Welcome to the Summer School
We’re delighted to welcome you to Germany! On this page you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your participation, including the programme, travel information, accommodation details and other practical tips for the week ahead.
Reaching the summer school venue at Osnabrück is convenient, it is important to reach the Main Station of Osnabrück first, with frequent and direct train connections from all major surrounding travel hubs:
- Münster: Direct regional or Eurocity trains run multiple times an hour, taking just 25 to 35 minutes.
- Dortmund: Direct Intercity (IC/ICE) or regional services arrive in approximately 1 hour.
- Düsseldorf: Direct high-speed trains (convenient from Düsseldorf Airport) connect to Osnabrück in just under 2 hours.
- Amsterdam: Direct international Intercity trains travel from Amsterdam Centraal straight to Osnabrück in roughly 2 hours and 50 minutes.
After reaching the Main Train Station of Osnabrück it’s a 10 minutes walk to the Innovatorium, the exact address of the venue is: Hamburger Str. 24, 49084 Osnabrück, Germany.
Tip for Attendees: We highly recommend checking schedules and booking tickets in advance via the Deutsche Bahn website (bahn.com) or the DB Navigator app.
CHECK IN / CHECK OUT
• The fee includes room & board for 5 nights and 6 days, food and transfers. The fee covers accommodation and food for 6 days (from the dinner on Saturday, Aug. 29, to the 11:30 am on Thursday, Sept. 3)
• Check in starts at 16:00 until 21:00 in the indicated hotels upon arrival – Saturday, Aug. 29
• Check out at 10:30 am – Thursday, Sept. 3
HOTEL
Hotel Remarque (Natruper-Tor-Wall 1 • 49076 Osnabrück)
As a reminder, it is important to stop by the Innovatorium upon your arrival first to register for the Summer School
- You will be staying in a double room; your room assignment will be provided upon arrival.
- Electrical Information:
Germany uses a standard voltage of 230 V at a frequency of 50 Hz and two main socket types, which are standard across most of continental Europe:
Type C (Europlug): Features two round pins and is commonly used for low-power devices such as phone chargers and other small electronics.
Type F (Schuko): Features two round pins and two earthing clips on the sides. It is commonly used for higher-power appliances such as laptops, hairdryers and other electrical devices.
- Bring suitable clothing:
Bring suitable summer clothing, as temperatures in Germany can be quite warm at this time of year. We also recommend checking the weather forecast before travelling, as conditions may vary and occasional rain or cooler evenings are possible. Comfortable walking shoes are advised for getting around the city.
- Bring your water bottle:
That way we avoid using plastic bottles. Water is drinkable and good everywhere.
- Medical on-call service:
Tel: 116 117 | For reference, see this link from the German Federal Ministry of Health (gesund.bund.de).
- Police
Tel: 110
- Firefighters
Tel: 112
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For inquiries, contact: [email protected]
PROGRAM
A first opportunity to get to know fellow participants, speakers and the International Summer School team.
16:00–21:00 | INNOVATORIUM – Hamburger Str. 24, 49084 Osnabrück
Check-in event and then check-in Hotel Remarque (Natruper-Tor-Wall 1 • 49076 Osnabrück)
19:30–21:00 | Welcome dinner at hotel
Opening of the International Summer School by introducing the concept of fraternity through the Economy of Francesco and the EoF World Fraternity Report.
HRemarque to Innovatorium on foot (25’)
INNOVATORIUM – Osnabrück
Mass options in German in the city centre*
9:00–9:30 | Official opening of the Summer School
9:00–10:00 | Spiritual reflection: Was St. Francis innovative?
Vicar General Auxiliary Bishop Johannes Wübbe, Diocese of Osnabrück
10:00–11:30 | The EoF World Fraternity Report: Concepts, Indicators and Global Evidence
Paolo Santori
11:30 | Coffee break
12:00–13:00 | Empirical approach to Fraternity
Tracey Freiberg and Paolo Santori
13:00 | Lunch
14:30–15:30 | In my Father‘s house are many rooms
Carolin Lauhoff, Managing Director of Stephanswerk Osnabrück, on the commitment of the diocesan housing association in the Lok-Viertel model district
15:30 | Break
16:00–17:00 | The Social Dimension of Sustainability
Maren Wilmes, Managing Director of the Caritasverband city and district Osnabrück on the ecumenical implementation of the Social Master Plan in the new urban district
Evening
19:00–20:30 | Dinner
in Osnabrück
20:40 | Own way back to the hotel
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*Options for Masses on Sunday 30th in Osnabrück:
Dom St. Petrus – Große Domsfreiheit 2 49074 Osnabrück
Sunday – 08:30 – 19:00
Saturday evening – 17:00
St. Barbara – Natruper Straße 145b 49076 Osnabrück
Sunday – 10:00 (odd week: 30.08 is the 5th of the month, so it should be following the calendar of odd weeks)
Gemeinde Kleine Kirche – Große Domsfreiheit 6, 49074 Osnabrück
Saturday evening – 18.15
Benediktinerinnenkloster – Hasetorwall 22, 49076 Osnabrück
Sunday – 07:30
Pfarrei St. Johann – Johannisfreiheit 12 49074 Osnabrück
Saturday – 18:15
Sunday – 11:00 – 18:15
Dedicated to knowing programs and projects from the region, learning from their lessons, histories, and their approach to the new realities and the international conditions.
HRemarque to Innovatorium on foot (25’)
INNOVATORIUM – Osnabrück
9:00–9:20 | Spiritual moment
9:20–11:15 | AI in Agriculture and Food Industry – A Contribution to the Preservation of Creation?
CIC and Lok-Viertel as Drivers of Innovation – Henning Müller, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI) and Agrotech Valley Forum
11:15 | Coffee break
11:45–12:45 | The Rise of AI and Its Impact on an Internationally Active Global Market Leader
Norbert Gemmeke, Harting Technology Group
12:45–13:45 | The Lok-Viertel as a Model Example of Successful Urban Development in the 21st Century
Felix Osterheider, Aloys & Brigitte Coppenrath Foundation
13:45 | Lunch
14:45–16:15 | Fraternity Challenge: From theory to practice
Workshop
16:15 | Break
16:45–18:00 | Poster Session
Presentation and discussion of participants’ research projects, cases, and methodological questions
Evening
18:30 | Dinner
Sundowner Event at INNOVATORIUM including a dinner talk with Katharina Pötter, Mayor of the City of Osnabrück, and Stephan Muhle, former State Secretary: Osnabrück as an Innovation Hub, the neighbour of Mettingen
20:40 | Return from Innovatorium to hotel (by foot)
Day to explore fraternity through its historical, theological, and economic dimensions, with a particular focus on the Franciscan tradition and Catholic Social Thought as transversal lines in The Economy of Francesco.
HRemarque to Innovatorium on foot (25’)
INNOVATORIUM – Osnabrück
9:00–9:20 | Spiritual moment
9:20–11:00 | Fraternity: History, Theology and Economics
Luigino Bruni
11:00 | Coffee break
11:45–12:50 | Fraternity in the Franciscan Tradition and Catholic Social Thought
Luigino Bruni
12:50 | Lunch
14:15–16:15 | Fraternity Challenge: From theory to practice
Workshop
16:15 | Break
16:45–18:00 | Poster Session
Comparative perspectives and peer feedback
Evening
18:15–19:30 | Free time to visit Osnabrück city
19:30 | Dinner
in Osnabrück
21:00 | Own way back to the hotel
Day to explore how fraternity can shape responsible entrepreneurship, ecological stewardship, and human relationships.
HRemarque to Mettingen by shuttle (7:30 pick up point, in front of hotel – 7:45 departure)
DRAIFLESSEN – Bachstraße 31, 49497 Mettingen
9:00–9:20 | Spiritual moment
9:20–9:30 | Welcoming words by Draiflessen staff
9:30–11:00 | Fraternity: Moving Between Theory and Practice
Helen Alford
11:00 | Coffee break
11:30–13:30 | Fraternity Challenge: From theory to practice
Presentation of the proposals by the groups to all the participants and mentors feedback
13:30 | Lunch
14:30–18:00 | Introduction and interactive visit to the city of Mettingen
Evening
19:00 | Dinner and informal final exchange in Draiflessen
21:00 | Return from Mettingen to Hotel (by shuttle)
The final day is dedicated to reflection, synthesis, and looking ahead. To share key insights and to celebrate the completion of the EoF International Summer School.
HRemarque to Innovatorium on foot (25’)
INNOVATORIUM – Osnabrück
9:00–9:20 | Spiritual moment
9:20–10:45 | Wrap-up session and Diplomas
Goodbye words by the EoF Foundation and partners involved
10:45–11:30 | Coffee and departures
