Great Potential for the Education Centre

Interview with Dr. Raimund Geene

As a childhood researcher, what is your concern with the IBA urban redevelopment and the topic of “Central Town in a Rural Region?”

Prof. Dr. Raimund Geene: The University of Magdeburg-Stendal wishes to establish childhood sciences sustainably at its site in Stendal. The subject takes effect on the regional environment; the results of our work should be tangible. It is our goal, for instance, that the Hansestadt Stendal and its surroundings should become a child-friendly region.

That doesn’t sound like you need the IBA process.

Prof. Dr. Raimund Geene: The IBA is a reason and a framework to continue developing and qualifying something that is already there in a fledgling state. The IBA helps us improve the educational landscape by defining focuses. And the IBA lends the structuring of a local educational landscape an enhanced public profile. Traditionally, we have good relations with the city, the Youth Welfare Office and to the nurseries and kindergartens. IBA was also an assistance in forging equally good contacts to the schools.

In general, new partners are found through the IBA process …

Prof. Dr. Raimund Geene: … and in particular a good network has emerged, including the adult education centre, the vocational colleges, the childcare centres and also the Winckelmann Society with the Children’s Museum. Through the Children’s University, we also cooperate with schools outside of Stendal. Networking with the upper school, which until now has been difficult, i.e. the schools with grades 5 to 12, is now becoming easier. This is also a result of the IBA.

What strengths do you see at the education centre Hansestadt Stendal?

Prof. Dr. Raimund Geene: There is huge potential, perhaps even more than in tourism. Due to the proximity between the city and its rural surroundings, Stendal can shine with its natural flair. It is a good place for families with children. But until now, this potential has not been exploited systematically. Although it is difficult, it is possible. Focusing attention on the potential in the educational centre, which includes good accessibility to the cities of Berlin, Hanover, Magdeburg and Schwerin, is also a task within the IBA process.

Did the workgroup “Educational Centre Stendal” in the IBA planning workshop set the course for this?

Prof. Dr. Raimund Geene: The concept of an “educational landscape” is a central result of this. The workgroup listed the needs of the protagonists in the education network. This can be used to derive contents for the education conference that will initially deal with the transition from kindergarten and school, school and vocational training and studies. The institutions in the individual stages have insufficient coordination in terms of content and method. It is also an element of raising the profile of the educational centre to overcome thinking in closed systems, to generate openness towards the urban environment as an institution and to appear inviting.

The University is offering an example of this with the programme within the Children’s University. Who do you wish to address with this, and what can participants expect?

Prof. Dr. Raimund Geene: We regularly invite eight to ten-year-olds to experience a genuine lecture in which they are also encouraged to pose questions and participate actively. We focus on topics such as: Why is there money? Why are we afraid? Are fat children thick? In the Children’s Uni, we are explicitly opening ourselves up to the regional environment. Above all, we want to reach children from families for whom an academic career is not really imaginable. This is why we purposefully invite class groups from upper schools. And for we childhood scientists, it is important children are taken seriously as they are and not just as future adults that should be formed for this role.