UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE

Key Profile Areas (KPA) at the University of Cologne

Key Profile Areas (KPA) at the University of Cologne are thematically defined research areas of high scientific and/or social relevance. They have a substantial critical mass and are characterized by research at the highest international level. They connect researchers from different faculties and bundle existing projects, centers and expertise. KPAs enable interdisciplinary research and initiate new collaborations that are often not possible within faculties. They create exchange formats, joint research proposals and research thematic priorities. Large collaborative projects (DFG, EU, BMBF, ERC etc.) are developed within the KPAs in order to strategically position themselves, e.g. in excellence competitions, and to increase the visibility and reputation of the university.

At an international level, KPAs establish long-term international collaborations, promote visiting professorships, e.g. in the form of a Global Faculty, publish joint publications and form networks, thereby strengthening the university's global presence. In addition, they maintain a dialogue with politics, civil society, culture and business and contribute to the transfer of knowledge and results to the public at public events.

The following KPAs at the University of Cologne coordinate, strengthen and profile central fields of research - interdisciplinarily, internationally and strategically:

KPA Global South Studies

The KPA Global South Studies represents an interdisciplinary field of research that addresses issues of socio-cultural, economic, and ecological change in the Global South. “Global South” is not a geographical term, but rather a concept that focuses on global power and knowledge relations, historical inequalities, and postcolonial structures.

Structure of the KPA Global South Studies

The KPA Global South Studies seeks to establish a visible, internationally interconnected research unit that disseminates its findings not only in academic settings, but also in ways that have a social impact – for example through:

• public events
• collaborations with cultural institutions
• academic contributions to discussions on global inequalities

KPA Global South Studies is organized as a dynamic, multi-level research structure that combines interdisciplinary collaboration, international networking, and strategic profile building.

Research Areas of the KPA

The KPA's work is structured into three interconnected research areas covering key topics in Global South Studies:

Environment & Infrastructure: Research on the environment, resources, infrastructure and their social impact.

Museum & Heritage: Analysis of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, museums, memory politics and knowledge systems.

Co-Producing Knowledge & South-South Relations: Focus on joint knowledge production, transnational cooperation and relations between regions of the Global South.

These research areas form the thematic core of the KPA and are open to new interdisciplinary impulses.

Research formats and instruments

The research areas are supplemented by various research formats. These formats enable both long-term collaborative research as well as shorter-term topic-specific collaborations.

Targeted Working Groups

The research structure is supplemented by cross-disciplinary working groups within the KPA Global South Studies:

Teaching: research-informed teaching and curriculum developement

Transfer: social dialog and knowledge transfer

Mentoring: support for postdocs in the application process

Professorship Planning: strategic appointment of new professors

Cross-cutting topics of the KPAs

The various KPAs at the University of Cologne address common cross-cutting topics. Currently, the cross-cutting topic of artificial intelligence (AI) is a particular focus, with the aim of linking global technological developments with issues of social inequality and knowledge production. 

Time frame

The structure of the KPA is oriented toward a strategic development phase from 2026 to 2029. During this period, research profiles are to be sharpened, collaborations deepened, and sustainable structures for Global South Studies at the University of Cologne further expanded. During this period, the KPA will be closely linked to major university initiatives, such as the Excellence Cluster Initiative on “Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences.”