Summer School “Resources and Infrastructure: New Perspectives on Kazakhstan and Central Asia”

Where: Kazakh-German University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

When: 15–26 September 2025

Who: German and Kazakh students

Language: German and English

Organizers: Kazakh-German University and Freie Universität Berlin

Short description

The summer school takes an interdisciplinary approach to the political, economic, ecological and cultural management of the energy resources water, coal, gas and oil in Kazakhstan. Resources and infrastructures are considered in their historical, local, regional, national, imperial and global networks. In addition to the scientific study of resources and infrastructures, their significance in the urban space of Almaty will be explored, which includes excursions within and outside the city as well as discussions with stakeholders from politics, business, culture and civil society.

The summer school includes thematic teaching units (theoretical and historical foundations; material resources, resources and spatial planning, resource use in a social context), thematic tours and excursions in the urban area of Almaty (including visits to civil society organizations), and a full-day excursion to the glacier region near Almaty. In addition, participants can attend a language course of their choice (German, Kazakh, Russian)

What we offer

• Free participation in the summer school
• Flight and accommodation grants
• Certificates of attendance with exact details of the workload
• Discussions with stakeholders from culture, politics and civil society in Almaty.

Application requirements

• Advanced bachelor's (from the 3rd semester) and master's students from all subjects can apply.
• Language skills: German at level B2
• The application deadline is 30.04.2025.

Application documents

• Letter of motivation (approx. 1200 words)
• Curriculum vitae
• Certificate of enrollment, transcript of records and, if applicable, BA certificate
• Proof of language skills

Please send the application documents to the following e-mail address: a.doege@fu-berlin.de

Selection process

A selection committee of the DKU and the FU Berlin will decide on the selection of participants based on the equally weighted criteria of academic excellence, personal motivation and professional aptitude by May 31, 2025. There are 10 places for German and Kazakh students respectively.

Grants for the summer school “Resources and Infrastructure: New Perspectives on Kazakhstan and Central Asia

Grants

Grants are available for a one-month stay in Kazakhstan and/or Central Asia, including participation in the summer school in Almaty. They are aimed at advanced students and doctoral candidates who are conducting research related to the summer school's topic and are planning a field research stay in the region (including archive visits, on-site interviews, collection and analysis of samples, etc.). Participation in the summer school program and involvement in its content design is expected. (e.g. organizing an excursion, a roundtable discussion, or a film evening)

Information on the summer school

The summer school will take an interdisciplinary and comparative historical approach to the political, economic, ecological and cultural management of the energy resources water, coal, gas and oil in Kazakhstan. Resources will be considered in close correlation to the creation of infrastructures (including railways, canals, pipelines) that are of central importance for their use and exploitation. The way resources are handled plays a key role in that the economic, political and symbolic order and identity of the country are closely linked to it. Resources and infrastructures are considered in their historically grown local, regional, national, imperial and global networks of relationships. In addition to the scientific study of resources and infrastructures, their significance in the urban space of Almaty will be explored, which includes excursions inside and outside the city as well as discussions with actors from politics, business, culture and civil society

Where: Kazakh-German University, Almaty, Kazakhstan

When: 15–26 September 2025

Who: German and Kazakh students

Language: German and English

Organizers: Kazakh-German University and Freie Universität Berlin

What we offer

• Free participation in the summer school
• One-month research grant for a stay in Kazakhstan, covering travel and accommodation costs
• Supervision and advice at the DKU in Almaty
• Discussions with stakeholders in culture, politics and civil society in Almaty

Application requirements

• Applications are open to master's students and doctoral candidates from all subjects
• Language skills: German at level B2
• The application deadline is 31.03.2025.
• Contributing to the organization of the summer school

Application documents

• Description of the research project and the planned field trip (approx. 2000 words)
• Outline of ideas for the contribution in the thematic design of the summer school (1000 words)
• Curriculum vitae
• Certificate of enrollment, transcript of records and, if applicable, MA certificate
• Proof of language skills

The application documents are to be sent to the following e-mail address: a.doege@fu-berlin.

Selection process

A joint commission of the DKU and the FU will decide on the selection of participants by April 30, 2025, based on the equally weighted criteria of academic excellence, personal motivation, and professional aptitude. There is one scholarship each for master's students and doctoral candidates.