A successful cooperation between the Belgium Centre (BELZ) at Paderborn University and the Theodorianum grammar school has already existed since 2021, which is expressed above all in the joint organisation of the annual Belgium Day. This cooperation is now being expanded as part of the cooperation agreement "Benelux macht Schule". In various projects, the school and university want to develop new cultural and digital approaches to the topic of "Benelux".
From April, the BELZ will be publishing information on the Benelux network and its relations with Germany via the digital platform Benelux.net, which is supported by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Theodorianum students will be given the opportunity to write their own articles under supervision and at the same time present the cultures of the Benelux region in various projects together with students from Paderborn University. This can also lead to projects with other partners, such as the city of Paderborn, the OWL region, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia or partners from Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg, for example theatre projects or exhibitions.
"The Benelux region is an exciting cultural area due to its multilingualism, political complexity and the close interdependence of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. It is considered a European heartland and yet, in its entirety and also in parts, is one of the blank spots on many people's map of Europe. I am therefore all the more pleased that we will be able to bring the students at the Theodorianum even closer to this important part of Europe in the future," explains Prof Dr Sabine Schmitz, Chairwoman of the BELZ. Nicole Michaelis, Headmistress of Gymnasium Theodorianum, adds that the "Belgium Days already offer a variety of interdisciplinary points of contact for our school. Now we are excited to see what opportunities the digital addition of Benelux.net will provide for our students to get to know their neighbouring European countries better.
This text was translated automatically.
