Experience democracy: UW/H event series to mark the anniversary of the Basic Law

The Basic Law celebrates its 77th birthday on 23 May 2026. To mark the occasion, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has proclaimed a nationwide day of participation for the first time. The day of honour is part of a campaign period from 16 to 31 May, during which numerous initiatives, associations, organisations and educational institutions are organising events and other activities. After all, democracy thrives on people who get involved, take responsibility and actively shape social coexistence. Witten/Herdecke University (UW/H) is also taking part with a series of public events organised by the WittenLab. Zukunftslabor Studium fundamentale.

UW/H events focus on democracy, participation and social cohesion

As a university, the UW/H sees itself not only as a place of research and teaching, but also as a space for social dialogue. The programme addresses central questions of democratic coexistence: How can the Basic Law be kept alive in everyday life? How does social cohesion develop? And what role do education, culture and encounters play in a resilient democracy? Various formats are planned - including readings, discussions, hands-on activities, talks in public spaces and a concert. The aim of the series is to bring people inside and outside the university into dialogue and make democratic participation tangible.

The series kicks off on 18 May with a reading by integration manager and author Koudjo Johnson. The focus will be on Johnson's personal perspectives on freedom, responsibility and social participation - complemented by political impulses from a deputy mayor of the city of Witten and educational policy statements from the Executive Board of Witten/Herdecke University.

The events at a glance:

• 18 May, 5 p.m.: Reading "The question I never asked - 33 silent thoughts" with Koudjo Johnson. 
  Location: Witten/Herdecke University, Holzgebäude, Room E. 025 a/b
• 23 May, 2 to 6 p.m.: Knitting café as a creative meeting space in cooperation with "Zeit für Solidarität e. V." 
  Venue: Witten/Herdecke University, Holzgebäude, Room E. 025 a/b
• 26 May, 12 to 1 p.m.: "Feldzeit" - Experience agriculture together and shape the future on the university's own field. 
  Location: Witten/Herdecke University, field at Christopherus-Hof.
• 28 May, 6 to 8 p.m.: Lecture "The Basic Law and the Limits of Justice" with Prof. Dr Claus Volkenandt and Prof. Dr Nils-Christian Bormann from UW/H. 
  Witten/Herdecke University, Holzgebäude, Room E. 025 a/b
• 31 May, 5 p.m.: Symphony concert "KlangBilder" by the young orchestra NRW under the direction of university music director Ingo Ernst Reihl. 
  Venue: Witten/Herdecke University, Main Building, Great Hall.

Further information:
An overview of all dates with detailed information can be found on the WittenLab event page.