News
Call for participants of the German-Polish seminar “How to Deal with a Difficult Past?”
The International Center for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, in cooperation with the Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen Museums and Memorials, introduces the call for participants for the fourth edition of the seminar How to Deal with a Difficult Past? – Educational Perspectives on National Socialism, Shoah, and the Second World War.
The seminar addresses primary and secondary school teachers from Poland and Germany as well as master's or PhD students of pedagogical or historical studies from Poland and Germany who would like to work in the field of education and raise the subject of WWII and the Holocaust. The language of both parts of the seminar is English. The candidates must declare their knowledge of English at the level that allows them to fully and actively participate in the seminar (at least B2 level).
The seminar will take place in Germany (Buchenwald and Sachsenhausen Museums and Memorials) on July 16-22, 2026, and in Poland (Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial) on September 23-27, 2026.
The organizers cover the costs of accommodation, board, local transfers, and the programme. The participants will have to pay for travel to and from places of the seminar as well as health insurance.
DRAFT OF THE SEMINAR PROGRAMME
Up to 10 people from Poland and up to 10 people from Germany (5 teachers / 5 students from each country) will be able to participate in the seminar. Those willing to participate are kindly asked to use the online form.
In the recruitment process, the following criteria will be considered:
· participation in the methodological/educational conferences/seminars/trainings about WWII and the Holocaust, both on a national and international level, organized on-site and online within the last 5 years
· participation in the events expanding the knowledge about Poland in Germany/Germany in Poland in general (e.g., meetings promoting Polish history and culture in Germany/German history and culture in Poland, individual or group trips to Poland/Germany, etc.) organized on-site and online within the last 5 years
The Recruitment Committee will choose the participants and create the ranking list based on the information provided in the application form. The highest number of awarded points for the achievements provided in the application form decides about the participation in the seminar. If the number of candidates having the same amount of points is higher than the number of places available, the organizer allows for the selection of the participants according to the additional criterion, i.e., the order of submission of applications.
At the seminar, up to 5 teachers and students from each country can participate. In the event of a smaller number of student applications, their spots may be filled by teachers. Similarly, the reverse situation applies.
The applications must be submitted by May 15, 2026. The information about the recruitment results will be sent to the candidates by May 22, 2026.
For additional information, please contact Anna Stańczyk from ICEAH: , +48 33 844 81 28
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Opinions of participants about the seminar:
'The seminar was very well prepared both from the methodological side and the topics covered, as well as from the organizational side. The form of work was varied, through which the activities were not monotonous. The seminar expanded my knowledge and also showed how to work with such topics.'
(Magdalena Smółka, Poland)
'I can only recommend this seminar! You will learn a lot about the work of the memorials and also have the chance to meet many wonderful people. Also, you can get your own questions answered by professionals and gather input that will be helpful for school teachers.'
(Emil Bauhus, Germany)
