Off-University. Organisation für den Frieden e.V. is looking for a Peace Studies and Peace Library Assistant to support its Critical Peace Studies work, the Critical Peace Network in Turkey and the online Peace Library the network is building. You can focus your internship on both or either of these two work areas.
About Off-University
🌍 A "University Without Borders," founded in Berlin in 2016 by academics exiled from Turkey, working to sustain academic life and knowledge threatened by anti-democratic regimes, with and for scholars and students at risk worldwide
🕊️ Off University was founded in 2017 in response to the dismissal and forced resignation of hundreds of Peace Academics in Turkey. Critical Peace Studies in Turkey began in 2022, and in 2024 the work led to founding a Critical Peace Network of civil society organisations in Turkey, encompassing courses, labs, workshops, roundtables, advocacy visits and the Peace Library
What You'll Do
Peace Studies
🤝 Help build relationships with the German peace and conflict studies field, researching the field and key people to build a contact list and reaching out via social media and other channels
🎤 Assist with organising two events in Berlin in Autumn 2026 (a 2-day Forum on the Kurdish community in Germany and the Peace Process in Turkey, and a networking meeting of self-organisations supporting scholars at risk): securing speakers, planning, promotion, invitations and logistics
Peace Library
📥 Submission management: monitor submissions via the online form, review them for completeness, formatting and scope (proof-reading and checking metadata and bibliographic information), liaise with contributors, and maintain a record of submissions
🗂️ Digital library operations: upload approved submissions with accurate metadata and cataloguing (file naming, tagging, categorisation) so entries are discoverable and correctly linked
📣 Dissemination and outreach: support the promotion of new resources via internal channels or social media, and help track and report on submission trends and collection growth
What You Need to Bring
🎓 Ideally working towards a degree in a related field (peace and/or conflict studies, or a focus in history, human geography, sociology, philosophy or memory studies)
📋 Some experience managing projects and events, comfortable working independently at times
🤝 Enjoy networking and good at communicating with people
💻 Confident using spreadsheets, databases and library management systems (familiarity with metadata is a plus)
🔍 A good eye for detail and good at proof-reading
✍️ Confident written communication and a flair for editing (a flair for communications and PR is an advantage)
🗣️ English B2 essential; German at A2/B1 welcome; Turkish, Kurdish or Arabic an advantage
Their Support for You
🤝 You arrange your own visa and accommodation, with assistance via their networks and contacts
🏢 You'll be embedded in the small team with regular meetings and joint time in their Berlin co-working space
🧑🏫 Mentorship in peace studies, open-access publishing and digital humanities, plus opportunities to join their courses and internal meetings
The Details
📍 Location: Berlin or Leipzig, Germany, and/or remote/digital
🗓️ Period: 1 August 2026 to 31 March 2027 (3 to 6 months; flexible intake until March 2027, starting ASAP)
🕐 Commitment: part-time (20 hours/week)
💶 Compensation: none (open to applicants/holders of an Erasmus+ mobility grant)
👥 Open to undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level
🏷️ Fields: humanities, social sciences
How to Apply
📧 Send your CV in English to mail@offuniversity.org with a short note on your interest in the opportunity, what you could bring, and which elements of the internship interest you
Deadline
📅 21 October 2026
Links
🔗 Off-University: https://offuniversity.org/
📚 Peace Library: https://peace.pubpub.org/peace-library
🕊️ Critical Peace Studies: https://off.pubpub.org/cps
📧 Apply: mail@offuniversity.org
