The development of the institute

The first objective of the new institute was to develop networks of European journalism training institutions, to promote the exchange of students and lecturers and to develop new forms of teaching and learning. In later years, the expansion of the institute's assets through endowments also made it possible to promote research in the field of European journalism and to establish academic publication series. The focus was on promoting European innovations in journalism training and journalism research as part of the unification of Europe.

In addition, the private foundation funds of the Brost heirs were used to build an institute building on the North Campus of the Technical University of Dortmund, which was inaugurated in summer 2002: the Erich Brost House Science Center. The Science Center acts as a communication center for international professional exchange in journalism. Europe's new role in international global understanding also poses new challenges for journalism. In this sense, the Erich Brost House sees itself as a competence center in a network of comparable centers worldwide.