Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universitaet Hannover

Founded in 1831, Leibniz Universität Hannover today is study and work place for almost 30.000 students, nearly 3.100 academic employees and more than 300 professors in the natural sciences and engineering, the humanities and social sciences as well in law and economics and it has a focus on interdisciplinary teaching, research and cooperation projects. Only few universities in Germany provide such a varied range of subjects. LUH is committed to further develop its profile, while attaching particular importance to interdisciplinary teaching and research. At LUH academic teaching is considered to be a unity of knowledge, reflection on the real world and moral responsibility – a synthesis of research guided by insight and application.

The overall aim of the Research Group AGORA Civic Education as part of the Institute of Didactics of Democracy (IDD), is to enable both young people and adults to acquire key skills and competences necessary for active citizenship and participation at all levels of social and political life. The research group offers a wide range of teacher in-service and induction trainings covering all aspects of citizenship education in teaching and learning. The trainings are offered on university-level as well as on national and European level.

The Research Group consist of 14 researchers and practitioners who focus on identifying and developing the integration of the European dimension in teaching and learning. In addition, their focus is on improving civic education for persons with migrant background and promoting gender equality and inclusive approaches to civic education, including intergenerational learning and cooperative learning. Our objective is to stimulate people’s motivation and sense of initiative and to develop their civic, social, learning-to-learn and entrepreneurial skills. We have a strong record in developing innovative approaches to teaching and learning, including various projects that apply, adapt and test – in concrete learning situations – tools and policy approaches.  We have a lot of expertise in the development and implementation of curricula, of national and international trainings and workshops for teachers and educational staff as well as in the development of educational materials and textbooks on civic education issues. Project expertise includes the development and coordination of several Erasmus plus Strategic partnership projects.