From November 4 to 15, 2019, the BGHS and the Department of History host two PhD students at the Desk Exchange with our partner universities Lund and York: Cheng Li from York and Peter Eriksson from the University of Malmö in cooperation with Lund University. In his dissertation project, Cheng Li is studying how Jeremy Bentham became the intellectual leader of British reformers. Peter Eriksson researches integration concepts for foreigners in 20th century Swedish society, focusing empirically on schools.

The theoretical framework and empirical peculiarities of the dissertation projects were discussed in depth in individual discussions with experienced scientists. The available discussion partners were Bettina Brandt, Lars Deile, Kay Junge, Martina Kessel, Jörg van Norden and Willibald Steinmetz. Also the discussions with doctoral students enriched the stay, especially the colloquium organized by the doctoral students Theresa Hornischer and Sisay Megersa, which took place on November 8th. Here, exciting perspectives on content and the methodological approach to the respective dissertation projects were discussed.

Accompanying leisure activities were not neglected either: One highlight was the Sparrenburg excursion on Sunday followed by dinner in a German brewery.

About the program:

The Desk Exchange is part of the trilateral cooperation between the Bielefeld Department of History and the BGHS with the National Graduate School of History at the University of Lund and the PhD Program in History at the University of York. It enables doctoral students from Lund, York and Bielefeld to get to know the other university over a longer period of time, to exchange ideas with local colleagues and to network internationally. During their stays in Lund, York and Bielefeld, participants have the opportunity to attend seminars and present their dissertation projects. In addition, they are given the opportunity to exchange ideas and ideas with teachers at their host university in one-on-one discussions.

The trilateral cooperation of Bielefeld History and BGHS with the National Graduate School of History at Lund University and the PhD Program in History at the University of York promotes the European networking of young scholars and the exchange of various research traditions and theoretical perspectives in history. Since 2016, the partners have also organized an annual International PhD Conference Lund/York/Bielefeld, which takes place alternately at one of the three universities.

The Participants and their Projects:

Peter Eriksson: "Social categories and the integration of foreigners in Swedish society during the 20th century with a particular focus on the link between governmental policy and school practice".

Cheng Li: "Jeremy Bentham and his lawyer friends in changing public attitude towards law reform, 1807-1832".

Other info:

About the Desk Exchange from the past year