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Democracy Day

For an Open Society: Democracy Needs Commitment

Democracy thrives on participation – and that is precisely what we want to encourage with Democracy Day on 8 October 2025! Shortly after German Unity Day, we are making a strong statement for democratic engagement and inviting all members of the university community to get actively involved.

Democracy Day is intended to be a space for dialogue, participation and joint reflection on our responsibility in a democratic society – at the university and beyond. The democratic structures of the university will also be highlighted on this day.

Democracy Day aims to encourage people to become actively involved in democratic processes and to reflect on their own role in society.

Studierende halten ihre Hand in einem Kreis

Why is democracy important?

Democracy enables all people to express their opinions and make decisions together. It protects freedom, diversity and equal rights: values that are also lived at a university and are essential for an open and just society. Research and teaching require open discussions and the respectful exchange of different perspectives.

At a university, democracy also forms the basis for participation, respectful exchange and the development of new ideas. Only when all those involved are heard can teaching, research and campus life remain vibrant and sustainable.

In this way, democracy strengthens not only our society, but also the university as a place of shared learning and creativity.

How can I participate?

At the university, you can actively shape democracy by getting involved in student councils, committees or projects. Participating in events such as Democracy Day also offers an opportunity to contribute your own ideas and join in the discussion. Those who get involved strengthen campus life and help ensure that different voices are heard.

Whether it's a workshop, lecture, discussion, poster, information stand, online knowledge nugget or creative activity: we are looking for ideas, contributions and events that highlight the value of democratic action and encourage exchange. We collect smaller and larger offerings and promote them as a package at the beginning of the semester.

Would you like to contribute to the Democracy Day programme? Send us an email at  referatgd@hs-heilbronn.de

Preliminary Programme

Information about the online lecture will follow shortly.

Jan-Martin Wiarda in keywords
Journalist, political scientist, economist. Studied in Munich and Chapel Hill (USA). Trained as an editor at the German School of Journalism. Author for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Brand Eins, the Financial Times Deutschland, Tagesspiegel and others. Eight years as editor in Hamburg at Die Zeit in the education section ‘Chancen’. Three years as head of communications at the Helmholtz Association. Since 2015, freelance journalist, blogger, presenter. 2016 Doctorate at the HU Berlin. 2025 Relaunch of the Wiarda blog.

Can you save democracy? Find out by taking part in the Escape Room!
Only available in German.

Die Geschichte

Die Zeiten haben sich verändert. Keine der großen und uns bekannten Parteien regiert mehr in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Der Umgangston hat sich verschärft und viele Menschen haben Angst. Wir sind auf eine Videobotschaft einer Professorin der Hochschule Heilbronn gestoßen. Frau Johanna Fritz hat sich wie viele andere kluge und kritische Köpfe versteckt, denn sie muss, so wie viele andere auch, um ihr Leben fürchten, für das was sie als Videobotschaft für die Nachwelt festgehalten hat. Aber macht euch selbst ein Bild von der Situation.

"Escape Room steht groß und mittig im Bild. Darunter steht: "Begebt euch auf ein Abenteuer der besonderen Art! Professorin Johanna Fritz wird euch mit Rätseln die geheimnisse der Demokratie näher bringen! Könnt ihr die Demokratie retten, oder ist es zu spät?

The Baden-Württemberg State Agency for Political Education will be present with an information stand. It is a non-partisan educational institution of the state. Its task is to promote and deepen political education in Baden-Württemberg on a non-partisan basis. Its goals are to consolidate and disseminate the ideas of the free democratic basic order. Its events and publications are aimed at all citizens of the state, teachers and young people.

Further information will follow shortly.

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Open Society

Appreciative treatment, mutual respect and the promotion of diversity are core values that are firmly anchored in our mission statement. In order to fulfil our social mandate as a university, we want to provide a space for discussion on how these core values can be lived in a democratic society. For this purpose, we are planning a series of public events.

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