European Award for Bochum Project Against Racism

The award was presented as part of the European university alliance UNIC, of which Ruhr University Bochum is a founding member. The award ceremony took place in mid-June during the UNIC Thematic Conference 2026 in Istanbul. On behalf of the project team, Dr. Judith Ricken, Deputy Dean at Ruhr University Bochum and Head of the Department of “University Development and Committees, University and Faculty Development,” and Chris Katzenberg, Research Associate at Ruhr University Bochum and Program Manager for the joint master’s program “Superdiversity in Education, Organizations, and Society” (SEOS), accepted the award on behalf of the project team.

Research in Collaboration with the Local Community

The CityLab was led by Professor Sandra Aßmann, Dr. Catharina Keßler, and Dr. Daniel Schumann from the Faculty of Philosophy and Education. Together with the UNIC team at Ruhr University Bochum, the City of Bochum, and the Amnesty International university group, they developed a format that combines research, teaching, and social engagement. The starting point was the question of how large public institutions deal with discrimination and racism within their own structures and how they can prevent exclusion. Representatives from the city administration, university institutions, students, and civil society actors worked closely together on this project.

Students as Researchers

The CityLab consisted of several phases that built on one another: a dialogue event with city officials and Ruhr University Bochum, a research-oriented seminar, and a public closing event. Based on the insights gained from the dialogue, students developed their own research questions, conducted interviews with experts, formulated practical recommendations for action, and presented their findings. This presentation was accompanied by a panel discussion and several workshops.

“We are honored to receive the UNIC CityLabs Award for our joint project. As researchers, we found the close collaboration between students, city administration, and civil society organizations to be particularly valuable. The diverse perspectives significantly enriched both the process and the results. It is impressive to see what can emerge when teaching and learning move beyond the traditional university setting and students and stakeholders from outside academia actively shape the process,” emphasize Sandra Aßmann, Catharina Keßler, and Daniel Schumann.

A Lasting Impact for Bochum

According to the jury, the project exemplifies how universities and cities can work together to address societal challenges. The CityLab has not only created new spaces for dialogue but has also initiated long-term collaborations between the university, city administration, and other partners. Findings from the project have already been incorporated into the further development of municipal anti-discrimination measures.

The award is presented by the European university alliance UNIC (European University of Cities in Post-Industrial Transition). The “UNIC CityLabs” program supports innovative projects in which UNIC universities collaborate with cities and societal stakeholders to develop solutions to current urban challenges.

Partners Involved in the Bochum CityLab

• Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Philosophy and Education
• UNIC Team at Ruhr University Bochum
• City of Bochum, Integration Office
• Amnesty International Bochum University Chapter

This news item was originally published on the website of Ruhr University Bochum.