Voigt said the country's five centers have been established to bridge the gap between Europe and the United States. But the new generations of Germany want to move on from the past. It is that new Germany that wants to share with the United States, he said. The center was established in 1998, when the Madison-Twin Cities proposal was selected by the German government. Although the opening ceremony was belated, the center has already established four research collaboratives.
Plans are underway to offer courses during the next two years.
The center established a program for local K-12 German and social science teachers this summer. Cook said the center will overlap some with the University's Center for European Studies, but the two institutions have different focuses and funding sources. The Center for German and European Studies is located in 309 Social Sciences Building on the West Bank.