Research is inconceivable without international cooperation. A conversation with Dr. Herbert Grieshop about the mobility associated with it.

Freie Universität Berlin has long regarded itself as an “international network university.” What is the fundamental significance of your internationalization efforts?

Internationalization is more important than ever, because through international research collaborations, exchange programs, the diversification of our student body, and internationally oriented degree programs, the university has become academically stronger, more attractive, and more open. Only in this way can we remain competitive on the global stage and continue to be an attractive destination for students (and researchers) from around the world. The alternative would be provincialization and, at best, stagnation, something surely no one wants. Nevertheless, we must also discuss how to combine international openness with our specific university identity. At the same time, internationalization is under pressure, from wars, geopolitical tensions, right-wing populism, and restrictions on academic freedom. All of these are obstacles to the internationalization process and lead to a devaluation of international cooperation. We must stand up against this. Networks such as our European university alliance Una Europa offer a well-established framework to counter this.

What specific measures are in place at Freie Universität to make exchange more sustainable? Has the demand for mobility changed?

When it comes to sustainability, the Erasmus+ program is certainly a pioneer, offering additional financial incentives for “green travel.” This is significantly more administratively demanding, but it aligns with our convictions and is well-received by students across Europe. You can achieve a surprising amount with digital meetings; I myself travel significantly less today and exchange ideas much more frequently in virtual meetings with partners worldwide. At the same time, digital formats do not completely replace in-person encounters, especially when it comes to building partnerships. We are quite happy with the reduction in air travel and in the CO₂ emissions associated with it in the past few years.

Do you see potential for anchoring sustainability even more firmly as a cross-cutting issue in the international context of Freie Universität Berlin in the future? 

In recent years, we have tried to make the topic of “Collaborative International Online ” more attractive by establishing a project position. The aim is to design virtual collaboration in teaching in cooperation with international partners. I believe there is still potential here; students could gain a great international experience without cohorts having to fly around the world.

In networks like Una Europa, sustainability and internationalization are explicitly brought together. What significance do such alliances have for your strategy and for specific exchange opportunities?

Una Europa combines internationalization and sustainability both strategically and practically. One example is the joint bachelor’s program in sustainability. At the same time, such alliances create lasting structures that go beyond bilateral cooperation. Our experience has shown that the university’s administrative staff are very keen to take advantage of the many professional development opportunities, and the offerings for students—courses, summer schools, and the Student Congress, to name a few—are also well received. Among researchers, however, the added value of such programs is not yet sufficiently visible across the board. One goal remains to further expand cooperation and student mobility within the alliance.

In the spring of 2026, participatory forums were held to develop the International Strategy 2030. Which topics were particularly important to the participants, and what role did sustainability and climate change play in this?

Sustainability was already a central theme in the International Strategy 2020. Today, geopolitical crises and the rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence are also shaping the discussion. At the same time, sustainability and climate protection remain at least as important to many stakeholders as they were five years ago. Accordingly, we intend to continue advancing this issue with the same sense of urgency in the international context as well.

The interview was conducted by Judith Hübner, Katrin Schweigel, and Andreas Wanke.
It first appeared in Freie Universität Berlin’s 2026 Sustainability Report.