Eucor English: Three decades of interdisciplinary cooperation

This year's Eucor English conference took place at the University of Strasbourg in April 2025 – and it was a special event in more ways than one. On the one hand, Master's students and doctoral candidates from the fields of English literature, history, cultural studies, and linguistics from the five Eucor universities gathered once again to present their research and exchange ideas in a trinational setting. On the other hand, the 30th anniversary of the Eucor English network was celebrated.

The conference was organised by Rémi Vuillemin, a researcher at the University of Strasbourg, together with a dedicated team of five doctoral candidates. Vuillemin, who himself attended and presented at a Eucor English Conference as a doctoral student in 2008, and has followed the activities of the network since then, is now coordinator of Eucor English in Strasbourg. “In order to promote interdisciplinary and international networking right from the start, we introduced a speed networking format at the first day of the conference, which gave participants the opportunity to make contacts and exchange ideas with colleagues from other universities in a short space of time,” explains Vuillemin. The conference offered a diverse academic programme with current contributions on topics such as postcolonial literature, gender-related discourses in Anglophone cultures, language variation and intercultural communication. “The academic programme was supplemented by a workshop in collaboration with the PUI (Pôle Universitaire d'Innovation), which dealt with funding opportunities for young researchers. The practice-oriented programme was very well received by the Master's students and doctoral candidates.”

A look back at the beginnings

In addition to the current contributions, the conference also offered space for reflection on the history of the network. Long-time members such as Prof. Monika Fludernik (University of Freiburg), who has accompanied Eucor English since its early years, contributed valuable insights into the development and transformation of the collaboration over the past three decades. Her participation in a roundtable discussion on the history and future of the network highlighted the continuity and commitment of those who helped shape Eucor English from the beginning.

Academically and personally enriching

Thomas Manson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Basel, summarised the conference positively: “This year's Eucor English conference to mark the 30th anniversary was a great success with very high-quality research contributions from Master's students and doctoral candidates. It was also particularly nice to learn more about the history of the network and to celebrate this anniversary together.”

For Nicole Faller, a Master's student at the University of Freiburg, the conference was also enriching in both academic and personal terms. “The conference showed that the fascination for intercultural exchange and the emphasis on visibility and respect for marginalised social groups are part of shared values. The trinational Eucor network expands the research area beyond national borders and at the same time creates a manageable framework for establishing sustainable academic contacts and maintaining a high-quality exchange.”

Three decades of lively exchange

Together with current and former members of the network – including emeritus professors – the conference also provided an opportunity to look back on 30 years of Eucor English. It became clear that Eucor English is not just an academic network, but a living example of cooperation between the Eucor universities. It stands for intercultural openness, academic excellence and partnership across national borders. Even after 30 years, the aim remains clear: to promote young voices, stimulate academic debate and further strengthen the links between research, society and international exchange.

The annual conference is just one of the many activities organised by Eucor English. The network regularly organises other formats such as the English and American Rhenish Scholars (EARS) Seminar, which offers young researchers the opportunity to discuss their projects in a protected, interdisciplinary setting. The EARS Prize honours outstanding Master's and doctoral theses that stand out due to their particular originality and relevance. These activities are complemented by lecture cycles at the Eucor universities, where renowned researchers present current topics in Anglophone literary and cultural studies.