On Friday 5 June, the Luxembourg Government has given the green light for the creation of an “Institute of Contemporary History” at the University. After approval by the responsible University bodies, the Institute is intended to become the University’s third Interdisciplinary Centre.

Under the working title “Institut du temps présent” (Institute of Contemporary History), this new research centre shall deal with a variety of historical, social and economic issues that are characteristic for Luxembourg, but also internationally relevant. Its focus areas will be Contempory History, European Integration, the Second Word War, Migration, Media History as well as the transition from an industrial to a knowledge based service society. A particular focus shall be on digital methods, which fits well into the “Digital Luxembourg” strategy.

The institute will be an interdisciplinary centre focussing on high-quality international research like LCSB and SnT. “We are very delighted with the government’s offer to create a third interdisciplinary centre, this time in the area of humanities. It is a sign of confidence in the quality of our research in history and related disciplines”; University president Rainer Klump stated. “Moreover, it fits perfectly into our strategy because it combines digital elements, European orientation and integration into the country.”

The centre will be headed by a director to be internationally recruited by the University and should be launched in the course of 2016. Several existing external institutes such as the “Centre Robert Schuman” (CERE), the “Centre virtuel de la connaissance sur l'Europe” (CVCE) as well as the research units of the “Centre de documentation et de recherche sur l'enrôlement forcé” and the “Centre de documentation et de recherche sur la résistance” are planned to be integrated into the university to support the creation of the new structure.  

In a next step, the University council and board will now discuss the government’s proposal.