Alpbach Seminars

We invite you to actively share your perspective, opinion, your ideas and co-create with other participants.

Welcome Scholarship Holders

Every year, the European Forum Alpbach awards scholarships to hundreds of outstanding young talents from all around the world. Our scholarship programme enables students, young professionals and changemakers to come to Alpbach and attend a unique programme consisting of scientific and artistic seminars, a high-level conference programme and a variety of social and cultural activities.

Seminar Chairs Selection

Our Seminar Chairs Selection will be continuously extended until the event.

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Benjamin Steiner

Cadet

Maria Theresian Military Academy

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Christopher Weilguni

Cadet

Maria Theresian Military Academy

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Mascha Dabic

Translator | Interpreter | Writer

University of Vienna

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Josef Mitterer

Professor

Institute of Philosophy, Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt

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Katharina Neges

University Project Assistant

Graz University of Technology

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Ana Paula Rojas

Head of the Academy of Politics and Public Leadership

Alma Civica Organization

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Massimo La Torre

Professor of Philosophy of Law

University of Catanzaro

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Diemut Schilling

Artist | Professor of Drawing and Printmaking

Alanus University for Art and Society

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Thomas Hutle

Project and Change Manager

Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment

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Max Jackson

Actor

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London (RADA)

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Manfred Frühwirth

Associate Professor at the Department of Finance, Accounting and Statistics

Vienna University of Economics and Business

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Xymena Kurowska

Associate Professor of International Relations

Central European University Vienna

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Veronica Klavzar

Harpist | Arts Education Student

Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna

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Jasmina Lukacevic

Human Resources and Organizational Development

HRPRO Croatia

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Katja Schechtner

Urban Scientist | Research Affiliate MIT Senseable City Lab and MIT LCAU

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Velina Tchakarova

Director

Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy (AIES)

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Bruno Stagno Ugarte

Chief Advocacy Officer

Human Rights Watch

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Christian Friedl

Associate Professor for Entrepreneurship

FH Johanneum - University of Applied Sciences Graz

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Denise Wornig

Head of European and International Cooperation

Carinthia University of Applied Sciences

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Maja Kurilic

Project Manager

The CIVIS Innovation Hub

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Thomas Mayr-Harting

Chair of the International Advisory Board

European Forum Alpbach

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Lucy Jamieson

Actor

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London (RADA)

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Jan Hein Nielsen

Managing Director and Senior Consultant

Hein&Nielsen Sprl.

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Margot Wallström

Former Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs

Kingdom of Sweden

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Kimberly McArthur

Chief Operating Officer

Apolitical Foundation

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Srdjan Cvijić

Senior Policy Analyst

Open Society Foundations

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Minja Maria Mertanen

Dancer | Dance and Movement Therapist

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Ayla Wheatley

Actor

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art London (RADA)

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Katja Hutter

Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

School of Management, University of Innsbruck

Schedule for Alpbach Seminars 2022

Sunday, 21 August

14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Cli
Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Sec
4Cs4U
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Cli
Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Cli
Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Climate Change
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Fin
Humanity at the Crossroad
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Sec
Geopolitics in the EUʼs Neighbourhood
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Fin
Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Dem
Strategic Foresight Workshop – The EU and Enlargement Process
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Sec
Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Dem
Working Together (Spells Success)
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Dem
How Free is Free Speech?
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Cli
Activism versus Resistance – How to Transform Together?
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Fin
Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin
14:00 - 17:00
Seminar
Fin
Financial Literacy – What It Takes to Become Moneywise

Monday, 22 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
4Cs4U
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Climate Change
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Humanity at the Crossroad
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Geopolitics in the EUʼs Neighbourhood
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Strategic Foresight Workshop – The EU and Enlargement Process
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Working Together (Spells Success)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
How Free is Free Speech?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Activism versus Resistance – How to Transform Together?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Financial Literacy – What It Takes to Become Moneywise
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities

Tuesday, 23 August

10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Sec
4Cs4U
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Climate Change
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Humanity at the Crossroad
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Sec
Geopolitics in the EUʼs Neighbourhood
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Dem
Strategic Foresight Workshop – The EU and Enlargement Process
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Dem
Working Together (Spells Success)
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Dem
How Free is Free Speech?
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Activism versus Resistance – How to Transform Together?
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Financial Literacy – What It Takes to Become Moneywise
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Sec
Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities

Wednesday, 24 August

10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Sec
4Cs4U
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Climate Change
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Humanity at the Crossroad
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Sec
Geopolitics in the EUʼs Neighbourhood
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Dem
Strategic Foresight Workshop – The EU and Enlargement Process
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Dem
Working Together (Spells Success)
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Dem
How Free is Free Speech?
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Cli
Activism versus Resistance – How to Transform Together?
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Fin
Financial Literacy – What It Takes to Become Moneywise
10:15 - 13:00
Seminar
Sec
Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities

Thursday, 25 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
4Cs4U
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Climate Change
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Humanity at the Crossroad
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Geopolitics in the EUʼs Neighbourhood
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Strategic Foresight Workshop – The EU and Enlargement Process
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Working Together (Spells Success)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
How Free is Free Speech?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Activism versus Resistance – How to Transform Together?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Financial Literacy – What It Takes to Become Moneywise
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities

Friday, 26 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
4Cs4U
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Social Entrepreneurship for Sustainability and Climate Change
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Humanity at the Crossroad
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Geopolitics in the EUʼs Neighbourhood
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Strategic Foresight Workshop – The EU and Enlargement Process
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Working Together (Spells Success)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
How Free is Free Speech?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Activism versus Resistance – How to Transform Together?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Financial Literacy – What It Takes to Become Moneywise
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities

Sunday, 28 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Whose Right to the City? Juxtaposing Nature, Tech and People
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Creating Our Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Health Systems and Health Security
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Drifting Characters
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Feeling Safe (Is Key)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Human Rights in Norm and Practice
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Democracy in Times of Crisis
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Fact or Fake? How to Strengthen Digital Courage?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignty
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Manifesting European Climate Policy

Monday, 29 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Whose Right to the City? Juxtaposing Nature, Tech and People
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Creating Our Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Health Systems and Health Security
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Drifting Characters
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Feeling Safe (Is Key)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Human Rights in Norm and Practice
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Democracy in Times of Crisis
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignty
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Fact or Fake? How to Strengthen Digital Courage?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Manifesting European Climate Policy

Tuesday, 30 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Whose Right to the City? Juxtaposing Nature, Tech and People
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Creating Our Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Health Systems and Health Security
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Drifting Characters
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Feeling Safe (Is Key)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Human Rights in Norm and Practice
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Democracy in Times of Crisis
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Fact or Fake? How to Strengthen Digital Courage?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignty
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Manifesting European Climate Policy

Wednesday, 31 August

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Whose Right to the City? Juxtaposing Nature, Tech and People
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Creating Our Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Health Systems and Health Security
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Drifting Characters
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Feeling Safe (Is Key)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Human Rights in Norm and Practice
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Democracy in Times of Crisis
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignty
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Fact or Fake? How to Strengthen Digital Courage?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Manifesting European Climate Policy

Thursday, 01 September

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Whose Right to the City? Juxtaposing Nature, Tech and People
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Creating Our Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Health Systems and Health Security
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Drifting Characters
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Feeling Safe (Is Key)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Human Rights in Norm and Practice
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Democracy in Times of Crisis
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignty
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Fact or Fake? How to Strengthen Digital Courage?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Manifesting European Climate Policy

Friday, 02 September

09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Whose Right to the City? Juxtaposing Nature, Tech and People
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Creating Our Future
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Health Systems and Health Security
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Drifting Characters
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Feeling Safe (Is Key)
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Human Rights in Norm and Practice
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Democracy in Times of Crisis
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Sec
Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Fin
Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignty
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Dem
Fact or Fake? How to Strengthen Digital Courage?
09:00 - 12:00
Seminar
Cli
Manifesting European Climate Policy
Web22 seminars 20210903120745 POL Fireside Talk Alma Zadic EFA Elisabeth Mandl

Fireside Chat EFA21 (c) European Forum Alpbach / Elisabeth Mandl

Choose your Alpbach Seminars

20210823162631 Collaboration Through the Power of Music EFA Matteo Vegetti 1060520 kl

This year's scholarship holders have the opportunity to choose among a variety of artistic or competence-based and scientific seminars. The following videos provide a better understanding of who the seminar chairs are. The short descriptions give insights into the main topics of each seminar and are provided to support the scholarship holders' decision making in advance.

Conference Week | Scientific

Activism versus Resistance - How to Transform Together | Conference Week | Scientific

The crises of modern times are being used to displace people, further drive division and destabilise democracy. Protest and resistance are the result of this as contradictions and uncertainties take over. Climate deniers and opponents of democracy must be taken seriously in order to be able to shape the future together as a society. But how to take action and to encourage energy transformation in open democracies? What influence has populism on the discourse of climate change and energy transformation? And how to strengthen the participation of citizens?

  • The critical relation of democracy and populism
  • Interlinkage of populism in different fields – migration, COVID-19, climate crisis  
  • Why do people follow populism?
  • Getting new insights, developing new strategies together
  • Developing democratic culture in conflicts regarding energy transition

Geopolitics in the EU's Neighbourhood | Conference Week | Scientific

When Ursula von der Leyen presented her Commission to the European Parliament in November 2019, she said it would be “geopolitical”. Today, the EU faces the greatest challenge in its neighbourhood since 1989/1991. What is its “geopolitical answer” to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine? How to respond to the membership bids of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia? How to cope with the growing influence of China? And what about the Western Balkans, to whom a future within the EU was promised nearly 30 years ago?

  • EU’s geopolitical environment since 1989
  • Russia’s war against Ukraine: Implications for the European security infrastructure and energy provisions
  • Russia, China and other third powers in the Western Balkans and the Eastern partnership
  • Future geopolitical battles

How Free is Free Speech? | Conference Week | Scientific

What are the limitations to freedom of thought and expression, and how can articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights safeguard those rights? How to deal with opposing views and conflicts in academia, politics, everyday life? Are there meaningful, objective criteria to apply in specific situations? The participants are asked to contribute their own experiences. Keywords: academic freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of thought, wokeness, cancel culture.

  • Conceptual analysis: Freedom, Speech, Law, Right
  • Free speech and democracy
  • Limits and censorship: The ethics of the public sphere
  • Freedom and truth in academia
  • Disagreements, conflicts, and justice

Humanity at the Crossroad | Conference Week | Scientific

Humanity is at a crossroad. The first road continues on the path of business as usual. This road solidifies existing power structures and will predictably lead to environmental and societal collapse. The second road actively prepares for major systemic changes, while ensuring that the old system does not uncontrollably crash. It enables the emergence of a regenerative financial and economic system serving humanity and the planet. This seminar explores what it takes to travel the second road.

Securing Europe Amidst Current Insecurities | Conference Week | Scientific

Europe is continuously searching for its role and identity in the global security arena amidst a sense of increasing threat. But what about the legacies of the EU in diplomacy, conflict prevention, and crisis management? What about alternative understandings of security that centre the well-being of individuals and communities? How can Europe deal with migration and cyber security, and what role does the securitisation of borders play in this regard? This seminar examines the developments in European security and explores possibilities for thinking security otherwise.

  • The global role of the European Union
  • European security and defence policy
  • Securitisation
  • Alternative visions of security

Social Entrepreurship for Sustainability and Climate Change | Conference Week | Scientific

This seminar cooperation of the Aurora Alliance and the European Forum Alpbach will act as the final step of creating innovative business solutions for intricate societal problems focusing on sustainability and climate change issues. The students will use their previously acquired knowledge in social entrepreneurship and consolidate their competences to work – face to face for the first time – in interdisciplinary, international teams with stakeholder engagement to answer real-life questions.

  • Definition of social entrepreneurship and acquisition of an entrepreneurial mindset
  • Creating a business for social change
  • Answering real life questions
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Understanding intricate societal problems

Towards a European Perspective on Bitcoin | Conference Week | Scientific

With the invention of Bitcoin, we are entering a new era in the evolution of money – an era where money is not bound to a nation state or a supranational entity but is global and borderless. To understand the macro- as well as microeconomic implications, the seminar will start off by covering the working mechanisms of Bitcoin. Throughout the seminar, an emphasis will be laid on Bitcoin mining and its related environmental impact as well as on how Bitcoin can reinforce individual freedom and human rights in Europe and around the world.

  • Bitcoin and Lighting – How it works
  • Bitcoin mining and energy usage
  • Social impact of Bitcoin
  • The future in a European framework

Conference Week | Competence-based or Artistic

4Cs4U | Conference Week | Competence-based

An unstable neighbourhood, migration, the question about Europe’s fate on a geopolitically divided planet, and the blurring line between peace and violence in the world: we face a lot of challenges these days. How to deal with them? Common, collective, connected, and comprehensive! Four traits, 4 Cs, which might be the answer? Within our seminar, it is you, physically and intellectually, who experiences and evaluates these 4 Cs. "We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided."

  • What does leadership mean?
  • The 4 Cs: Common, Collective, Connected, Comprehensive
  • Comradeship
  • Creativity
  • Empathy and group dynamics

Collecting and Saving Digital Sounds for the Future | Conference Week | Artistic

This seminar builds a bridge to the art project “Start By Listening”. Participants will record sounds in and from Alpbach and process them artistically. The created soundscapes are intended not only to help capture the special sounds in Alpbach, but also to preserve them for future generations, thus becoming artefacts of their time. Such artefacts have always been collected and are valuable testimonies of human culture – as digital trading with tokens also makes clear.

  • Being able to perceive and appreciate the sounds around you in a different way
  • Learning the basics of sound engineering and recording
  • Learning how to creatively work with a sequencer
  • Categorising different sounds in and around Alpbach and denaturalising them
  • After the course: Performing your own music in Alpbach in an open air concert

Financial Literacy - What It Takes to Become Moneywise | Conference Week | Competence-based

All of us have to make risky decisions on a near daily basis – whether it is about shares, loans or internet purchases like that new backpack you do not actually need. Weighing personal credit scores seems more important than ever. But how do I make the right decisions when it comes to financial issues? Financial literacy is much more than just understanding numbers and interest rates. It is about skills and tools on how to solve today’s challenges both independently and in a sustainable and meaningful way. This seminar strengthens the participants’ understanding and skills, giving you skills that might just safe you from overdraft fees for years to come.

  • Understand the many aspects and the importance of financial literacy (not only for individuals, but for the whole society)
  • Explain main financial terms and concepts
  • Identify financial challenges throughout life and manage their own finances
  • Discuss main findings of research on various aspects of financial literacy
  • Develop your own ideas (independently as well as collaboratively) on how to enhance financial literacy

Hoagaschtn: Tyrol Improvisation | Conference Week | Artistic

"Hoagaschtn", a Tyrolean expression for chatting, will accompany us on the search for anarchic open spaces that Tyrol, and particularly Alpbach, can offer apart from tourism industry. Perception of biodiversity, the question of land use and the related question of nature-based solutions will be our focus. Abandoned lift facilities are explored, locals are interviewed, and by wearing devil’s masks the dissolution of boundaries is sought. By improvising and staging Alpbach, a cinematic artwork will be created.

  • Rituals
  • Devil masks
  • Alpine apocalypse
  • Oral history
  • Acting and filmmaking

Sit Back and Stretch: Politician for a Week | Conference Week | Competence-based

Trusted, ethical, courageous and diverse leaders are the transformative force needed to amplify the innovations, financing, technology and people power that already exist to address the climate crisis. We uncover and practice skills and knowledge in empathy, neuroscience, behavioural science as well as in values and identities needed by the leaders of tomorrow (and today) to bridge divides and make progress on complex, often polarizing issues.

  • Simulations and self-reflection to learn the skills of a politician
  • Effective communication and collaboration in polarised environments
  • Awareness of values and identities and connection with political attitudes
  • Making evidence-informed policies

Strategic Foresight Workshop - The EU and Enlargement Process | Conference Week | Competence-based

This seminar will explore the drivers and triggers of potential future EU enlargements from the rule of law and democratic security perspective. With the democratic backsliding in some countries, a strategic dilemma presents itself: how should future enlargements be decided, while reinforcing the rule of law and democratic resilience in Europe? Foresight is a structured and systematic way of using ideas about the future to anticipate and better prepare for change. Participants approach the topic using these methods.

  • Strategic foresight
  • EU Enlargement
  • Future of Europe
  • Western Balkans policy
  • European neighbourhood

Working Together (Spells Success) | Conference Week | Artistic

In actor training, students are first introduced to the concept of ensemble. Artistic endeavours in the field of acting are very much a group activity, so the more proficient students become at collaborating as a group, the better they perform individually. In this peer-to-peer seminar with students from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, you will be introduced to exercises and games fostering seamless and poetic group work – a stepping stone for our democratic society.

  • Team building in a new way
  • Basics of actor training
  • Getting out of your comfort zone in a safe environment

Lab Week | Scienitfic

Democracy in Times of Crisis | Lab Week | Scientific

Is democracy (still) resilient today? Democracy is increasingly coming under pressure. Driven by war, the pandemic, the climate crisis, the consequences of digitalisation and growing gaps between rich and poor, social divisions and polarisation are becoming an ever greater challenge to democracy. This seminar looks at new forms of democratic action, examines new concepts of citizenship and the role and participation of civil society and their potential for building resilience in times of crisis.

  • Different dimensions of key challenges to democracy: social, economic, political
  • Democratic transformation of citizenship, polity, politics
  • Relationship between current political phenomena and different dimensions of democratic systems
  • New forms of democratic action

Europe's Struggle for Technological Sovereignity | Lab Week | Scientific

Every country has to ask itself whether it produces the technology it needs itself or whether it has secure access to it in the future. Especially for critical technological infrastructure (e.g., quantum computing, blockchain, medical or biomechanical research), this is a delicate question. Alongside the USA and China, this can be Europe’s big opportunity – but why is it that Europe continues to be slow in developing and advancing critical technologies? And what can a step forward look like?

  • Defining European digital sovereignty in a global context
  • Establishing value-based governance for new technologies
  • Shaping rules for artificial intelligence
  • Technological domain and digital authoritarianism in times of war
  • Varieties of global internet and digital governance

Gendering Conflict, War and Weapons | Lab Week | Scientific

This course addresses the gendered dynamics of armed conflict, especially in the context of the Russian war against Ukraine. Feminist perspectives in security studies will shine a light on gender-based violence in conflict and the rise of authoritarian masculinism and militarism as drivers of war. With a focus on the UN Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in Central and Eastern Europe, we will further explore alternative concepts of security that take into account intersectional insecurities.

The video is currently under production and will be uploaded in due time!

Health Systems and Health Security | Lab Week | Scientific

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the key role of health and health systems for our societies, well-being and the overall economy. Various national and international measures within health systems and beyond responded to the crisis. Out of this pandemic has come renewed attention to health system and health security. This seminar will highlight the importance of strong and resilient health systems for global health security. It will look at various challenges such as workforce shortages, but also debate ideas such as the One Health Approach, Universal Health Coverage, Global Health Diplomacy, Planetary Health and the European Health Union.

  • Resilient health systems for global health security
  • One Health Approach
  • Synergies between universal health coverage and global health security
  • The role of diplomacy in global health security
  • Global health equity

Human Rights in Norm and Practice | Lab Week | Scientific

Are human rights universally valid? Even in the member states of the EU, there are different understandings of the law – all the more so if one includes neighbouring and farther states. Does this also result in different approaches to human rights? How can a dialogue look like among states and stakeholders that hold different positions? These questions will be at the centre in this seminar, as will be the examination of the discrepancy between norms and a rapidly transforming reality on the ground.

  • Ideas - Aspirations - Rights
  • Victims - Witnesses - Evidence
  • Accountability
  • Universality - Double standards
  • Mission drift - Welcome expansion

Manifesting European Climate Policy | Lab Week | Scientific

Solutions do not grow on trees, and wishful thinking is never enough as climate change is not confined to national borders. To tackle it, we need comprehensive transnational policies. So, what is actually happening at the EU level? In which areas are we on track? Where do we expect delays, hurdles or further standstill? This seminar is about strengthening the understanding of European climate policy as well as about concrete steps to protect the climate and reduce greenhouse gases. How can Europe take the lead in this global crisis?

  • How bad is the climate crisis? It’s worse than most of you think!
  • How we have failed to cut emissions globally: from Kyoto to Paris … to Brussels
  • Why didn’t we mitigate global heating in time? Socio-economic and socio-psychological explanations
  • Outlook: What it would take to avert a global climate catastrophe

Whose Right to the City? | Lab Week | Scientific

Who are the residents of our cities, and what rights do they have? By escaping an anthropocentric mindset, we will explore and imagine a world that goes beyond human stakeholders. We will trace and analyse humans, the built environment and its technologies, as well as non-human nature within an urban context. What interactions exist, and how, if at all, can possible conflicts be solved? We will jointly draft a manifesto to summarise our findings and reframe the perception, design and code of urban co-existence.

  • Urban tech
  • Rights of nature
  • City ethics
  • Parliament of things
  • Urban co-existence

Lab Week | Competence-based or Artistic

Body and Voice for Non-Violent Conflict Resolution | Lab Week | Artistic

Conflicts do not only manifest themselves in violent confrontations but are natural phenomena that arise almost automatically in any process of change. Every development or change causes conflicts of interest – not automatically violent confrontation. But how to deal with conflicts constructively? This seminar explores in an artistic way how body, voice and movement can be used to learn methods that allow us to solve conflicts non-violently and constructively with each other.

  • Learning through art
  • Non-violent communication through body and voice
  • Body as a safe space

Creating Our Future | Lab Week | Artistic

Do all the stories about our planet have to be those of despair? This peer-to-peer seminar will explore the benefits of creative writing to offer a story of hope and to find new paths to imagine a more positive future. This seminar will offer an alternative method of looking at our world via imagination and creativity. Guided by art scholars from Bath Spa University participants will learn how to express themselves through fiction, poetry and memoir and how to write about what matters.

  • An alternative method of looking at our world via imagination and creativity
  • How to use language creatively
  • Gain ideas and suggestions from practising writers and poets
  • How to apply creative methodologies to a variety of uses and develop a knowledge of editorial skills
  • Awareness of how creative approaches can inform broader discussions

Drifting Characters | Lab Week | Artistic

“Character is destiny” is a quote attributed to the Greek philosopher Heraclitus. The word “character” carries two meanings: the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. How can one construct an enigmatic, interesting, ambiguous, complex and at the same time convincing character in literature? Are there moral obligations in this construction? What can we learn from this for dealing with prejudice? This seminar tries to counteract the drifting apart of society by means of literary tools.

  • Identifying complex characters: Fiction (literature) and real life
  • Identifying with complex characters
  • Ethical questions: good vs. evil vs. neither
  • Exploring the complexity of one’s own character and of the others
  • Analysing the double fold concept of character („Character is destiny“ vs. “Character as protagonist”)

Fact or Fake How to Stregthen Digital Courage | Lab Week | Competence-based

Hate speech on the internet and conspiracy theories have become a current, socially urgent issue. Violent digital threats are becoming more and more frequent and are by no means marginal phenomena anymore. This seminar not only deals with the question of how conspiracy theories spread, but also aims to teach skills to actively stand up against hate speech and disinformation on the internet and thereby build digital civil courage.

  • What is disinformation and hate speech and why these phenomena threaten our democracies
  • Techniques for how to investigate disinformation
  • Interventions against hate speech
  • Safe space (Chatham house rules, respectful communication) to discuss in the group about dangerous digital dynamics and potential solutions

Feeling Safe (Is Key) | Lab Week | Artistic

A sense of safety and security is essential in actor training. Work can be very demanding and challenging as students need to be present and emotionally available, at times using their own experiences for creation. As such it is important that they do not feel exposed. This peer-to-peer seminar with students from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art will share the training aspects that allow them to be vulnerable by creating a safe environment.

  • Team building in a new way
  • Basics of actor training
  • Getting out of your comfort zone in a safe environment

Leadership Transformation: Collective Climate Action? | Lab Week | Competence-based

Participatory leadership addresses systemic challenges – such as climate change – by using individual and collective practices of dialogue and co-creation. This seminar combines theory and practice of participatory methods, mental models, and skills on how to tackle individual, organisational and societal topics collectively. Participants will have a chance to connect, engage in meaningful conversations, discover challenges around change, and practice finding solutions in a participatory way.

  • Tools to design and facilitate workshops
  • Theoretical background on participatory leadership, co-created innovation, and “The Art of Hosting”
  • Methodologies that help to tackle individual, organizational, and societal/systemic change
  • Opportunities to practice meaningful conversations and connect as a group
  • A practice ground for connecting participatory leadership with the topic of climate change

The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Unleash Your Innovation Superpower | Lab Week | Competence-based

Entrepreneurship is not limited to start-ups. Innovative problem-solvers, out-of-the-box thinkers and solution implementers are heavily requested in every facet of business life today – thus, it has grown into a life-time skill. This hands-on seminar introduces you to the key concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation in 2022. Together, we will debunk the myths of entrepreneurship and embrace an entrepreneurial mindset to set the stage for reviving Europe from bottom-up.

  • Jointly debunking the myths of entrepreneurship with latest research insights
  • Learn with playful exercises how to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset
  • Explore different ideation techniques and developing your own innovation pipeline
  • Recognize and leverage the power of co-innovation
  • Business modelling for newbies

FAQ

1. Do I need a visa?

Nationals of EU member states, the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland do not require a visa for entering the Republic of Austria. All other nationals require a visa in order to enter the Schengen Area or the Austrian territory. As a general rule, the passport must be valid at least three months beyond the planned date of departure from the Schengen area. Please check the visa requirements for your country here: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/tra...

2. Do I need to be vaccinated against Covid?

Please check the website of the Austrian Foreign Ministry for updated information: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/

3. How can I arrange my accommodation in Alpbach?

Accommodation in Alpbach will be booked by the European Forum Alpbach.

4. Will you be able to support my visa application?

The Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs supports us and will inform the nearest Austrian consulate or a consulate with representation for Austria of your visa application. Every Austrian consulate will issue your visa free of charge. However, we can only assure that this is the case when applying at Austrian consulates directly. If you are applying at the consulate of another member of the Schengen area, we cannot guarantee that your files are handled free of charge.

5. Will you contract health and accident insurance?

No, please do so yourself for the period of your stay in Alpbach with two additional days for travelling between your hometown and Alpbach.

6. How do I get to Alpbach?

Coming to Alpbach by public transport is easy. There are bus services from the train stations Wörgl, Jenbach and Brixlegg to Alpbach. The closest airports to Alpbach are in Munich, Innsbruck and Vienna. From there, you can easily take a train to one of the above-mentioned stations. Please visit the Austrian National Railway Service to find your connection: https://www.oebb.at/en/. Note that all relevant information about public transport will be updated shortly before the start of the European Forum Alpbach.

7. Which Seminars will I be able to attend?

All scholarship holders will attend a scientific and an artistic/practical seminar of their choice. Further information on the seminars at the EFA22 will be shared with selected applicants in due time.

8. What should I bring with me to Alpbach? Is there a dress code?

Alpbach is a mountain village where the weather is very changeable even in the summer. Do not forget to bring warm clothes and especially weatherproof footwear and rain jackets with you! Please bear in mind that the roads in Alpbach are steep, so flat-heeled shoes are advisable. The dress code ranges from casual to smart casual. If you are unsure about how to dress, have a look at the photos of past events.
If you consider participating in one of the hikes offered, please bring warm clothes and appropriate shoes for hiking (trekking shoes or at least adequate sneakers). Participation is at your own risk.

As the European Forum Alpbach is a Green Meeting, we strongly encourage you to bring your own refillable water bottle. You will need it in particular during the Alpbach Seminars.

For the Alpbach Seminars, please bring your own laptop.

Make sure to bring enough money for the first week in Alpbach! Should you have been awarded a full scholarship, you will only receive the board allowance after a few days in Alpbach. Please make sure to have enough cash (or a debit card that allows you to withdraw cash in Austria) on you to be able to pay for any expenses you might encounter in the first week.

9. Where can I eat?

Alpbach has many restaurants and places to eat. In some hotels and restaurants, special student meals are offered. You will find detailed information on this in Alpbach. There is a supermarket on the left-hand side of the main street as you enter the village, where you can buy products of daily necessity. In some cases, your accommodation also includes breakfast.

10. Which requirements with regards to COVID-19 apply to enter Austria?

Please check the website of the Austrian Foreign Ministry for updated information: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/

11. Which prevention measures against the Coronavirus do you take?

Further information on the safety and prevention concept of the EFA22 will be posted here in due course.

12. Why is it important to hand in a feedback report after my participation at the European Forum Alpbach?

Your feedback matters! We want to make the European Forum Alpbach better every year and to adjust it to your needs and requirements. This is why we would like to receive your feedback.

Moreover, our scholarship programme would not be possible without the generous support of organisations and private persons. By providing sufficient funds, they make your participation in the European Forum Alpbach possible. To be able to convey your experiences and impressions to our sponsors and to attest the meaning of their financial contribution, your feedback reports are crucial for us.

13. How do scholarship holders stay in touch after the European Forum Alpbach?

There are plenty of ways to stay connected after the European Forum Alpbach. The Forum Alpbach Network and the Africa Alpbach Network, the two alumni organisations of the European Forum Alpbach, organise a lot of activities during the year and will bring you closer together. Find a Club or an Initiative Group in your region, or become an Ambassador!