Centre for Border Region Studies

It is our pleasure to announce that our colleague and head of Centre, Dorte Andersen as per April 2026 has been appointed to act as member of the board for the Association for Borderlands Studies, ABS! She will serve the board during the period 2026-2029.

Read more about ABS here: https://absborderlands.org

Climate change doesn’t stop at borders – so why do we?

In a new op-ed in Ingeniøren - WaterTech, two of our colleagues from CBRS, Søren Tinning and Dorte Andersen, along with colleagues from SDU Climate Cluster, highlight a key gap in climate adaptation: while Denmark and Germany share challenges, collaboration across the border remains limited.

Research from the ClimatePol project shows strong national networks but very few cross-border connections. More collaboration could unlock better and more innovative solutions and strengthen climate resilience on both sides. If climate challenges are transboundary, the solutions must be too.

Read the full op-ed here (in Danish):

Klima følger ikke grænserne, så hvorfor gør vi? Opgør med national silotænkning i klimatilpasningen | WaterTech En effektiv klimasikring af Danmark kræver innovativ tænkning og nye løsninger. Mange af dem kan vi finde hos vores naboer i Slesvig-Holsten. Alligevel kniber det med samarbejdet. Hvorfor er det tilfældet og hvad kan vi gøre ved det? Det er nogle af de spørgsmål, som Interreg projektet Climat...

🇪🇺 Simulation of Council Negotiations at BSc European Studies

Last week, our second‑semester students taking the course 'EU Institutions and Administration' (BSc European Studies) took part in a hands‑on Simulation of Council Negotiations. The Simulation was inspired by the Council’s project and used materials developed by the General Secretariat of the Council.

Throughout the Simulation, students stepped into the roles of ministers of EU member states, deputy permanent representatives, the European Commission, and the Presidency. They negotiated a proposal for a Regulation on a Fair Fashion Label, experiencing firsthand the complexity of EU decision‑making and the challenge of finding common ground among diverse interests.

The session concluded with a structured reflection, allowing students to connect the dynamics of the game with real‑world policy processes and their own negotiation strategies.

A warm thank‑you to course lector Anna Vlasiuk Nibe for organizing the simulation, to student instructors Kateryna Khaliava and Aistis Malinauskas for their dedicated preparation, and to all participating students for their energy, insight, and engagement!

We look forward to hosting more interactive learning activities within the European Studies program at SDU.

We are pleased to share a new online course developed within the B-SHAPES (Borders Shaping Perceptions of European Societies) project: Perception of Borders in European Societies. You can read more about the course here: https://www.hh.se/english/education/professional-development/perception-of-borders-in-european-societies.html

This free, fully online 7-lesson open online course (OOC) hosted by Halmstad University explores how borders and everyday life in border regions shape perceptions of European societies. The course combines short podcasts, pre-recorded lectures, and self-assessment quizzes, and participants receive a certificate of completion after finishing the course.

The course is asynchronous and can be taken at any pace. Across seven lessons, participants engage with themes such as:

• Borders and borderlanders in Europe
• Narratives and everyday bordering practices
• European integration and border regions
• Euroscepticism in borderlands
• National minorities in border regions
• Landscapes and cultural heritage
• Artistic perspectives on borders

The course has been developed as part of the B-SHAPES project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, and brings together perspectives from research, cultural heritage, and artistic practice.

You can access the course and learn more here:
https://beyondborders.moodlecloud.com/course/view.php?id=9

On March 5, our colleague Anna Vlasiuk Nibe participated in the symposium "From Economic Security to Economic Statecraft" at University of Oxford, co-convened by the Nissan Institute of Japanese Studies, University of Oxford and the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford.

Anna contributed to the panel "The Role of Private Sector in Economic Security and Economic Statecraft" and shared her research on how governments are re-shaping their relationships with firms to draw them into geoeconomic competition, and how companies are responding to the rise of security-driven market interventionism.

These discussions are increasingly important as economic security becomes a defining feature of global politics, and as firms take on a more central role in navigating -- and shaping -- its evolving landscape.

We had a great turnout at Saturday’s Open House at SDU Sønderborg, where many prospective students joined us to learn more about the BSc in European Studies and our vibrant campus community.

Katarzyna Stoklosa delivered an insightful introductory lecture, “Europe in Crisis, World in Crisis,” offering visitors a glimpse into the analytical and interdisciplinary perspectives that define the programme.

With the application deadline approaching on 15 March, interested students can find more information here: https://www.sdu.dk/en/uddannelse/bachelor/europaeiske_studier or contact [email protected].

A warm thank‑you to Tamara Miková and Salomé Germa-Laurent for their excellent engagement throughout the day, and to Pernille List for her dedicated coordination. We are also grateful to our European Studies students, whose support and enthusiasm helped make the event a success.

We look forward to welcoming the next cohort of European Studies students to SDU Sønderborg.

🌍 Webinar: Climate Adaptation in the Danish–German Border Region

How do we turn climate data into meaningful climate action? On 18 February, our colleagues Søren Tinning and Dorte Andersen will explore this question in a joint webinar together with Sebastian H. Mernild from SDU Climate Cluster and Emanuel Deutschmann from Europa-Universität Flensburg.

The session will dive into new perspectives on climate adaptation, cross‑border collaboration, and the knowledge needed to strengthen resilience in our shared region.

🔗 More information and registration: https://lnkd.in/erFeQ84x

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New Semester Begins at CBRS!

Today marks the start of a new semester for our European Studies students — whether they are entering their second, fourth, or sixth semester. After a month of examinations, our students return ready to dive deeper into Europe’s political architecture, cultural landscapes, and its role in the contemporary world.

Our team at CBRS is excited to embark on another semester filled with learning, debate, and thoughtful discussions. We look forward to exploring new ideas together and supporting our students as they continue to grow academically and intellectually.

Welcome back — may this semester be inspiring, productive, and full of discovery.

📢 Event Invitation: The EU’s Role in a Changing World Order

CBRS is pleased to share an exciting event for students of European Studies who are interested in Europe’s evolving global position. 🇪🇺🌍

Join us on 24 March in Odense (Room O100), 12:15–14:45, for an in‑depth discussion on how the EU navigates today’s shifting world order.

The event is organized by Vice Dean Jan Guldager Jørgensen (Faculty of Business and Social Sciences, SDU) and features:

🔹 Willem Noë, expert on EU Integration & Enlargement
🔹 Katarzyna Stoklosa, Associate Professor, SDU
🔹 Additional contributions from colleagues across the Faculty

Students of BSc European Studies are encouraged to attend — transport costs will be covered. For practical details, please contact Head of Studies Katarzyna Stoklosa.

We look forward to welcoming you for an afternoon of insights, perspectives, and lively discussion.

🎯 SECBO Seminar Recap: Border Control, Cooperation & Neo-securitization of European Borders

On January 8–9, CBRS hosted a dynamic two-day seminar in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Strasbourg and Adam Mickiewicz University. The event marked the 10-year anniversary of border control between Denmark and Germany, bringing together local political leaders, journalists, border police, academics, and cross-border commuters for a roundtable on the evolving realities of borderland life.

🔑 Highlights:

💡A powerful keynote by our colleague Marlene Paulin Kristensen offered a historical lens on Danish-German border cooperation.

💡Lively discussions explored how to balance security mandates with the daily needs of border communities—from education and cultural exchange to commuting for work and study.

🌍 The second day expanded the conversation to a European scale, with partners from France and Poland joining forces to develop Centers of Excellence focused on the implications of European re-bordering for values, governance, and economic collaboration.

🙏 Huge thanks to all participants for their insights and energy. We’re excited to continue building bridges across borders and disciplines -- thank you Barbara Alicja Jańczak, Jarosław Jańczak, Birte Wassenberg and Matéo Le Louër for collaboration in this initiative, and special thanks to Maj Egholm Steenslev for the assistance with the organization of the event.