Ulm University is connected with institutions throughout Europe (and worldwide) via scientific cooperations and exchange programmes. However, the European projects of the University’s Centre for General Scientific Continuing Education (ZAWiW) play a key role. The ZAWiW offers courses between continuing education and citizen science for all generations – especially for senior citizens.
Since 2008, the ZAWiW focuses its activities on the countries along the river Danube. Together with other European educational institutions, Ulm University is thus one of the founding members of the umbrella organisation “Danube Networkers for Europe” (DANET). This association aims to promote projects in the field of lifelong learning and the dialogue between generations in Europe.
A recent example is the project “Danube women stories”. Citizens have worked out biographies of 64 women from 6 countries – including Nobel prize winning writer Herta Müller and the anti-Nazi political activist Sophie Scholl. This research work has resulted in guided city-tours, books in German and English and a multimedia presentation, among other things. An exhibition on the Danube women stories will also be shown at this year’s Danube Festival in Ulm (“Donaufest”) and in the European Capital of Culture Timisoara, Romania.
In mid-May, the European partners of another ZAWiW project met in Zagreb, Croatia. One aim of the Erasmus+ project “Digital Approaches for Intergenerational Cultural Education” (DAICE) is to collect exemplary educational projects that have been implemented with digital tools. DAICE also examines how the digital transformation is changing our society and continuing education. Based on further partner meetings in Ulm, Belgrade and Timisoara, a larger European education and research project that focuses on the Danube countries is to be established.
Further information: Dr. Markus Marquard, academic director Zentrum für Allgemeine Wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung (ZAWiW): (0049) 0731 50-26600, markus.marquard@uni-ulm.de
