What is the focus?

The interactive campus tours take a closer, critical look at the colonial past and present of the University of Cologne. They invite participants to see the campus not just as a place of study and work, but as a space shaped by intertwined histories of power—reflected in its buildings, teaching practices, research traditions, institutional routines, and self-image.
We engage with key questions such as:

•    How do colonial continuities continue to shape the university, the city, and wider society of Cologne?
•    The roles played by individuals, institutions, and collections in sustaining, reproducing, or challenging colonial structures
•    The ways colonial patterns of thought continue to shape architecture, teaching, organizational structures, and institutional identities

Together, we embark on a guided walk that invites participants into learning to read familiar places differently and to recognize stories that are often overlooked or silenced. The walks center perspectives that have long been marginalized in dominant narratives of university history, creating space for shared reflection, dialogue, and new ways of understanding the institution and our roles within it. The tours are an invitation to learn, reflect, and act collectively—toward a university that acknowledges its historical responsibility and actively works toward a racism- and discrimination-critical future.
 

Why Participate?

These tours are more than a walk across campus—they are an invitation to engage critically with the UoC and its histories. The tours provide:
•    An accessible introduction to debates on racism, colonialism, and structural inequalities
•    Space for reflecting on one’s own position and institutional structures
•    Inspiration for decolonial approaches to higher education and knowledge production
•    Dialogue and exchange in an open, participatory environment
•    Opportunities to discover places, narratives, and histories rarely featured in official university accounts
•    Support in developing decolonial practices that foster a more inclusive and equitable university
Whether as part of your studies, during Welcome Weeks, for professional development, within academic courses, or out of personal interest—these tours are designed for everyone who wants to engage with the UoC in a more decolonial perspective and contributing to a more inclusive, equitable, and socially just campus culture.
 

Who Is It For?

The tours are open to:
•    Students from all disciplines
•    University staff (teaching, administrative, and technical personnel)
•    Prospective students and campus visitors
•    Members of the wider Cologne community
•    University groups, seminars, and initiatives

Tours for closed groups can also be arranged upon request.