Future project: secondary schools for democracy and sustainability wanted!

Future project: secondary schools for democracy and sustainability wanted!

A new project at Leuphana University of Lüneburg aims to make school education in Germany future -proof. As part of the “Future Trends in Education” project, the University of Lüneburg works together with the Universities of Oldenburg and Osnabrück as well as several Lower Saxony secondary schools. This project deals with the urgent need to promote democracy education and education for sustainable development.

The project started in January 2025 and is carried out over a period of five years. It aims to carry out systematic surveys for promoting competence in schools. A network is created in which schools can receive support in implementing their educational concepts. The target group are 40 selected secondary schools from the school supervisory districts of Lüneburg and Osnabrück, which were invited to take part in surveys and measurements. The participating schools receive annual evaluation results and individual feedback to improve your school practice.

Democratic promotion in focus

Prof. Dr. Marcus Pietsch leads the project and explains that the recording of measures that students enable students to actively participate in democracy is the focus. In view of the current political situation in Germany, Prof. Dr. Michael Koß emerged the importance of democracy promotion. These topics are in close focus of school education and are essential for the development of a participatory society.

The investigation includes various types of school forms, including rural schools. This is intended to ensure that the results and concepts are adapted to the different needs and challenges. The project funding is almost 3 million euros and comes from the “Science Rooms” program of the State of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation.

sustainability in education

In an increasingly globalized world, education for sustainable development (BNE) is also a central topic. According to the Conference of Ministers of Education, it is important that schools not only convey knowledge through ESD programs, but also promote values ​​and attitudes that are crucial for sustainable development. A comprehensive ESD strategy can help students take responsibility for the social challenges with which we are confronted.

The collaboration of the universities with the secondary schools could not only lead to improving academic achievements, but also raising the students to active and responsible members of the company. School lines that are interested in participating in the project can contact feutured@leuphana.de

For more information about the recommendations for the education for sustainable development, interested parties can see the publication of the Conference of Ministers of Culture at .