International Civic Education Summit 2025
On 4 November 2025 in Berlin, the Arolsen Archives, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation invited educators, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to explore new approaches to history and civic education. The summit showcased innovative formats that made historical learning more inclusive, participatory, and relevant in a digital age, from grassroots remembrance initiatives to international collaborations. Together, we exchanged ideas, fostered new networks, and strengthened the role of history education in supporting democratic values.
Programm
09:30–10:00 – Welcome & Introduction
Welcome:
- Birthe Pater (Arolsen Archives)
- Clara Frysztacka (Heinrich Böll Foundation)
- Julius Werner (Konrad Adenauer Foundation)
Host: Shelly Kupferberg
10:00–11:00 – Panel Discussion: New Narratives: Digital Formats in Civic Education
This panel is dedicated to new and innovative digital formats in civic education.
- Sopheap Chea (Bophana Audiovisual Resource Center, Cambodia)
- Katja Plate (Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Germany)
- Jule Küpper (Stolpersteine App NRW, Germany)
- Tobias Ebbrecht-Hartmann (Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel)
Host: Shelly Kupferberg
11:00–12:00 – Panel Discussion: Places of Learning – Museums, Archi- ves & Memorials as places for innovative historical education
On this panel we want to adress the position of museums and memory sites in the digital age.
- Elżbieta Grab (Museum of The History of Polish Jews, Poland)
- Holger Obbarius (Buchenwald Memorial, Germany)
- Tim Feliks(Nationaal Archief, Netherlands)
- Chanho Kim (National Museum of Korean Democracy, Korea)
Host: Shelly Kupferberg
12:00–13:00 – Lunch & Networking
Enjoy a lunch break with a buffet and take the opportunity for personal exchange and networking.
13:00–13:50 – Keynote I: History in Motion – Critical Thoughts on Current Ways of Doing History in Germany
Prof. Dr. Christine Gundermann, Faculty of Human Sciences & Public History, University of Cologne
14:00–15:00 – Table Talks & Networking Session I: Parallel project presentations
Featuring best practices from:
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Czechia
- Israel
- Ecuador
- Germany
- Kenia
- Romania
- Senegal
- Sri Lanka
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Uganda
15:00–16:00 – Impulse: Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung: Global civic education - Bridging international networks & local impact
Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation e. V., President of the German Bundestag (retired)
16:00–16:30 – Coffee Break
Enjoy a short break with coffee and snacks, recharge your energy, and take the opportunity for informal conversations and exchange with other participants.
16:30–17:30 – Table Talks & Networking Session II: Parallel project presentations
Featuring best practices from:
- Brazil
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Colombia
- Czechia
- Ecuador
- Germany
- Kenia
- Romania
- Senegal
- Sri Lanka
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Uganda
17:30–19:00 – Keynote II: New Narratives - Digital Formats in Civic Education
ab 19:00 – Reception & Opportunity Fair – Buffet and informal exchange
End the day in a relaxed atmosphere: enjoy a buffet, engage in informal conversations with other participants, and discover exciting opportunities at our Opportunity Fair.
The Arolsen Archives, the Heinrich Böll Foundation und die Konrad Adenauer Foundation invite you to Berlin.
This international gathering seeks to broaden, diversify, and internationalize the ways in which we approach history and civics education today. How can we inspire younger generations and diverse communities to engage with history in ways that actively support democratic values? Which innovative formats can make history education more inclusive, participatory, and relevant, particularly in a digital context? And how can local archives and grassroots remembrance initiatives contribute to this evolving landscape?
We warmly invite you to join us for a day of exchange, inspiration, and dialogue. The summit will feature pioneering educational formats from institutions large and small around the world, many of them thriving even in restrictive environments. From open-source city guide apps and participatory memorial projects to digital platforms for historical learning and international collaboration, the event will highlight diverse and impactful practices.
Our goal is to facilitate knowledge transfer, foster new synergies, and build sustainable international networks that support the future of civic and historical education.
In cooperation with
