Research

- Networked Thinking Needs Bright Minds -

The Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences is characterized not only by its explicit organic profile, but also by its uniqueness in the German and international higher education landscape. The Department's research and teaching activities revolve around organically-oriented objectives. These activities are pursued by outstanding scholars from many different special areas and through the implementation of modern experimental methods. The declared goal of this networked approach is the concrete implementation of the scientific findings in policy and practice, which is why the Department of Organic Agricultural Sciences sees itself as a cosmopolitan and practice-oriented university department.

The preservation of the natural basis of life is of central importance. Therefore, the organic agricultural sciences are dedicated to a type of agriculture that produces healthy and tasty foods largely in accordance with nature, and that furthermore takes into account economic restrictions and, not least of all, the social and cultural conditions of the respective country and its agriculture.

Fulfilling the research objectivity of organically-oriented agricultural sciences does not only require professional competence. It also promotes a scientific culture that concentrates on complete processes instead of isolated segments. Hence, all concerned parties, from the students and staff to the professors, contribute to the formation of the overall image of organic agricultural sciences.

Furthermore, there is a strong international orientation; Witzenhausen is extensively networked in European and international organizations and also offers its own course of studies.

Research for a sunny future!

Global education in Hungary, among the Hungarian minorities in Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, and in India (since 1977)

The Department of Environmental Management works for Environmental Science and Management as well as Sustainable development and Agenda 21 education issues on different education levels and target groups, runs Master programme in Environmental Management as well as several local and international education and research projects and courses in sustainable development and environmental management, development and management of coastal areas including. Institute is also a UNESCO Chair-holder in Sustainable Coastal Development.

European public institution

IJGD stands for International Youth Community Services. It is a non-profit organisation working in the field of international youth work and political education. Since 1949, IJGD has been active throughout Germany as an organisation independent from any religious or political party and recognised by the state authorities. The aim of IJGD is to forward young people's awareness of social conditions and to support the development of a feeling of social responsibility. The work of IJGD thus includes the promotion of international understanding and the reduction of prejudice between people of different nations, social backgrounds, religions and political ideas. We organise workcamps, international youth meetings, youth holiday periods in Germany, Europe and overseas as well as different trainings and seminars as further education.

In addition, IJGD is in charge of different long-term voluntary services such as the voluntary social service (FSJ), the voluntary ecological service (FÖJ) and the voluntary heritage service (FJD).

The Berlin part of IJGD, IJGD LV Berlin, has a specific focus on intercultural and inter-generation projects. In the field of the European Voluntary Service (EVS), IJGD Berlin is involved as a sending and hosting organisation. As part of our pilote project ‘voluntary services in socially deprived areas', ijgd Berlin has a growing number of EVS-placements in Berlin in socially deprived areas. This pilote project aims to further social inclusion, intercultural learning and to support small non-profit organisations and initiatives. As a sending organisation we send young German volunteers from Berlin and ist surroundings for longterm voluntary services to Europe in the frame work of EVS.

IJGD Berlin also organises midterm voluntary services in Africa, Asia and Latinamerika.