Institutes and memberships of the DVV

The federalism of German education is also reflected in the Adult Education centre system of associations. At the state level, the Adult Education centres are united in state federations, which in turn are part of the German Adult Education Association (DVV), the federal German umbrella organisation of Adult Education centres. The DVV, through its Institute, dvv international, and its company, telc GmbH, engaged and networked internationally and is also the largest shareholder of the Grimme Institute.

DVV and state associations

Concerning policy and the public, the associations represent the interests of the Adult Education centres at the federal and state level and support them with a variety of services. Through observing the educational environment, technical and organizational consulting, further training, project acquisition and the organization of final examinations, the associations develop new perspectives and fields of work for the Adult Education centres. In this manner, they promote the networking of their institutions based on common values. Because of its size, expertise and experience this Adult Education centre network is an important partner for state governments and the federal government so that further educational projects can be implemented nationwide.

The staff of the Adult Education centres travel across state borders to meet in annual federal conferences and exchange strategies on further education needs and development. Just as regularly, subject-oriented working groups meet to promote didactic developments and quality standards for education.

The Women's Committee of the DVV accompanies and advises the Adult Education centres and their associations in the development of support for women and gender equality. This applies equally to staff structure and program development.

International character

The Adult Education centres orient their program development on European reference systems and are involved in international projects. Their state associations and the umbrella association are also active internationally: The DVV is a member of the European Adult Education Association and participates in the design of the UNESCO World Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA). Every five years the DVV organizes the German Adult Education centre Conference, one of the largest international conferences on education. The international nature of the association's work and the Adult Education centres has been supported by dvv international, the Institute for International Cooperation of the German Adult Education centres Association, for decades. With active solidarity, the Institute promotes the development of further education in Africa, Asia, Latin America or Eastern Europe. dvv international works with more than 200 partners in over 40 countries around the world. In Germany, dvv international offers further training, consulting and media for the global, cross-cultural and European political learning.

dvv international
Obere Wilhelmstr. 32
D-53225 Bonn

Tel.: +49 (228) 9 75 69 - 0
Fax: +49 (228) / 9 75 69 - 55

email: info~dvv-international.de
Web: http://www.dvv-international.de

Participating interests

The pioneering work initiated by DVV on the standardisation of language courses is also internationally oriented. For this, tests were developed at different levels for the main European languages. Today, the Frankfurt telc GmbH, a 100% subsidiary of DVV, is counted among the nationally and internationally most renowned providers of language certificates. In Germany, it supports the public bodies in the implementation of the Immigration Act by organising the tests for integration courses.

telc GmbH
Bleichstr. 1
D-60313 Frankfurt am Main
Tel. +49 (69) 95 62 46 - 0
Fax.: +49 (69) 95 62 46 - 62

email: info~telc.net
Web: http://www.telc.net

The DVV is also majority shareholder of the Grimme Institute – Institute for Media, Education and Culture mbH – that sets a standard in media and communication research. Every year the Institute awards the Adolf Grimme Prize, which was founded in 1963 by DVV and is considered the most coveted award for quality television. The reputation of the Grimme Prize is mainly due to the independence and quality of its juries. The “Special citation for outstanding service to TV and for a life’s work” is awarded by the governing board of the DVV.

Grimme Institute
Eduard-Weitsch-Weg 25
D-45768 Marl/Westfalen
Tel.: +49 (2365) 9189 - 0
Fax.: +49 (2365) 9189 - 89

email: info~grimme-institut.de
Web: http://www.grimme-institut.de

For more than 50 years the Adult Education centres and the German Federation of Trade Unions have been working together as an institutional alliance in the Federal working group WORK AND LIFE. As an institution for political education of the youth and adults, the federal working group is aimed primarily at working people in order to improve their position in society and in their professions.

Bundesarbeitskreis ARBEIT UND LEBEN
Robertstraße 5a
D-42107 Wuppertal
Tel. +49 (202) 97404 - 0
Fax.: +49 (202) / 97404 - 20

email: bildung~arbeitundleben.de
Web: www.arbeitundleben.de

Moreover, the DVV is a founding member of the German Institute for Adult Education / Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE) that evolved from the former Pedagogic Workplace (PAS) of the DVV.

Deutsches Institut für Erwachsenenbildung e.V.
Heinemannstr. 12-14
D-53175 Bonn
Tel. +49 (228) 3294 - 0

email: info~die-bonn.de
Web: http://www.die-bonn.de