48th International Cities Forum 2025
“Education as the key to participation and social cohesion”
Saturday, June 21
Every year, delegations from the partner and befriended cities are invited to Kiel Week to discuss a particular municipal topic at the International Cities Forum. The event therefore has high potential for the international work of the state capital Kiel.
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What it's all about in 2025
This year, the City of Kiel’s International City Forum focussed on the subject of “Education as the key to participation and social cohesion”.
Education plays a central role in the quality of life of all citizens, as well as the future viability of our society. It is the key to democratic participation and equal opportunities. For individuals, it establishes the fundamental basis for realising their own life prospects under their own responsibility and actively shaping our democratic community.
This year, the International Cities Forum of the City of Kiel is focussing on the topic of "education as the key to participation and social cohesion".
Education plays a central role in the quality of life of all citizens, as well as the future viability of our society. It is the key to democratic participation and equal opportunities. For individuals, it establishes the fundamental basis for realising their own life prospects under their own responsibility and actively shaping our democratic community.
However, education involves far more than just school. Education takes place in various places, at various times and in various contexts: In the family, in the social environment, at educational institutions and in child and youth welfare programmes, at clubs and associations, at museums, music schools, libraries, health institutions and many other places.
For many cities and municipalities in Germany, education has been a key strategic focus area for municipal development for over decade. This is because the municipalities have recognised that the future viability of a region stands and falls with the educational opportunities of the people living there.
Even if education is centrally organised in many countries around the world, local authorities also have a large number of tools at their disposal to offer their citizens a wide range of educational opportunities. As scientific studies show: The more intensively local stakeholders are involved, the more successful the governance of the education system will be.
Cities and communities are increasingly developing from education administrators to designers of education. By establishing municipal educational landscapes, they are assuming a coordinating and moderating role. The aim here is to offer the citizens of a municipality better educational conditions and diverse educational opportunities through increased cooperation – from early childhood education, all the way up to learning in old age.
Kiel is also dealing with the urgent question of how all citizens can be offered the best possible educational opportunities as part of the Kiel education region, particularly in light of the high child and youth poverty rate and the growing proportion of people with a migration background.
As part of the International Cities Forum, we wish to engage in dialogue with representatives of our partner cities and friendly cities on the basis of the questions in the following, learn from one another using practical examples and discuss different approaches.
How can we create an educational landscape that is characterised by equal opportunities against the backdrop of social inequality? How can we use education to strengthen democratic development in our communities? What does an inclusive educational landscape look like and how can we approach it?
A key element of the event will be two parallel workshops, in which the participating cities will discuss opportunities and challenges, as well as lessons learnt from tried-and-tested approaches, on the basis of two to three practical examples. Each participant has the opportunity to choose a workshop. Both workshops are offered in German and English, while consecutive translations will also be provided by whispering interpreters.
The two workshops are embedded in a supporting programme, comprising a keynote speech, a dialogue discussion, presentation of the workshop results and a final panel discussion.
The exact programme of the International Cities Forum can be found in the attached draft agenda.
Workshop I: Individual educational success as the key to social participation
Removing barriers in terms of accessing educational programmes is the basic prerequisite for individual education and participation in society. This refers to both school and extracurricular educational programmes and locations. Together, these two factors enable a largely self-determined (socio-economic) lifestyle, as well as participation in the political and cultural life of (urban) society.
However, the individual basic and special needs often differ quite markedly and are determined by a wide variety of factors. Needs-based and inclusive educational programmes are therefore essential in order to establish balance, enable individual support in different life situations and thereby create equal opportunities.
Since 2019, for example, the state capital of Kiel has assigned additional curative educational staff to daycare centres and classroom assistants to primary schools in a disadvantaged district as a way of promoting the individual participation of children. A scientific evaluation has confirmed the success of this systemic approach.
Key questions:
- How can cities and municipalities guarantee equal opportunities for individuals against the backdrop of social inequality?
- What instruments do local authorities have at their disposal to address the large number of heterogeneous population groups and make them aware of the services on offer?
- What systemic prerequisites are needed for individual educational success? How can this success be defined and measured?
- What does an inclusive educational landscape look like and what factors must it take into account?
- …
Workshop II: Education as a means of strengthening social cohesion and democratic development
In addition to individual educational success, educational programmes should always focus on social cohesion and have a holistic perspective in terms of democratic participation. Among other things, this requires meeting spaces for people from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. High-quality educational programmes ensure that people can develop the skills they need to participate in society in a committed, constructive and effective way here, while also allowing individuals to contribute the skills they have acquired, as well as to test and experience them in community settings.
In the state capital of Kiel, for example, the so-called "Dritte Orte" or "Third Places" play a central role as educational centres for lifelong learning. The adult education centre, public library, music school and museums provide important municipal services to strengthen cohesion and democratic development in urban society.
Key questions:
- How can cities and municipalities use education to strengthen and promote democratic development in a community?
- What are places of participation, where people can experience and try out democratic participation?
- How can educational venues and formats be developed that are open to all and bring people from different contexts together?
- …
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Mehr Informationen über unsere Partnerstädte und befreundeten Städte sowie die internationale Arbeit der Stadt unter
Kiel bereitet seine Verkehrswende vor. Das Öffentliche Nahverkehrsystem wird eine deutliche Aufwertung erfahren.
Für die Landeshauptstadt Kiel ist das Thema Mobilität 2022 von besonderem Interesse. Bereits 2017 hatte Kiel gemeinsam mit den umliegenden Kreisen Rendsburg-Eckernförde und Plön einen „Masterplan Mobilität“ verabschiedet. Einer der zentralen Punkte in diesem Handlungskonzept ist neben dem Ausbau des Fahrradnetzes auch die Entwicklung eines tragfähigen innerstädtischen ÖPNV-Netzes. Im kommenden Jahr soll die Entscheidung darüber fallen, wie der Stadtverkehr Kiels in Zukunft aussehen soll. Aktuell erarbeiten die Verkehrsplaner*innen eine Trassenstudie, die die beiden Alternativen – Schnellbusse (BRT) oder Stadtbahn (Tram) – in ihren Vor- und Nachteilen gegenüberstellt. Die Studie soll Ende 2022 abgeschlossen sein und eine Entscheidungsgrundlage für die Kieler Ratsversammlung bilden. Eine Diskussion mit unseren internationalen Partnerstädten über deren Mobilitätskonzepte für die Zukunft ist somit für Kiel im kommenden Jahr besonders wertvoll.
Ziel des Städteforums 2022 soll es daher sein, mit den Partnerstädten über die unterschiedlichen Aspekte von urbaner Mobilität und die Herausforderungen der Mobilitätswende in einen Austausch zu kommen. Nach einem einführenden Impulsvortrag der Mobilitätsexpertin Katja Diehl sowie einem Dialoggespräch zwischen Oberbürgermeister Dr. Ulf Kämpfer und Jana Kühl, Professorin für Radmanagement an der Ostfalia Universität, wird es Workshops zu vier verschiedenen Aspekten von Mobilität geben:
- Stärkung des emissionsarmen Öffentlichen Personennahverkehrs (ÖPNV)
- Ausbau von Fuß- und Radverkehr
- Digitalisierung und Mobilitätswende
- Mobilität rund ums Wasser
Abgerundet wird die Veranstaltung durch eine kurze Podiumsdiskussion, die auch Vertreter*innen der Zivilgesellschaft mit einbeziehen soll. Als Querschnittsthema soll dabei immer mitgedacht und diskutiert werden, wie die städtische Bevölkerung mitgenommen und für die Mobilitätswende begeistert werden kann. Der Austausch und die internationale Kooperation mit Kiels Partnerstädten kann bei der Entwicklung von Lösungsansätzen für die Herausforderungen der Mobilitätswende wichtige Impulse geben.
Agenda & Workshops
The two workshops are part of a supporting program consisting of expert input and a concluding panel discussion.
All participants have the opportunity to choose one workshop. The workshops will be held only in English. Other languages are supported through consecutive translation.
From 9 a.m.
Arrival of Participants
9.30 a.m. – 9.45 a.m.
Welcoming and Opening Remarks
Dr. Martin Skaruppe, Deputy CEO Förde Sparkasse
Bettina Aust, President of the City Council Kiel
Miriam Gyamfi, Introduction to the conference
9.45 a.m. – 10.05 a.m.
Keynote Speech
“Pre-school and school education as the basis for personal well-being and a democratic and cohesive society”
Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller, Professor at the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel
10.05 a.m. – 10.30 a.m.
Discussion about the challenges in shaping a sustainable educational landscape
“Education as the key!? Municipal opportunities and challenges.”
Meltem Söbütay, Chairwoman, Youth Council of Kiel
Renate Treutel, Mayor for Education, Youth and Culture, Kiel
10.30 a.m. – 11.15 a.m.
Group Photo & Short Break
11.15 a.m. – 12.45 p.m.
Workshop Session
Workshop I: Individual educational success as the key to social participation
Inja Möller, Youth Services Planner, Youth Welware Department, City of Kiel: “Systemic solutions to increase equal opportunities for disadvantaged children in daycare centers and primary schools”
Mika Pietilä, Youth Director from Vaasa: “Using non-formal learning to strengthen young people's empowerment."
Ahmet Öztürk, Department of Foreign Relation, Hatay Metropolitan Municipality: “Local Education for Equal Opportunities: Hatay Metropolitan Municipality's Inclusive Education and Participation Policies"
Workshop II: Education as a means of strengthening social cohesion and democratic development
Johanna Göb, Head of the Department for Culture and Further Education, City of Kiel: “Third places for lifelong learning – Kiel’s places for basic education, democracy education and citizen science“
Oktawia Gorzeńska, Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Gdynia: „Empowering communities through education: insights from Gdynia”
Emilie Kuchel, Deputy Mayor in charge of education, City of Brest: “A city of education for a city of citizenship”
12.45 p.m. – 1.45 p.m.
Lunch
1.45 p.m. – 2.45 p.m.
Presentation of Workshop Results
Panel Discussion
Franziska Berger, Head of the Department for Education Management, Kiel
Idun Hübner, ZBBS Kiel e.V. Central Education and Advice Center for Migrants
Michelle Jeffers, Chief of Community Programs and Partnerships, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco
Toomas Kruusimägi, President of the City Council, City of Tallinn
2.45 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Bettina Aust, President of the City Council Kiel
Removing barriers in terms of accessing educational programmes is the basic prerequisite for individual education and participation in society. This refers to both school and extracurricular educational programmes and locations. Together, these two factors enable a largely self-determined (socio-economic) lifestyle, as well as participation in the political and cultural life of (urban) society.
However, the individual basic and special needs often differ quite markedly and are determined by a wide variety of factors. Needs-based and inclusive educational programmes are therefore essential in order to establish balance, enable individual support in different life situations and thereby create equal opportunities.
Since 2019, for example, the state capital of Kiel has assigned additional curative educational staff to daycare centres and classroom assistants to primary schools in a disadvantaged district as a way of promoting the individual participation of children. A scientific evaluation has confirmed the success of this systemic approach.
Key questions:
In addition to individual educational success, educational programmes should always focus on social cohesion and have a holistic perspective in terms of democratic participation. Among other things, this requires meeting spaces for people from different social, economic and cultural backgrounds. High-quality educational programmes ensure that people can develop the skills they need to participate in society in a committed, constructive and effective way here, while also allowing individuals to contribute the skills they have acquired, as well as to test and experience them in community settings.
In the state capital of Kiel, for example, the so-called "Dritte Orte" or "Third Places" play a central role as educational centres for lifelong learning. The adult education centre, public library, music school and museums provide important municipal services to strengthen cohesion and democratic development in urban society.
Key questions:
Results of the workshops
The core of the event was formed by two thematic workshops in which the participants, i.e. representatives of various partner cities, used three practical examples to talk about opportunities and challenges as well as the knowledge gained from tried and tested approaches.
Individually, during the two workshops the following aspects were tackled, discussed and can be summarized as follows.
Read the complete documentation here
Review of the excursion
Following the International Cities Forum 2025, the annual thematic excursion took place on Sunday, 22 June. This year's theme was ‘Education as the key to participation and social cohesion’.
Representatives from Kiel and from partner and friendly cities gained practical insights into two educational institutions that contribute to equal opportunities in different ways. The focus was on conceptual work on site and dealing with social challenges. The aim was to exchange ideas about specific programmes and experiences and to learn from each other.
The first stop was the family centre in the Gaarden district of Kiel on Georg-Pfingsten-Straße. There, the focus was on support and cooperation with parents. The conceptual approaches and the role of the centre as a place of education and encounter in the district were presented.
The second stop was the school at Heidenberger Teich in Mettenhof. As part of the federal, state and local government's Perspective and Start Opportunities Programme, numerous measures have already been implemented there. The participants gained insights into the practical work, spoke with the school management and discussed the use of the school grounds as a social space in the neighbourhood.
Panel
Franziska Berger
Franziska Berger has been Head of Education Management in the Department of Education, Youth and Culture since 2019. She and her team coordinate and evaluate the cooperation between the responsible stakeholders. An equitable and inclusive educational landscape is the main focus of their activities.
With her work in supporting and counselling families, children and youths and as coordinator for programmes for families with young children in the social services of the youth welfare office, she has worked to improve the living conditions of children and young people in their families.
Franziska has a degree in social pedagogy and social work as well as a master's degree in international comparative sociology and pedagogy.
Johanna Göb
Johanna Göb has been Head of Kiel’s Department for Culture and Lifelong Learning since 2022, overseeing cultural urban development and the city’s cultural institutions.
A graduate in literature, she previously launched cultural education programmes in schools and daycare centres and developed initiatives to strengthen civic engagement.
Before joining the city administration, she coordinated nationwide literature projects, combining her passion for culture, education, and social responsibility.
Oktawia Gorzeńska
Oktawia Gorzeńska is First Vice President of Gdynia and the City’s Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment.
As an expert in public policy and change management, she oversees education, culture, and social inclusion. She co-founded and chairs the Gdynia Women’s Council and leads the participatory development of the city’s education strategy.
A speaker, author, and trainer, she has empowered over 10.000 professionals and worked with national and European institutions to drive systemic change.
Miriam Gyamfi
Miriam Gyamfi is a certified organisational developer with a propensity for social entrepreneurship. She regularly advises teams and organisations on meaningful paths towards sustainable change. She has a keen eye for the requirements of effective communication and collaboration.
Idun Hübner
Idun Hübner is a director at ZBBS e.V., the Central Education and Counseling Center for Migrants in Kiel.
She has many years of experience in adult and non-formal education and develops projects for refugees and diverse communities.
A trained theatre pedagogue, she uses creative, participatory methods such as performance and storytelling to empower children and adults, particularly those affected by displacement and marginalization.
Michelle Jeffers
Michelle is the chief of Community Programs and Partnerships for the San Francisco Public Library.
Her division plans and promotes the library’s wide array of public programming, special events, and classes; curates exhibitions; provides direct library services and outreach i.e. via Bookmobiles; tells the library’s story via communications, media relations and advertising; and engages in partnerships with civic, cultural, and educational institutions.
Michelle previously worked in public relations for publishers McGraw-Hill and Dow Jones Company. A former journalist, she has served as a staff writer, bureau chief, producer, reporter and editor for numerous magazines, newspapers, and radio stations.
Jan Johannsmeier
Jan Johannsmeier is a Geographer, organisational developer and mediator.
His focus is on event moderation and facilitation, trainings on leadership, cooperation management and team building as well as on project management and strategy consulting, with a focus on social inclusion, sustainable economic development and climate change adaptation.
Facilitating dialogue and exchange among different stakeholders is a key element in all his areas of work.
During the International Cities Forum he will be in charge of the overall conference moderation.
Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller
Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller is Director of the Department of Educational Research at the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN) and Professor at Kiel University.
A psychologist by training, he previously worked at the Max-Planck-Institute and held professorships in Erlangen and Berlin, where he founded the IQB. His research focuses on educational monitoring and international assessments such as PISA, TIMSS, and ICILS. Since 2009, he has served as IPN’s Managing Director of Research.
Toomas Kruusimägi
Toomas Kruusimägi has been Headteacher of Tallinn English College since 1999. With degrees in modern languages and public administration, he has shaped Estonia’s education landscape for decades.
He serves on national and European boards, including ESHA and Teach for Estonia, and is a member of the Tallinn City Council. Recognised with multiple awards, including the Order of the White Star, he is known for his strong leadership in education and international collaboration.
Emilie Kuchel
A committed community educator for 18 years, Emilie Kuchel worked in underprivileged neighborhoods on parenting and civic engagement among marginalized groups.
In 2017, she was appointed Deputy Mayor for Educational Policies, and in 2020 became President of the French Network of Educating Cities. She now also serves as Regional Councillor of Brittany, overseeing educational projects for secondary schools, and represents Brest in the UNESCO Learning Cities network.
Inja Möller
Inja Möller has been working at the Youth Welfare Office of the City of Kiel since 2002.
For the past ten years, she has served as a strategic youth welfare planner, focusing on the development, support, and evaluation of projects in the fields of education, youth services, and child welfare.
She holds a degree in Social Work and Social Pedagogy from the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences in Berlin and a Master’s in Social Management from Leuphana University in Lüneburg.
Ahmet Öztürk
Ahmet Öztürk is an industrial engineer and experienced local government professional.
He leads the Memberships and International Relations Unit at Hatay Metropolitan Municipality.
For over a decade, he has worked on international cooperation, project coordination, and municipal development, especially in education, social policy, and refugee support.
He plays a key role in managing Hatay’s sister city relations and promoting inclusive governance and intercultural dialogue.
Mika Pietilä
Mika Pietilä is Director of Youth Affairs for the City of Vaasa, Finland.
With a strong background in non-formal education, he highlights its role in supporting youth development. He has led various national projects and served in expert positions in the cities of Oulu and Kokkola.
He holds a Master’s in Social Sciences with a focus on Youth Work and Research, a degree in Community Education, and a vocational teaching qualification. His work promotes structured, pedagogical approaches in youth services
Meltem Söbütay
Meltem Söbütay, 17, is an 11th-grade student who has been actively engaged in local politics for over three years.
As chair of the Youth Council, she advocates for the interests of young people, organizes youth-centered events, and hosts monthly public council meetings. She is committed to youth participation, equal opportunities, and civic engagement.
At school, she is also involved in student government and promotes political education among her peers.
Renate Treutel
Renate Treutel has been Head of the Department of Education, Youth and Culture since 2014 and Deputy Mayor of Kiel since 2018. Leading the city’s largest department with 2.000 staff, she also chairs several cultural and educational boards.
She is committed to building an inclusive, family-friendly city and ensuring equal access to education and culture. Key challenges she addresses include child development, the shortage of skilled professionals, and financial constraints in the public sector.