education
The Institute of Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy offers educational programs that bring together international groups of practitioners, graduate students, and scholars from diverse professions and fields of study. In these intensive retreats, participants stay in the same hotel and participate in workshops, planning sessions, and social events all day and evening throughout the retreat.
This program deals with issues related to the development of civic society, the role of the individual/citizen in society, the role of education in promoting democracy, the role of institutions in the development of a civic society, and similar questions. These topics are examined in international and comparative perspectives.
The ICSLD engages participants in challenging discussions such as:
- What kinds of citizens do democracies need?
- What do citizens need to know and be able to do in order to participate effectively in democratic society?
- What practices and institutional structures promote effective adult civic learning?
- What ought to be the relationships among empirical evidence, ethics, and strategy?
- How can we learn from influential theorists and practitioners at important turning points in history?
We offer this program in three formats:
- As an open-application, 10-day residential retreat at our headquarters in Augsburg, Germany. (Applications now open for Summer 2026).
- As an invited event at hosting institutions worldwide. .
- As a study abroad program for either undergraduate or graduate students.
If you are interested in attending an open event, hosting an event at your institution, or collaborating on a study abroad program, please contact us.
