Impuls Academy 2027
Program
There are six exciting courses to choose from at the upcoming Impuls Academy. Find all the details about the courses, the supporting program, and logistical information.
Tools for Resisting
The fourth Impuls Academy will take place from April 4 to 10, 2027, at Lake Wörthersee iCarinthia.
The Impuls Academy is a one-week training program for political work and activism. It consists of six different, concurrent courses led by experienced trainers as well as a diverse supporting program. Together, we’ll deepen our skills and learn new methods, tips, and tricks for political work. We’ll network, share ideas, and build new connections.
What makes it special: Participants choose a course and dive particularly deeply into the respective topic throughout the week. Pick a course—there's something for everyone!
Our Courses for 2027
Learn new methods, develop effective strategies, and become part of a unique network. A week full of workshops, discussions, and practical tools for social change.
April 4–10, 2026
Cap Wörth, Carinthia/Koroška
Participation fee based on self-assessment
Strategien gegen Rechts
Wie stoppen wir die faschistische Bedrohung?
Was tun gegen den Rechtsrutsch? Der Kurs analysiert Ursachen und Strategien rechter Kräfte, zeigt erfolgreiche Beispiele des Widerstands und entwickelt gemeinsam neue Ansätze für eine wirksame antifaschistische Praxis.
Selbstbehauptung & Zivilcourage
Wie üben wir FLINTA Stärke und Solidarität?
Grenzen setzen, Stärke spüren und mutig eingreifen: In diesem Kurs für FLINTA-Personen lernst du mit Wendo körperliche und verbale Selbstverteidigung, stärkst dein Selbstbewusstsein und übst, bei Diskriminierung Zivilcourage zu zeigen.
Digital Communication & Media
How can we tell stories that connect people?
Erfahre, wie starke Geschichten und professionelle Medienarbeit politische Botschaften sichtbar machen und öffentliche Debatten beeinflussen. Im Fokus stehen Pressearbeit, Storytelling und strategische Kommunikation.
KI: Prompt & Protest
Wie sieht ein emanzipatorischer Umgang mit Künstlicher Intelligenz aus?
KI ist längst Teil unseres Alltags und unserer Organisationen. Doch wem nützt sie, wo schadet sie? In diesem Kurs hinterfragen wir Chancen, Risiken und Machtverhältnisse und entwickeln einen kritischen, selbstbestimmten Umgang mit KI.
Transformatives Community Organizing
Wie können direkt Betroffene im Zentrum sozialer Bewegungen stehen – und gewinnen?
Wie erreichen wir Menschen in ihrem Alltag und stärken sie darin, für ihre Interessen einzutreten? Dieser Kurs vermittelt Strategien und Methoden des Transformativen Community Organizings und erprobt sie anhand konkreter Herausforderungen.
Richtiges Aktivsein im Falschen?!
Wie können wir Denkmuster durchbrechen, die wir erst sehen lernen müssen?
Wie prägen uns unsichtbare Machtverhältnisse – auch im Aktivismus? In diesem Kurs hinterfragen wir Denkmuster, verlernen hegemoniale Logiken und entwickeln gemeinsam eine Praxis des Aktivseins, die auf Fürsorge und kollektiver Verantwortung beruht.
Are you sure this course is right for you?
Then sign up right away! The sooner you sign up, the sooner you'll secure a spot.
Supporting Program
Beyond the courses, there are a number of other elements that make the Impuls Academy such a diverse place for learning and exchange.
Opening Ceremony and Group Arrival
We arrive together at our retreat center and join our course groups. Getting our bearings, getting to know each other, diving right in.
Exhibition: Archive of Powerlessness
The Archive of Powerlessness brings together conversations with activists and socially engaged artists from a wide variety of contexts and countries of origin. In these conversations, they discuss a topic that is often taboo—especially in activist circles—yet one with which almost everyone is familiar: the feeling of powerlessness and helplessness in the face of seemingly unchangeable facts and circumstances. Courtesy of Forum Stadtpark Graz.
Interactive Poster Exhibition: Strategy in Motion
Here, strategic tools and concepts meet open-ended questions, your tactics, and your experiences. The exhibition grows every day and invites reflection and discussion.
Lunch: together and/or in a relaxed setting
For some of the shared meals, we’ll make it possible for certain groups to meet separately. After all, eating isn’t just about filling your stomach—it’s also, depending on the situation, about feeling relaxed and safe, having fun, sharing thoughts, finding peace, laughing, or reflecting on course topics.
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- BIPOC Lunch
- Critical Masculinity Lunch
- Queers Lunch
- Women* Lunch
- Classism Lunch
- Awa Team Dinner
Strategic Education
Three-part series:
- Learning from the history of social movements: What struggles and achievements are we building on?
2. Understanding social movements in the here and now—and learning from the margins.
3. From Constant Pressure to Act to a Long-Term Strategy—On the Potential of a (Global) Movement Ecology.
OpenLab: Knowledge Transfer and Networking
This is about what comes after the Impuls Academy. Where can we apply the knowledge we’ve gained? What do we still need to put it into practice? Might new projects, campaigns, or groups emerge? And what if two people from each course were to work together over the next six months?
Organizational Information
Date
Sunday, April 4, through Saturday, April 10, 2027
Please set aside all seven days full days , including travel to and from the event. The academy includes a full-day program, which means that all participants will be on site from April 4 through 10 and will spend the week together.
Check-in is on Sunday, April 4, from 2:00–3:30 p.m. The program begins at 4:00 p.m.
Departure is on Saturday, April 10, starting at 12:00 p.m.
Location
The Impuls Academy 2027 will take place at the Cap Wörth Youth and Family Guest House in Velden am Wörthersee (Carinthia). On site, we have not only seminar rooms and sleeping accommodations, but also spacious outdoor areas with a campfire pit, lake access, games, sports equipment, and a forest.
Address: Seecorso 39, 9220 Velden am Wörthersee
Directions
The nearest train station is Velden am Wörthersee. There are good connections from Klagenfurt, Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Bolzano, Passau, Munich, Berlin, etc.
The start and end times of the Impuls Academy are scheduled so that travel from within Austria is definitely possible on the same day. Participants traveling from farther away may need to take the night train or arrive in Austria one night earlier. It’s possible to book an additional night at the youth hostel on your own and pay for it yourself.
Tip: Book your trains within Austria as early as January to secure a “Sparschiene” ticket!
Lodging and Meals
Accommodations and vegan meals are included in the course fee!
There are double rooms, triple rooms with shared bathrooms, and a few single rooms. Priority for single rooms is given to people who need one for health or social reasons.
Vegan full board and snacks during breaks are provided.
Barriers
Are you thinking about attending the Impuls Academy and wondering what barriers you might face?
For people with mobility* impairments
The seminar building is wheelchair accessible. There are two rooms that are wheelchair accessible and have a wheelchair-accessible bathroom with a toilet. The building has several floors, all of which are accessible by elevator. There are two additional wheelchair-accessible restrooms in the building. The garden features paved paths, and the lake also has barrier-free access (with a pool lift).
For people with hearing impairments
There are no induction loop systems on site.
Sign language interpretation will not be provided.
Language
The working language of the academy is German. Some courses include short sessions in English. We can arrange for translation for these sessions. One of the courses is taught in English. No translation is provided for this course.
The evening program and group activities will be held in German. These will be translated into English.
In private conversations, we ask that you be mindful of whether everyone present is able to follow the conversation, or whether you should switch to a different format.
For people with visual* impairments
The venue does not have a wayfinding system. However, we can set up a buddy system so that another participant can accompany you.
For people who receive personal assistance
Unfortunately, we cannot cover working hours for personal assistants. We do, however, cover travel and lodging expenses.
Assistance dogs are allowed.
Neurodiversity
The Impuls Academy—and especially its courses—are quite intensive. Although they are practice-oriented, there are also frequent theoretical or lecture-style sessions. We provide fidget toys and instruct our trainers to accommodate different needs as much as possible. We encourage all participants to express their needs and to have them met, and we hope to create a safe space together where everyone can be themselves.
Childcare
We can arrange childcare during class hours. This means you can bring your children, up to the age of ten. Please be sure to let us know in advance if you plan to do so!
Alcohol and Drugs
During the Impuls Academy, some participants consume alcohol. There is a bar at the youth hostel. A party is also held one evening. Excessive alcohol consumption does not typically occur at the Impuls Academy.
Did we miss anything?
If you’d like to participate in the Impuls Academy but are currently facing any obstacles, feel free to send us an email, and we’ll see if we can work together to overcome them.
Registration Fee: All Options at a Glance
Are you interested in participating in our academy and wondering what the financial implications are? Here you’ll find an overview of our tiered participation fees, which are tailored to different needs and backgrounds. From activists and members of citizens’ initiatives to NGO staff—we have the right option for everyone. And if money is tight right now, we offer reduced fees and scholarships. Check out the details and find out what support is available. We don’t want financial constraints to prevent you from participating!
- For volunteer activists from grassroots movements and citizens’ initiatives:
€300–500 (based on self-assessment) - For staff members of NGOs, labor unions , and similar organizations/institutions:
€900–1,200 (based on self-assessment) - For anyone who cannot afford this participation fee at the moment:
Write to us—we’re sure to find a solution (solidarity spots, installment payments, etc.)
Payment in installments is possible upon consultation.
We encourage everyone to discuss with their respective organizations whether the participation fee, or part of it, can be covered by the organization.
The fee includes the course and supporting program, course materials, lodging, and meals.
We can reimburse travel expenses if necessary. However, our budget is not sufficient to cover everyone. Our goal is to ensure that financial considerations do not prevent anyone from participating in the academy.
Sometimes situations and plans change. We generally understand this. We’re sure you also understand that we need planning certainty. You can find our cancellation policy in our FAQ.
Sign up now!
