1. The topic

Since its beginnings, psychoanalysis has been in a remarkably tense relationship with the institution of the university - and vice versa. Many publications have addressed the difficulties and limitations of teaching psychoanalysis in general, or psychoanalytic attitudes or skills in particular, at universities.

On the other hand, psychoanalysis is also the subject of university teaching and research - and Psychoanalysis has benefited from this in many ways. However, the same is true for the institution of the university, which offers psychoanalytic courses in various locations, has established psychoanalytic work focusses or even offers psychoanalytic curricula.

However, it also has to be noted that the presence of psychoanalysis is decreasing at many universities, although an opposite trend can also be observed in some areas: The European Educational Research Association (EERA), to which many university teachers belong, has set up the network "Education and Psychoanalysis". In Berlin, the title of the International Psychoanalytic University (IPU) indicates its psychoanalytic orientation. And the legal regulations for psychotherapy in Austria and Germany require that parts of psychotherapeutic training must take place at universities - which also applies to the training of psychoanalysts. In Austria, this psychotherapy law was passed in April 2024 and will come into force on 1 January 2025.

The Research Unit "Psychoanalysis and Education" of the Department of Education at the University of Vienna has taken these developments in general and the new Austrian Psychotherapy Act in particular as an opportunity to address the topic of "Psychoanalysis at Universities" from different perspectives and with reference to different academic disciplines in workshops, lectures and discussions at an international conference.

The conference will take place from 6 September to 8 September 2024 at different locations of the University of Vienna.