Seminar for University Students
The World of Today – Forces and Frameworks of Contemporary Society
3–17 December 2025
In his poignant memoir The World of Yesterday, Stefan Zweig reflects on a lost world of humanism, cultural exchange, and intellectual aspiration—a world shattered by the political and moral upheavals of the 20th century. His writing is not only a tribute to the values of education and dialogue, but also a warning: that progress, culture, and peace must never be taken for granted
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The seminar “The World of Today” builds on this legacy. Bringing together scholars from law, economics, ethics, public policy, and the humanities, the program is grounded in critical reflection, philosophical inquiry, and interdisciplinary dialogue. It offers a space to explore the structures, ideas, and forces that define contemporary life.
Above all, it is an invitation to engage deeply and creatively with the world—and with our role in shaping its future.
THE VILLA STEINER ENRICHMENT PROGRAM
Inspired by Vienna’s Intellectual Legacy.
The World of Today – Forces and Frameworks of Contemporary Society is one of three seminars that make up the Villa Steiner Enrichment Program. Each of the three seminars is self-contained and offers valuable insight and growth on its own. Together, these seminars offer participants an interdisciplinary journey through the major questions shaping our time—linking personal development with academic depth and global perspective.
3–17 December 2025:
The World of Today – Forces and Frameworks of Contemporary Society
5–19 June 2026:
The Human Person – Meaning, Mind, and Human Flourishing
11–25 September 2026:
Truth and Reason – Political Thinking and Scientific Inquiry
Seminar 3-17 Dec 2025 | The World of Today
CORE PROGRAM
The Core Program forms the academic backbone of the Villa Steiner Enrichment experience. Taught by an international faculty, the six modules form a 36-hour core curriculum that provides a coherent framework for understanding the structures, values, and responsibilities shaping today’s world. From the foundations of law and civic life to the evolving role of business and public leadership, each session explores a key dimension of contemporary society. Questions of identity, culture, and belonging are examined alongside the ethical demands of governance and the global relevance of Europe’s political legacy.
Luis Franceschi
Assistant Secretary-General Commonwealth of Nations, Founding Dean Strathmore Law School, Nairobi
Michelle Scobie
Professor of International Relations and Global Governance, University of the West Indies
Tilman Repgen
Professor of private law and legal history; Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Hamburg
Virginija Poškutė
Professor at ISM University of Management and Economics in Vilnius, Lithuania
Identity, Culture, and Belonging
How the history of ideas has shaped the understanding of identity, culture, and a sense of belonging.
How concepts of the self, community, and responsibility evolve in modern societies
How the education of character and the transmission of knowledge foster personal growth and civic engagemeng.
With Jörg Schulte-Altedorneburg
Principles and Practice of Public Policy
How public institutions contribute to shaping just and resilient societies—and how individuals can help shape them.
The role of policy in fostering trust, accountability, and civic responsibility.
How we can contribute to the common good through thoughtful engagement
With Luis Franceschi
Ethics in Business and Public Life
What it means to act ethically in both business and public life.
The consequences of unethical behavior and how political institutions can respond to misconduct in corporate and private spheres. Key issues include corruption, fiscal policy, and how to orient public policy toward the common good.
With Philip Booth
Europe’s Legacy in a Global Context
How Europe’s legal and political traditions are perceived from outside Europe.
How principles such as human rights, the rule of law, and peaceful cooperation are understood in post-colonial and multilateral contexts.
On the relevance of these values today.
With Michelle Scobie
Law, Order, and Civic Life
On the law as foundation of democratic order and social cohesion.
Its historical development, normative significance, and present-day challenges in the context of freedom, power, and societal transformation.
With Tilman Repgen
Business in Society
The evolving role of business in a globalized world.
How companies contribute to innovation, prosperity, and the common good.
How they balance profit with purpose amid rising societal expectations.
With Virginija Poškutė
Seminar 3-17 Dec 2025 | The World of Today
ACTION LEARNING
Learning doesn’t stop at the seminar table. The Action Learning components of this program are not just complementary activities — they are an essential part of the educational experience. They connect intellectual exploration with real-world perspectives, personal development, and cultural immersion.
The first five elements account for 25 hours of Action Learning. The “Culture and Vienna” component unfolds between and after sessions and on weekends—offering space for relaxation, connection, and shared discovery, while providing place-based insight and a deeper sense of context.
Meetings with Shapers
Inspiring encounters—virtual or in person—with individuals making a difference in their fields and communities. These sessions offer perspective, encouragement, and real-world insight from people around the globe who have translated values into action and purpose.
Coffeehouse Reading
Set in Vienna’s historic cafés—once vibrant hubs of cultural life where figures like Zweig, Schnitzler, and Freud gathered—this module invites participants to engage with great books and the ideas they carry. Through selected texts and guided conversations, they explore how literature reveals deeper truths about self, society, and the human experience.
Music as Window to the World
A breath-taking introduction to classical music as a language of emotion, imagination, and beauty. Participants discover the brilliance, range, and depth of great compositions—and what they reveal about the human condition.
Deep Work
Based on Harvard research, this session explores the power of deep focus. Students get insights on how to work without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks—a crucial skill for academic achievement and meaningful professional growth.
Personal Project
Participants are guided in reflecting on key questions of adult life— relationships, responsibility, work and meaning—while developing the tools to make thoughtful and informed decisions for their personal and professional future.
Culture and the City
Through guided walks, concert visits, and excursions to cities like Budapest, participants experience the artistic and intellectual richness of Central Europe. From imperial palaces to Viennese modernism, architecture, music, and public spaces become entry points into the transformations that marked Europe’s path to modernity.
Key Information
Seminar Dates
3–17 December 2025
3 December: Arrival day
17 December: Departure day
Seminar Fee: €2,200
Includes the full course program, single-room accommodation, full board, excursions, and all entry fees.
Scholarships
A limited number of partial scholarships are available for highly motivated applicants in need of financial assistance. Please indicate this in your application; the admissions team will contact you for further information.
Admissions Process
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Villa Steiner Admissions Committee. The latest possible deadline is one month before the seminar begins – but as places are limited, we recommend applying well in advance.
