National and international cooperations

The DIE works with universities, extramural research institutes and institutions of continuing education on a national and international level.

National cooperations

An important and traditional cooperation is based on the institute’s origin as the former Institute of Didactics of Adult Education (PAS) of the German Adult Education Association (DVV). Other traditional cooperations exist with associations and institutions of denominational adult education, residential adult education centres, the National Committee Work and Life and academic continuing education at universities and colleges.

Cooperation agreements confirm the special bond between the DIE, the University of Duisburg-Essen, the University of Bonn, the University of Marburg, the University of Cologne as well as the the FernUniversität in Hagen. Prof. Dr Hannes Schröter, Scientific Director, holds the Joint Professorship in the field of “Adult Cognition and Learning” at the Faculty of Psychology. Prof. Dr Andreas Martin, Head of the “System and Policy” department, was appointed in 2022 to the joint professorship in Educational Science, with a particular focus on the continuing education system and its target groups.

International cooperations

Since 2019, Bonn has been home to the European Society for Research on the Education of Adults (ESREA). ESREA is a European research society dedicated to promoting and disseminating empirical and historical research in adult and continuing education. Prof. Marcella Milana of the University of Verona is the society’s president, and Susanne Lattke (DIE) is the executive director. ESREA was founded in 1991 and was first seated at the University of Leiden (Netherlands) and then brought to the University of Linköping (Sweden). For the first time, ESREA now has its seat at an extramural institution.

In addition, the institute has various and intense international working relations through networks and individual contacts. As a German extramural research and infrastructural institution of adult education, the DIE suggests international discourses for national contexts and introduces German developments from practice and research into the international discussion.

The DIE

• is involved in European networks and associations, e.g. EAEA and the European Basic Skills Network,
• maintains cooperation with non-European partners (University of British Columbia, Canada, Department for Educational Studies as well as Linköping University, Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Sweden)
• cooperates with research institutions abroad,
• provides guest residences for students, junior and experienced researchers as part of the cooperation agreements,
• participates in the Europe Working Group (AK Europe) and theInternational Affairs Working Group by the Leibniz Association,
• is committed to adult education within Europe as well as outside Europe – e.g. the coordination of the network „Professionalisation“ in the Research Hub for Lifelong Learning Asia – Europe Meeting (ASEM),
• advises institutions of adult education abroad,
• and is a contact for issues of adult education in Germany.

Contact

• Strategic internationalisation - international cooperations
  Dr. Alexandra Ioannidou
• Internship
  Daniela Bürger

Photo: Marco Rothbrust