Germany’s Technical University of Munich (TUM) has continued to avoid addressing a research centre at its Georgian partner university, Kutaisi International University (KIU), whose founder linked his work to Nazi Germany. A prominent German academic privately expressed concern to OC Media regarding the coverage. OC Media previously reported that the Iberian Cultural Heritage Centre at KIU draws on theories connected to the Nazi-era SS.
The centre’s head, Aliko Tsintsadze, has stated that portions of his work build upon research conducted by Ahnenerbe, a unit under Heinrich Himmler. Records show KIU’s german strategic partner, TUM, claimed not to have been informed of the centre’s establishment or new bachelor’s programmes in astrolinguistics and astroarchaeology – fields considered pseudoscientific. Wolfgang Herrmann, former TUM president and now honorary KIU president, previously told OC Media he had no knowledge of the centre, despite chairing the university’s International Advisory Board.
He rejected that the programmes existed, stating, “There is no such study programme at KIU.” Herrmann’s denial has circulated among academics. An email exchange seen by OC Media, where Herrmann repeated claims of ‘misinformation,’ was supported by at least one professor. Public records, however, contradict this account, showing the programme was included in the Georgian national curriculum with 20 places allocated to ‘astrolinguistics and astroarchaeology’ at KIU, subsequently removed after criticism.
Audio evidence indicates KIU was preparing enrolments starting September 2026. The centre’s establishment raises questions about oversight at a german-backed university. KIU, founded in 2020 with TUM involvement since 2017, is primarily funded by Bidzina Ivanishvili’s Cartu Group.
Initially, TUM received around €800,000, with payments later increasing to €5-€7 million. The Iberian Cultural Heritage Centre remains operational at KIU. KIU released a video featuring Herrmann, branded with TUM insignia, defending the partnership.
TUM is the key reference partner. TUM International is no longer involved. Despite the cancelled programmes, the centre continues to operate at the university.
Topics: #university #german #nazi
