• Are any reductions, discounts, or scholarships available?

Our trainings and courses are financially supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development – as a result, the participation fees only reflect a small part of the actual costs. Additional funding is possible under certain conditions for German citizens within the 'Bildungscheck NRW' or the 'Bildungsgutschein'. Every year, several scholarships for a participation in our Full-time Course in Peace and Conflict Work are awarded to participants from outside of Europe. Individual applications to these scholarships are not possible – recommendations for potential scholarship holders can only be brought forward by our project partners.

For more information on the conditions of the possible options, click here. English information can be found on the second page.

  • What does the participation fee include – what not?

For the full-time training courses, the participation fee includes the cost for accommodation and food during the duration of the course. Any additional costs for accommodation and food due to early arrival or late departure must be paid by the participants themselves.

For the part-time training courses and classroom seminars, the participation fees only include lunch and dinner (no accommodation).

Training materials, in paper and/or digital format, are provided for free.

  • Which training course is right for me?

Please read the information on our website concerning the training courses carefully. Should you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.

  • How do I apply or register?

The application for our training courses and the registration for the seminars are only possible online, through our website.  

  • Until when do I have to apply?

The application has to reach us no later than two months before the starting date of the training course. However, we recommend to apply at least four months before the course begins. More information is available in the course descriptions.  

  • What happens to my data?

During the selection process, your application is reviewed by our employees. We handle your data sensitively and according to current data protection laws – you can find more information on this topic in our privacy policy.

  • What is the job placement rate of your alumni?

About 80 % of our alumni find work in the field of civil conflict transformation and development cooperation after finishing our training. However, the job search is the responsibility of each alum – the Academy does not connect alumni with potential employers.

  • What is the workload like and do you offer childcare?

Participants of our classroom seminars and full-time training courses should consider that these are full-time advanced training courses. We highly recommend to not pursue other commitments such as part-time jobs, correspondence courses, or self-employment while participating in one of our full-time courses or classroom seminars. We do not offer childcare.

  • What does the certificate entail and how widely recognized is it?

Upon successful completion of one of our courses, we award the participants with a certificate. It lists all contents of the course and proves the qualifications acquired through the participation. The certificate is recognized by all sending organizations within the field of civil peace service, as well as numerous organisations within the field of conflict-sensitive development cooperation. Until now, the certificate is not awarded on the basis of an external quality seal.

  • What technical requirements are necessary for the participation in an online training?

For the participation in our thematic online trainings, the following technical requirements are necessary for using BigBlueButton (web conferencing system):

  • Good Internet connection (1 Mbit down/upload or better): Check your connection here!
  • The latest version of Mozilla Firefox Browser or Google Chrome should be installed on your computer.
  • Updated operating system and drivers

In addition, we strongly recommend using a headset so that you can avoid background noise and echoes.

  • What is the cancellation policy in case I want to withdraw from a course?

Please note that separate terms and conditions apply for our part-time training courses. In case of questions, please contact: akademie@forumZFD.de.

These terms apply for the full-time training courses:

Subject to the right of withdrawal, participants are able to withdraw from courses until six weeks before the starting date without paying a cancellation fee. The withdrawal must be sent in written form (letter, fax, email). Withdrawals at a later date will result in the following cancellation fees:

  • Up until six weeks before the start of a course, a withdrawal without a cancellation fee is possible.
  • For a withdrawal within six weeks prior to the starting date of a course, the cancellation fee will be 15% of the participation fee.
  • In case of a withdrawal less than four weeks before the start of a course, the cancellation fee will be 50% of the participation fee.
  • In case of a withdrawal less than two weeks before the starting date of a course, the cancellation fee will be 90% of the participation fee.

The already paid participation fee, minus the cancellation fee, will be reimbursed by the Academy.

The following regulations apply to the seminars and online seminars:

The registration for the seminar is binding. Cancellation is only possible in written form (e-mail, fax, letter), the following cancellation fees will apply:

  • more than four weeks before the start date: cancellation without any fees
  • less than four weeks before the start date: 20% of the amount invoiced
  • between ten and four workdays before the start date: 50% of the amount invoiced
  • less than three workdays before the start date or non-attendance without cancellation: 100% of the amount invoiced