ESD and Democracy Education in Museum Education

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and democracy education go hand in hand—especially in museums. As an out-of-school learning environment, the museum provides spaces where social issues can not only be taught but also discussed collaboratively. The digital conference of the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Working Group within the Federal Association of Museum Education (Bundesverband Museumspädagogik e.V.) focuses precisely on this intersection and explores how these two educational areas can be combined in a way that is both academically sound and practical.

The focus is on how museums can equally promote sustainable thinking, democratic participation, and responsible action without these concepts becoming vague or arbitrary. This is particularly relevant for teachers, caregivers, and education teams: anyone who works with groups needs sound concepts, clear terminology, and good practical examples.

The conference offers expert analysis, practical insights, and concrete ideas for educational work. Speakers will provide insights into approaches and practical examples. At the same time, the event creates space for participation: Attendees can actively contribute to a project by Bündnis Eine Welt e.V. and join the discussion on the draft handout “Global Learning and Democracy Education in Museums.” The event is thus aimed at anyone who wishes to consider museum education, education for sustainable development, and democracy education not as separate entities but as interconnected—in schools, museums, and extracurricular educational settings. For educators and museum educators, the conference offers valuable insights for their own practice.

Guests are welcome. For more information and to register, please visit the Museum Education website.