We want to discuss new perspectives and approaches to the question what ruralities are and what they should become in the future. Therefore, we depart from the idea that people used to live and work with local resources. However, as a result from globalization, local societies and economies have become detached from the land, increasingly segregated and marginalised. These developments have led to a drastic increase in the polarisation between urban and rural areas, clearly visible in political preferences in many countries.

The summer school seeks to involve transnational and interdisciplinary perspectives on addressing these topics. It aims to strengthen the network and cooperation between scholars, practitioners and local actors in Germany, Denmark and beyond. It will include project presentations, short lectures and guided tours as well as exchange with local actors.

International scholars - doctoral candidates, recent postdocs and master's students from various disciplines as well as practitioners and entrepreneurs, architects, actors from urban and regional planning, administration, business development and NGOs can apply until 30th June 2022.

The summer school is being organized by the German ZEIT-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius, the Centre of Rural Research of the University of Southern Denmark in Esbjerg, the Danish embassy in Berlin, the Europäische Akademie Schleswig-Holstein and Europe Direct Südschleswig.

How to apply for the summer school:

The summer school on "Rural futures" seeks to involve transnational and interdisciplinary perspectives on addressing these questions. It aims to strengthen the network and cooperation between scholars, practitioners and local actors in Germany, Denmark and beyond. It will take place in the German-Danish border region and include project presentations, short lectures and guided tours as well as exchange with local actors.

Target groups:

International scholars - doctoral candidates, recent postdocs, master's students in humanities and social sciences, architecture, urban and regional planning, economics. Scholars are invited to present papers on relevant aspects addressing rural futures. Practitioners and activists - founders and entrepreneurs, architects, actors from urban and regional planning, administration, business development, NGOs, and local and regional politics. The working language at the summer school is English. SDU can offer PhD students 3 ECTS for attending the summer school, given they have prepared and presented a paper and have been actively involved the whole time.

Applications are due June 30th, 2022:

Please submit your application by e-mail with a abstract for your intended presentation or a description of the personal, professional or academic interest in questions of the workshop and a CV.

Attendance of the summer school is free.

The organisers will cover the accommodation and travel cost.