Prof. Dr. Walter Erhart completed his studies in German studies, philosophy, and history at the University of Tübingen, and also earned a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from Washington University in St. Louis, USA.
Following his habilitation at the University of Göttingen, he became a professor at the University of Greifswald at the age of 38. His academic work spans the fields of modern German literature and literary theory. He has served as a guest professor at several American universities, the University of Padua, and, notably, the University of Debrecen. Prior to 1990, the connections of Hungarian German studies were mostly limited to East Germany, and these ties were largely severed after German reunification. As a professor at Greifswald, Walter Erhart played an instrumental role in rebuilding the international relations of German studies in Debrecen:
- Through long-term institutional collaboration, he established student and faculty exchange programs and fostered academic mobility, while curriculum coordination facilitated the reception of guest lecturers. This also meant strong scientific support and knowledge transfer.
- From 2001 onwards, Professor Erhart served as a visiting lecturer at the University of Debrecen on several occasions, supervised PhD students, and actively participated in conferences organized by the Institute of German Studies at Debrecen.
- Since 2007, as a professor at Bielefeld University, he has continued to cultivate his ties with Debrecen. Under his initiative, Bielefeld University funded scholarships for PhD students for several years.