Federal Foreign Office
The German Federal Foreign Office cultivates international relations and promotes the voluntary service organisation kulturweit.
The Federal Foreign Office with registered offices in Berlin and Bonn and a network of about 230 German representations abroad maintains close relations between the Federal Republic of Germany and other states as well as supranational and intergovernmental organisations.
This does not only concern political relations between governments or parliaments. Germany and its society is becoming increasingly interconnected internationally. This is why the Federal Foreign Office is engaged in promoting intensive worldwide exchange in the sectors of economics, culture, science and technology, environment, development issues and many other topics.
The shaping of globalisation is one of the main missions of diplomacy. In doing so, the Federal Foreign Office works closely with partners in civil society such as trade associations, unions, humanitarian and human rights organisations. With its embassies and general consulates, it has an impact on the public opinion in other countries and conveys a positive and more modern image of Germany.
The Federal Foreign Office cultivates international relations of the Federal Republic of Germany in the sectors of politics, economics and culture.
Germany’s cultural relations and education policy
Germany’s foreign cultural and education policy is a key component in Germany’s foreign affairs and constitutes the third pillar of diplomacy besides the political and economic relations. The mission is to promote the multi-lateral cultural exchange for the next few years.
Cultural and educational opportunities reach out directly to the people in the partner countries of Germany and therefore lay out a strong foundation for stable international relations. Through joint production of knowledge and culture and the dialogue between people, the foreign cultural relations and education policy plays an important role in crisis and conflict prevention worldwide.
Furthermore, the foreign cultural relations and education policy engages in acquainting the world with Germany as a cultural and educational location, the current debates going on in the Federal Republic with regard to society and culture, as well as to give the people all over the world access to the German language. In doing so, it conveys a modern and multifaceted image of German society, and at the same time transfers realistic images of societies worldwide into the own country.
Academic exchange and cross-border cooperation between universities, German schools abroad, cultural programmes, promotion of German language skills and inter-cultural dialogue form the core of the activities of the foreign cultural and education policy.
The Federal government defines the framework conditions for the cultural relations and education policy with strategic guidelines, and assigns the implementation to mediator organisations such as the German Commission for UNESCO or the Goethe Institut. During the process, the cultural mediators can freely design their programmes and projects.
kulturweit is part of the German foreign cultural relations and education policy and is therefore supported by the Federal Foreign Office accordingly. The international cultural voluntary service offers young people an opportunity to become familiar with the work in cultural or learning institutes outside of Germany, and become part of a strong Alumni network in the long run.
The German foreign cultural relations and education policy creates educational and cultural programmes worldwide and promotes the international dialogue.