HGGS stands for Heidelberg Graduate School for the Humanities and Social Sciences and for innovative, interdisciplinary research at one of Europe´s top-ranking institutions, the University of Heidelberg. Its aim is to provide a structured PhD experience that draws on the productive use of existent cross- and interdisciplinary research at Heidelberg University and generates new research projects in a range of strategic areas. Interdisciplinary dialogue is of particular importance at the University of Heidelberg, which has generated four main research areas as part of its Excellence Initiative, the so-called "Fields of Focus". The HGGS Graduate School is a strategic nexus for Field of Focus 3:"Cultural dynamics in globalized worlds" and Field of Focus 4: "Self-regulation and regulation: