Center for German and European Studies

The Center for German and European Studies (CGES) is a consortium of the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) and the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Established in 1998 with major funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and matching funds from the two universities, CGES is one of only five such centers supported by the DAAD in the United States and the only one located in the Midwest.

CGES is vitally concerned with enhancing knowledge about all aspects of Europe. We promote research, teaching, training, and community education on Germany and Europe in a trans-Atlantic context. Trans-Atlantic for us means that in an era of accelerating globalization the most productive attempts to understand Europe require a model that is dynamic and that brings together Europeans and Americans from a wide variety of disciplines and perspectives to research and discuss topics of common concern. We also strongly believe that the best assessments of future opportunities and developments in the relations between America and Europe are grounded in a thorough understanding of Europe's past.