How can higher education institutions promote democratic literacy in the long term? Which approaches have proved effective in empowering students to think democratically, act responsibly and participate in society?
These questions were the focus of the series of events ‘Promoting Democratic Competence – Good Practice Sharing Sessions’, which EVALAG organised in spring 2026 on behalf of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts. In three online events, higher education institutions from Baden-Württemberg presented their projects, strategies and experiences and discussed them with representatives from other institutions. The series followed on from the conference ‘Strengthening Democratic Competence during Higher Education: Universities as Pioneers for Social Participation’ and provided a space for exchange, networking and mutual learning.
Project “Resilient Democracy: Democratic Society and the Totalitarian Challenge” at the University of Stuttgart
The series was launched on 23 March 2026 by Associate Professor Dr Felix Heidenreich from the University of Stuttgart. He presented the knowledge transfer project ‘Resilient Democracy: Democratic Society and the Totalitarian Challenge’, which examines current challenges facing democratic societies through an interdisciplinary research and knowledge transfer approach.
The project, funded by the University of Stuttgart, is led by Prof. Dr Wolfram Pyta and carried out in collaboration with Prof. Dr Torsten Hoffmann and Prof. Dr Felix Heidenreich. It examines the theme of resilient democracy from the perspectives of history, literature and political science. At the heart of the project are three courses, which are brought together in a joint interdisciplinary workshop. The aim is to raise students’ awareness of democratic values and to promote interdisciplinary exchange.
Furthermore, the project links university research with social dialogue. It is explicitly aimed at interested members of the public, young people and political decision-makers. Public evening events featuring guests such as Nora Bossong, Philip Manow and Maximilian Steinbeis, collaborations with external partners, as well as podcasts and social media formats, help to make academic findings accessible to a wider public.
Embedding democracy education across the university: Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences
In the second session, Prof. Dr Marius Hofmeister and Prof. Dr Anna-Sophia Schwind from Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences demonstrated how democracy education can be systematically developed and embedded across the university. The starting point is the understanding that universities not only train specialists and leaders, but also contribute to the development of responsible citizens.
A model was presented comprising five pillars of democratic competence: cognitive democratic competence, a democratic mindset, democratic action skills, critical thinking and media literacy, and interpersonal skills. These can be fostered across different degree programmes and teaching formats.
Particular emphasis was placed on implementation in STEM subjects. Using computer science as an example, it was demonstrated how topics such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, social responsibility and democratic participation can be integrated into teaching. In addition, Prof. Hofmeister reported on workshops for teaching staff, public lecture series and university-wide initiatives to promote diversity and democratic participation, which are being implemented, amongst other things, as part of a lecture series.
Universities as safe havens for democracy and diversity: Heilbronn University
The third session focused on the activities of Heilbronn University. Maren Haag and Lisa Zimmermann provided insights into the university’s work to promote democracy and combat discrimination. The session centred on the question of how universities can promote diversity, co-determination and respectful coexistence, and embed these principles institutionally.
The speakers explained how Heilbronn University combines the promotion of democracy with its diversity strategy. The starting point is societal developments such as growing mistrust of academia, as well as the question of how universities can strengthen their resilience and support students in developing their judgement, communication and conflict resolution skills. The objectives include safeguarding academic freedom, strengthening a resilient university and promoting democratic participation.
A comprehensive portfolio of measures was presented, including the ‘safe space’ training sessions on dealing with discrimination, which have been offered since 2022 and now also incorporate the promotion of democracy and the prevention of extremism. Further examples included university-wide diversity surveys, Diversity Days, Democracy Days and event formats designed to foster dialogue with the wider community. Support from the university management, the institutional embedding of the issue and a robust data foundation were highlighted as key success factors.
Common findings
Despite differing institutional frameworks, all three presentations made it clear that democratic literacy is not a peripheral issue, but is closely linked to the educational mission of universities. Successful promotion of democracy must be embedded in both the curriculum and the institutional structure – through innovative teaching programmes, interdisciplinary collaboration, opportunities for student participation, and a university culture that actively promotes diversity, respect and critical thinking.
At the same time, it became clear that a wide range of creative approaches already exist at universities, from which other institutions can benefit. The high level of interest in the sessions underlined the need for forums for exchange and demonstrated that democracy education is increasingly seen as a shared responsibility of universities.
The event documentation is available to staff at state and state-recognised higher education institutions in Baden-Württemberg on the digital platform bw Campus Community (https://campuscomm.de/media_center/folder/1c64b0ce-1765-425f-977f-ae220f6a5368, access via a registered account).
We warmly invite all members of the higher education community in Baden-Württemberg to continue the discussions initiated there!