Universities as democratic spaces? Research findings on social democratic participation as a dimension of academic success

Since 1976, the Higher Education Framework Act has required German universities to enable their students to “act responsibly in a free, democratic, and social constitutional state.” A similar, democratically oriented educational mandate can be found in the regulations for the accreditation of degree programs. PD Dr. Britta Behm presents current empirical findings from the BMBF-funded research project “GesDimS – Social Democratic Participation as a Dimension of Academic Success” on the implementation of these guidelines. The focus is primarily on universities' quality management, but also on them as organizations and on student perspectives. Based on this, the lecture explores the university as a democratic space and invites discussion. Prof. Dr. Eva Maria Hinterhuber will moderate the evening.

PD Dr. Britta Behm is a private lecturer at Humboldt University in Berlin and works as a research assistant and project manager at the Institute for Higher Education Research Halle-Wittenberg (HoF). Prof. Dr. Eva Maria Hinterhuber is a professor of sociology with a focus on gender studies at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

The lecture will be held in German, with whispered translation into English available. Discussion questions can be asked in German and English.

The event is free of charge; no registration is required.

Contact: Florian Gaisrucker, florian.gaisrucker@hochschule-rhein-waal.de