Civic Engagement Office

The Civic Engagement Office serves as a platform for strategic cooperation between the city, district and University. It offers space for dialog, co-working and the joint development of projects that benefit the region. With a variety of initiatives and events, the office strengthens the local community and its sense of responsibility and promotes a close connection between the University and society.
The Civic Engagement Office at Eichstätt's market square is a central location for exchange between science and society. It was set up to promote a living culture of sustainability through collaborative partnerships and diverse opportunities for participation. Since then, it has developed into a dynamic cooperation hub and opened its doors to many visitors.
The office space is home to the KU Green Office as well as various projects from the KU, the city and the district and continues to grow. It is a place where citizens, students, researchers and civil society organizations come together to work on solutions for overcoming current social challenges. With the establishment of a living laboratory, the office is now being expanded into an experimental space for the development of sustainable solutions.

The Green Office – contact point for sustainable lifestyles

At the University, the Green Office promotes networking among all KU members, especially students, who are engaged in sustainable development issues through a wide variety of initiatives. Student participation in the sustainability process is essential to the University. In addition, it is also the KU's hub for all stakeholders involved in sustainability, as well as the population of Eichstätt, Ingolstadt, and the entire region 10. With regular, practical activities such as the KU Sustainability Week, food sharing initiatives, clothes swap parties and bicycle repair cafés, the Green Office invites people to integrate sustainable behavior into their own lives step by step.

Space for office work and co-working

It is not only the employees of the projects and initiatives that the office accommodates who find a place to work at Marktplatz 18. We also open our doors and workspaces to external partners and KU members. For this purpose, we offer traditional workstations as well as a meeting room. The large foyer also makes it possible to hold larger work meetings.

Presentation and discussion of research results

The Civic Engagement Office sees itself, among other things, as a window that allows people to peek into the University. In open or closed circles, for example, results from ongoing research projects can be presented and discussed, poster sessions can be held or specialist impulse talks can be offered to an interested audience. 

Open meetings with various groups from the city and district

Individuals or small groups are always dropping by in our office – whether travelers, prospective students or representatives of associations and institutions – we look forward to your visit and the opportunity to exchange ideas. 

Workshops with various stakeholder groups from science and society

From time to time, we are asked whether we can provide our Civic Engagement Office as a neutral space for discussion between stakeholders with different interests with a view to social change. Our past experience has repeatedly shown: What social change should look like, which priorities and topics are pursued, can vary greatly between individuals, but also between members of different interest groups. In order to enable the joint development of futures, it is helpful to initiate an understanding of the different views, experiences, and values — a neutral space is just as conducive to this as professional moderation. 

Discussion round tables and dialog between experts and citizens

As part of series such as “wissen.schafft.wir.DIALOG”, researchers and stakeholders from society, politics, culture and business discuss possible solutions to current issues. In times of social, ecological and economic transformation, interdisciplinary knowledge and skills are crucial to shaping a future worth living. The focus is on the significance of scientific findings: How do specific projects and innovations come about? How can social inequalities be reduced, social divisions avoided and democratic values strengthened? Expert impulse talks from science and practical fields will be followed by a discussion with the audience.

Exhibitions on current topics that make research tangible

The KU Eichstätt-Ingolstadt brings science directly to the people! It tours the Ingolstadt region with exciting mobile exhibitions on topics such as digitalization, climate change and health and also visits the Civic Engagement Office, where citizens have the opportunity to experience current research up close and enter into dialog with scientists. Especially in times of change and uncertainty, the University creates trust – through comprehensible, fact-based content and a varied accompanying program. Feel free to drop by and discover our exhibitions to find out how science offers solutions to the big questions of our time!

Film screenings with discussion

In the Civic Engagement Office, we organize film screenings on current social issues. Each movie night will be complemented by a qualified exchange in which academics, experts from the field, film participants such as directors and the audience will be able to engage in dialog. The aim is to deepen knowledge, exchange perspectives and promote a dialog that goes beyond the film.