Origins of HU-Docs
On December 16, 2003, the Vice-President of the Humboldt-Universität zu
Berlin invited doctoral stipendiaries from different foundations to
discuss their academic situation at the HU. This meeting addressed
fundamental issues that the graduate students faced at the moment and in
the years to come. It was agreed improving the situation was of the
highest priority, and an increased cooperation between the university
and its graduate students was promoted.
To bring about
constructive changes, the doctoral candidates agreed to meet on a
regular basis. Therefore, the „Promovierendeninitiative der
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin – HUPI“ (initiative of the doctoral
candidates of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) was founded on January
19th, 2004. The initiative grew and graduate students of all
disciplines and all nations joined it. Problems addressed are especially
those of students that aren't Berlin natives. In the winter term
2004/2005 HUPI was renamed „HUPI International“ to reflect this.
By the end of the summer term 2010 a new change came about. HUPI
International became the association „HU-Docs“ (short for the „Doctoral
Students Network of the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin“) which
represents all (national and international) graduate students at the
Humboldt-Universität. An association was founded in order to benefit
from a better status. In its first constitutive meeting a new team was
elected.
HU-Docs is supervised by the Humboldt Graduate School and the Abteilung Internationales and closely cooperates with them. It is furthermore affiliated with the Humboldt-Universität's Alumni, the Humboldt-Universitäts-Gesellschaft and the interdisciplinary, nationwide doctoral student network THESIS e.V.