TOWARDS A JOINT MASTER’S DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAM WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF PASSAU (GERMANY)

This paper examines the collaboration between historians from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the University of Passau (Germany) in developing a joint master’s double degree program. The initiative for this cooperation was sparked by the Bavarian-Ukrainian Conference on Double Degree Programs, held in May 2023 in Regensburg at the initiative of the Bavarian Academic Center for Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe (BAYHOST). The foundation of the proposed program is based on the existing master’s program “History and Society” at the University of Passau, which focuses on training historical researchers. A major milestone in the implementation of this project was the course “Parallel Sites of Historical Memory in Germany and Ukraine”, taught in English by Professor Thomas Wünsch, a specialist in East European history, during the autumn semester of the 2024/25 academic year. The course brought together eight German and thirteen Ukrainian students, who participated via videoconference from their respective universities, delivering presentations and engaging in discussions on the course topics. A joint review of the practical experience gained highlighted both clear positive outcomes and key challenges that need to be addressed in the process of establishing the double degree program.