Many leaders of Russian higher education institutions supported and defended Putin’s war on Ukraine in a public statement this week. This is the original Russian statement. Against this backdrop, the University of Mannheim decided to temporarily suspend the exchange relations with partner institutions of the Russian Federation. Thereby, the University of Mannheim is taking the same course as numerous academic organizations and other higher education institutions. The measures are an important signal which is aimed at the institutions, not at their students or researchers. Unfortunately, they are still affected negatively.
We want to emphasize that students and researchers of these institutions, who are currently with us in Mannheim, naturally remain welcome. However, the University of Mannheim has suspended its relations in terms of student exchange with partner institutions of the Russian Federation for the time being. This means that, for now, Mannheim will not be sending outgoing students from Mannheim to these institutions, and no exchange students from these institutions will be accepted in Mannheim (regardless of their citizenship). However, we are keeping the door open for dialog with our Russian partners and for rekindling our cooperation.
Students and researchers of Russian citizenship who reach out to us individually or apply to the University of Mannheim for a program of study (degree-seeking students), or who wish to come to Mannheim by means of funding programs from other universities, are not affected by the measures and remain welcome to research and study at our university. The measures are not taken against people of Russian citizenship, but are sanctions taken against institutions.
The University of Mannheim – in line with numerous other academic institutions in Germany who are reacting similarly – did not make the decision to suspend exchange programs lightheartedly, particularly, as we regard scientific exchange as very valuable. Unfortunately, sanctions of every kind always affect people who are not responsible for what they were imposed for. We are very much hoping that the political situation improves soon and that we can rekindle or relations.
Please find below the statements of some higher-level organizations on the suspension of the cooperation with Russian higher education institutions.
Statement of the German Research Foundation
Statement of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Statement of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (in German)
Statement of the Ministry of Science, Research and Arts Baden-Württemberg (in German)