In his opening speech, Prof. Dr. Klaus Stüwe (KU vice president for international affairs and profile development) underlined the importance of international dialog between universities – especially in view of the current trend to solve issues and problems within a limited national context. Instead of leading factual, objective discussions, the ductus in political dispute seemed to be leaning more and more towards verbal confrontation. “As universities, we can and must counteract this trend. Even more so, when we are connected by a common Catholic profile, as is the case for the KU and the Catholic University of America.”, said Stüwe. He emphasized that in particular the most pressing issues of our times had reached a dimension that could not be solved by purely national solutions. The first joint summer academy hosted by the KU and CUA will at the same time mark the beginning of many more joint collaboration projects of both universities. On behalf of the entire presidium, Stüwe thanked the organization team members Erin Niday, Mario Ortiz, Sandra Barrueco and Stephen Higgins from the Catholic University of America, and Klaus Altmeppen and his team at the Center for Flight and Migration as well as René Dausner, all of whom were the summer involved in the conceptualization and organizational work at the KU.