relocating in the artistic field. An important aspect for her was the freedom of travel within Europe and the associated opportunity to participate flexibly in competitions and masterclasses, whereas such opportunities are limited when traveling from Armenia due to visa regulations.

Central points of reference in the discussion were “brain drain” and “brain circulation” as different forms of academic mobility. The conversation thus addressed both questions of permanent residence abroad and circular models that include return, temporary stays, and transnational networking. This was discussed in relation to academic collaborations, institutional developments, and the scope for action within the contexts of origin. The discussion also addressed the conditions for return as well as forms of ongoing connection, such as through academic networks, research collaborations, or family ties. The focus of the discussions was on situating academic mobility within the relationship between individual educational and professional trajectories and their societal and institutional frameworks. The prospect of return was closely linked to the respective conditions in the country of origin. For several of the participants, the political and conflict-ridden situation in their countries of origin currently poses an obstacle to an immediate return, while others specifically orient their studies in Germany toward knowledge transfer. In this context, “brain drain” and “brain circulation” were described not as opposites but as complementary forms, since remaining abroad also opens up opportunities for knowledge transfer to the countries of origin.

A tour of the Port of Duisburg added a perspective on the region’s economic and infrastructural developments to the program. As one of Europe’s largest inland ports, the site illustrates the Ruhr region’s integration into international trade and transport structures. On site, logistical processes, industrial use, and the port’s significance as an interface between the regional economy and global flows of goods were discussed.

During morning meditations and a joint worship service with Fr. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Engel, OP, questions raised in the discussions—such as uncertainty, new beginnings, and finding one’s place between origin and future—found their own expression. The seminar concluded with an open exchange that addressed many of the questions raised and connected them to the participants’ respective life and work contexts.