Thanks to the Chairs of the two Directors of the Institute, Prof. Hasebrink and Prof. Schulz, at Universität Hamburg, and thanks to teaching assignments of some of the researchers, the Institute is closely connected to various media-related Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes at the university. Thus, new scientific knowledge can be incorporated into academic education directly. Students are also substantially involved in the scientific work at the Institute, where they can gather valuable experience in the scope of practical research. Student employees can rely on support concerning their own scientific publications, under the guidance of experienced colleagues. In addition, young researchers benefit from international cooperations. In the field of Law, for example, it was possible to raise funds for a student exchange programme with the University of Hong Kong, including Summer Schools in Hong Kong and in Hamburg, in which German law students can take part. Due to close contacts to the industry, to law firms and practitioners, it was possible to organise fireside chats in which law students were able to gather insight on different job profiles and career paths.
At the Institute, doctoral students are able to pursue their own research, and as “senior researchers”, they are also involved in the overall strategic planning of the Institute. For post-doctoral senior researchers, the Institute provides various career paths that are developed in regular discussions with the persons concerned. Additionally, the Hans-Bredow-Institut established a new form of development programme: the “Postdoc-Kolleg”, in which particularly qualified young academics at postdoctoral level work on current issues and research topics at home and abroad – in the framework of research visits, workshops, joint projects, and publications. In addition to the research programmes, the Kolleg aims to promote innovation and provide an impetus for future projects.
For the first phase, the Institute agreed on the topic “Algorithmed Public Spheres” (APS), which is new and innovative, but, at the same time, matches the existing areas of expertise and research programmes of the Institute.