The "Bildungswerk der Humanistischen Union" is an institute for civic adult education – i.e. for learning about political controverses today, about questions of society and political power, also about the burden of the german past. The majority of our seminars take place in North-Rhine-Westphalia, some of the conferences and further activities are offered in other parts of Germany or abroad.

We organize seminars, conferences, courses, local workshops and tours concerning a wide range of current social and political questions. The central issues are: civil rights, democratic participation, the lessons of history and the changes in memorial culture, immigration policies and minority rights, educational reform, economic developments and working conditions, convergences and conflicts in a changing Europe.

The Bildungswerk emerged from the educational activities of the "Humanistische Union", one of the earliest civil rights organisations in the Federal Republic, founded in 1961. The aims of the "Humanistische Union" are those of the Bildungswerk as well: Both stand for the control of political power, defence and expansion of democratic rights, protection of minorities, humanization of all public control systems like prisons, psychiatric clinics etc, pluralism of media and educational reform.

The "Bildungswerk der Humanistischen Union" is an organisation completely independent from political parties or movements. We are funded by public grants at state and federal level, by foundations, donations and last not least the fees contributed by the participants of our programs.

Our website offers (in German) brief descriptions of our current seminars, the principles of our activities, the members of staff, a list of publications and research projects, basic information on adult political education and educational leave in Germany (including some links) and a collection of online brochures, reports, lectures and commentaries.

You would like to contact us?

If interested in seminars and conferences:
Please send a mail to buero@hu-bildungswerk.de.

For questions on research, information service or professional exchange:
Write to arbeitsstelle@hu-bildungswerk.de