Since 2025, the University of Duisburg-Essen has been part of the DAAD’s German-Ukrainian University Network (DUHN). In addition to fostering connections within the DUHN network, the DUHN Project at the University of Duisburg-Essen aims to specifically deepen German-Ukrainian University cooperation with its long-standing Ukrainian partner universities. In doing so, existing cooperation structures are being systematically developed further and integrated into a joint, multi-year teaching and exchange programme.

The project strengthens German-Ukrainian University cooperation with a view to further developing and internationalising degree programmes in Chemistry, Physics and German studies. Based on the successful experience of the predecessor Project Ukraine Digital (2022–2025), which was also funded by the DAAD, cooperation with four Ukrainian partner universities will be continued and specifically expanded. The project focuses on the annual organisation of Summer and Winter Schools, as well as accompanying block courses, which serve as key platforms for academic exchange. The Summer and Winter schools offer students, doctoral candidates and lecturers the opportunity to work together on subject-specific, didactic and inter-university topics. By holding these events in Germany and, where possible, in Ukraine, international mobility is promoted, (inter)cultural competence is strengthened and sustainable networking between the participating universities is intensified.

Cooperation Partners of the DUHN-Project at UDE are:

• V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
• Sumy State University 
• Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University in Vinnytsia
• Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University

The Vasyl' Stus Donetsk National University is the Cooperation University of UDE.