Calendar of the International Center

What does it mean for scholars to be forced to leave their home country? What is the current state of academic freedom and academic exile in Europe?

These questions are at the center of the exhibition “Standing for Freedom – Poser pour la liberté”, which will be shown at Europa-Universität Flensburg (HEL building, ground floor) from 20 April to 8 May 2026. The English- and French-language exhibition features fifteen portraits of scholars who have been forced into exile. More broadly, it explores themes ranging from the history of academic asylum and researchers at risk to academic work in exile and forms of solidarity with scholars.

The exhibition lies at the intersection of academic research and art and is the result of a collaboration between political scientist Prof. Pascale Laborier, photographer Pierre-Jérôme Adjedj, and the scholars portrayed in the exhibition.

The exhibition will open with a vernissage on 22 April at 12:00.
Photographer and co-curator Pierre-Jérôme Adjedj will introduce the exhibition and discuss its theme and artistic concept. Welcome remarks will be given by representatives of the French Embassy and Faculty II. Students will also present a poetry reading with musical accompaniment.

As part of Europe Week, a lecture and discussion on academic exile will take place on 6 May (invited speaker: Prof. Pascale Laborier, Université Paris Nanterre).

The exhibition is organized by the EUF Center CaNoFF (Campus Nord for France and the Francophonie) and made possible with financial support from the Institut français d’Allemagne (Berlin).

Organized by: CaNoFF (Campus Nord for France and the Francophonie), Prof. Margot Brink
Cooperation partner: Institut français d’Allemagne (Berlin)

Public event