The Competence Centre

The Competence Centre supports the ten funded projects in setting up basic education pathways by providing accompanying services and conducting research. The Centre’s aim is to ensure that these pathways are firmly established within existing networks, and that the knowledge gained can be carefully prepared to be transferred to other regions. This is the first time that individual projects in literacy and basic education have been supported by a Competence Centre.

The Competence Centre's network comprises the German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE), (which coordinates the network), as well as Lernende Region – Netzwerk Köln e.V. (LRNK) and the Bundesverband für Alphabetisierung und Grundbildung e.V. It is funded by the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). The coordination office of the AlphaDekade is responsible for the technical and administrative management of the project.

The Competence Centre team includes staff from the German Institute für Adult Education – Leibniz Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE) (network coordinator), Lernende Region – Netzwerk Köln e.V. (LRNK) and the Bundesverband für Alphabetisierung und Grundbildung e.V. (BVAG).

On 1 April 2026, Dr. Ewelina Mania took over the scientific leadership of the joint project from Prof. Dr. Sylvia Rahn, who has returned to the University of Wuppertal. Overall responsibility for the project lies with Prof. Dr. Hannes Schröter, the Institute’s Scientific Director.