Quality of Host Organization and its Facilities

The Center for German Studies at the European Forum of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is singularly suited to host Dr. Markin within the framework of Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant. As a research and instruction center newly founded with the funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst) obtained on a competitive basis in 2008, the Center for German Studies offers an unparalleled combination of organizational resources, institutional infrastructure and research facilities to promote the aims of recruiting returning and overseas scholars. Falling into the mission of the Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant Call, Dr. Markin will have at his disposal the aid of highly qualified staff of the center, the synergies with nation-wide support for researchers, and the environment of the campus of the Hebrew University where multiple academic event take place every week. In keeping with its aims of strengthening the relations between Israel and Germany, the Center for German Studies will certify the existing level of knowledge of German language of Dr. Markin and create opportunities for its improvement to the level of fluency. This will make it possible for Dr. Markin to collaborate seamlessly with his German colleagues for the duration of his research project and beyond. Moreover, the association of the center with the European Forum, an umbrella unit that furthers the academic relations between the Hebrew University and its counterpart institutions from the European Union, will add an important level of institutional support for the comparative aspects of the proposed research project.

To the quality of the Center for German Studies one must add the many visiting scholars and instructors thst the center hosts throughout the winter, spring and summer semesters. For the interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research projects, such as that of Dr. Markin, an on-going exchange of ideas and expertise that contact with visiting faculty enables is an indispensable condition for academic excellence that can stand out internationally. Moreover, having the status of a university department, the Center for German Studies can take full responsibility for the research project and for the reintegration of Dr. Markin at their each stage, which is an important evaluation criterion of the quality of hosting organization and infrastructure. Being part of the Hebrew University allows to the Center for German Studies to be a location for forging strategic contacts with scholars doing cutting-edge research in related areas. This way the strengths of multiple research and disciplinary environments can be pooled from a single organizational base. To this one must add the development of the scientific contacts between Israel and the European Union to which the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has proved to be a contributor of highest caliber. The facilities of the Hebrew University relevant to this research project include expanding holdings of its campus library, instant access to multiple academic databases and physical proximity to the Israel Museum Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv Museum of Art that have relevant research centers and library and archival holdings of their own.

As the relations between Europe and Israel continue to grow, the Center for German Studies, as a future-oriented institution, is equipped especially well for the support of existing and emerging areas of research and collaboration. The high quality of the center and of the university will contribute to the optimal implementation of this research project.