The Master's Degree Program in German and Austrian Studies (Deutsche und Österreichische Studien) is currently the only Czech project to be part of the German-language study programs (Deutschsprachige Studiengänge in Ostmittel-, Südost- und Osteuropa sowie dem Kaukasus und Zentralasien, DSG in MOE) supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst - DAAD).

The DSG program, which we provide together with the Department of History and Culture of Eastern Europe (Geschichte und Kulturen Osteuropas) at the Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, has long been one of the main pillars of our department.

This cooperation offers many benefits and opportunities for students and teachers:

• regular teaching of visiting German professors in Prague (specialized block seminars focused on German history, culture, society, economy, etc.)

• permanent German associate professor (DAAD-Langzeitdozent) at the department

• German "tutor" at the department (teaching, language counseling)

• student scholarships (semester for Master's students at a partner university in Düsseldorf, SurPlace scholarships for outstanding Master's and doctoral students)

• research stays for members of the department and doctoral students at HHU Düsseldorf

• Excursions for students to Germany

• expansion of the book collection of the FSV UK library

At the birth of the cooperation stood prof. PhDr. Jan Křen, DrSc., a prominent Czech historian specializing in the modern history of Central Europe and the issue of Czech-German relations, and Univ.-Prof. ir. Dr. phil. Dr. h.c. Detlef Brandes, a leading German expert on German history in Central and Eastern Europe.

In the first week of October 2024, the celebration of the 30th anniversary of our department's cooperation with the Department of East European History of the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf took place. At the Goethe Institute in Prague, students, alumni and current and former teachers of our program listened to a lecture by prof. Anke Hilbrenner and had the opportunity to engage in a follow-up debate with her and our alumni. The following day, the guests visited the renovated campus of the Faculty of Social Sciences in Jinonice and the new library building. Thanks to the DAAD for the long-term support of our project and to everyone who attended the meeting!