The Alumni Conference focuses on one key question: How can digital transformation be shaped in a responsible and human-centred way?

Around the world, digitalisation is changing the work of churches and social organisations. It creates new opportunities for education, communication and collaboration, while also raising important ethical, social and organisational questions.

How can digitalisation promote social inclusion? What responsibilities do churches and social organisations have in times of digital change? And how can digital developments be shaped in ways that respect different social and cultural contexts?

One of the strengths of the Alumni Conferences is the diversity of its international perspectives. What is taken for granted in one country may be difficult or even impossible in another because of differences in infrastructure, financial resources or social conditions. The conference week offers space to share these experiences, learn from one another and develop new ideas for shaping digital transformation together.

The IDWM and Bielefeld University are the common point of reference for the alumni network. The alumni have studied here, established professional contacts and gained their first experiences of international exchange. The Alumni Conference offers an opportunity to reconnect, strengthen existing relationships and further develop the network through personal encounter.

At the same time, Bielefeld, with its university, diaconal institutions and innovative practice partners, provides an excellent setting for discussing current questions of social and digital transformation from both academic and practical perspectives. The close connection between research, teaching and practice characterises the work of the IDWM and forms the intellectual background of the Alumni Conference.

The conference week is therefore more than a professional training event. It is a space for encounter, shared reflection and international collaboration in addressing the global challenges of digital transformation.

General Information:

• Venue: Planning is still in progress. We will keep you updated.
• Language and accessibility: The conference will be conducted in English. All facilities are accessible and barrier-free.
• Participation fee: 60 € per day or 250 € for the full programme (Monday to Friday). Meals and refreshments will be provided free of charge.Participants are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation costs.

• DAAD travel support: Financial support from DAAD funds is available for a limited number of alumni. Eligible expenses may include travel, accommodation and meals. Funding decisions will be made after the application deadline and depend on the number of applications and the available budget.
• Note: We encourage alumni to explore opportunities for self-funding or co-funding, for example through their home institutions, churches, organisations or sponsors. Every additional source of funding helps to increase the number of alumni who can participate in the conference.

• Please note that a single form is used for both conference registration and applications for DAAD funding to cover travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

• Visa: If you need a written invitation for a Visa application or for other reasons, please write to idwm@uni-bielefeld.de 

• Participants are generally responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and accommodation costs.
• A contingent of shared double rooms has been reserved at the newly opened Smartments apartments, located close to Bielefeld Central Station. Participants who are eligible for DAAD funding may be accommodated there. Those who prefer a single room are welcome to arrange an upgrade at their own expense.
• Participants who are not making use of the reserved accommodation are kindly asked to arrange their own lodging.