Who we are

Hertie School Programme for Scholars at Risk

Our commitment to scholars at risk

In a world with increasing conflict and limits on the freedom of expression, researchers and academics can find themselves targeted for their work. Since its founding, the Hertie School has held the preservation of academic freedom as one of its core values. For this reason, we are committed to supporting scholars at risk. 

Since 2021, the Hertie School has been a part of the Open Society University Network (OSUN). Its mission includes expanding access to higher education for underserved communities and advocating for global justice through programmes like the Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative (TSI). As of 2022, the Hertie School has also been given the opportunity to award Philipp Schwartz Fellowships with funding from the Philipp Schwartz Initiative of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

Current support for scholars at risk

Philipp Schwartz Initiative
Established in 2015 by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the German Federal Foreign Office, the Philipp Schwartz Initiative provides funding for threatened scholars to continue their research at German universities and research institutions.

Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative
Through its Threatened Scholars Integration Initiative, OSUN offers fellowships at member institutions for scholars who cannot remain in their home countries due to politically motivated repressions and limits on academic freedom. These fellowships allow the scholars to participate in research, teaching, writing, and other creative activities at the host institution and integrate them in the wider OSUN network.