On 25–26 September 2026, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv will host the 33rd International Conference of the Ukrainian Association of Germanists, entitled “Trauma in the Focus of German Studies: Language, Literature, Culture.”

The conference will provide a platform for international academic exchange on the linguistic, literary, cultural and educational dimensions of traumatic experiences.

Against the backdrop of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, these questions have become particularly relevant. Language and literature play an important role in preserving collective memory, reflecting on traumatic experiences and strengthening societal resilience.

The event will bring together researchers, university lecturers and representatives of international educational institutions to discuss contemporary developments in German studies, intercultural communication and German language teaching.

Academic programme

The two-day conference will feature six thematic sections:

• Trauma, Language, Discourse and Memory

• Narrating Trauma: Literature and Culture

• Translation and Transcultural Mediation

• Trauma-Sensitive Teaching and Resilience

• German Studies in Transition: Language, Media, AI and Society

• Interdisciplinary Approaches to Trauma

Particular attention will be devoted to teaching German during wartime, creating safe learning environments, exploring cultures of remembrance and examining the role of literature in understanding difficult historical experiences.

On 25 September, the programme will include presentations on trauma-informed education and German language teacher training, as well as a panel discussion entitled “German in Ukraine – German in Europe.”

The conference will also feature presentations of international educational initiatives and practical workshops.

The Austrian OeAD programme “Kultur und Sprache” will contribute two workshops:

Angela Wisnecky will present “Unterricht gestalten mit OER-Materialien: Best Practice von Kultur und Sprache,” exploring the use of open educational resources in language teaching.

Lisa Horak will lead a workshop entitled “Mit Sprache über Vergangenheit lernen – Erinnerungskultur und kulturreflexives Lernen im DaF-Unterricht,” focusing on remembrance culture and culturally reflective approaches to teaching German as a foreign language.

On 26 September, the conference will continue with thematic sessions featuring research presentations and discussions of innovative approaches to German studies and language education.

Ukrainian literature and Austrian cultural connections

A special highlight of the programme will be the presentation of the German-language publication “Mykola Chwylowyj. Wahnsinnig liebe ich das Leben” .

Moderated by Professor Alla Paslawska, the presentation will introduce participants to the literary legacy of one of the prominent representatives of Ukrainian modernism.

Austrian literature will also feature in the academic programme, with presentations examining the works of Ingeborg Bachmann, Stefan Zweig and Bertha von Suttner, as well as literary and cultural connections between Austria and Ukraine.

Organisers and partners

The conference is organised by the Faculty of Foreign Languages of Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, particularly its Department of Intercultural Communication and Translation Studies and Department of German Philology, together with the Ukrainian Association of Germanists.

The event is supported by:

• the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD);

• the Austrian Cooperation Office Lviv;

• Goethe-Institut Ukraine.

For the Austrian Cooperation Office Lviv, supporting this conference represents a continuation of its long-standing commitment to Austrian-Ukrainian academic cooperation, the promotion of German language education and international scientific exchange.