Free and Open Online Courses
At Off University, the digital realm turns into a space where at-risk scholars, lecturers based at traditional universities, and course participants can exchange and produce critical knowledge freely, protected by a safe online infrastructure. Off University is dedicated to creating an educational space that overcomes traditional classroom hierarchies and enables participants and lecturers to learn together and from each other. This approach empowers participants to actively engage in learning, taking ownership of their educational journey and cultivating a researching habitus.
You can register for our current courses
by logging in to Off University Moodle.
2026 Summer Semester Courses
Critical Peace and Civil Society
This online laboratory examines the role of civil society, as a central mid-level actor in peace-building processes, including civil society organizations (CSOs), religious and ethnic leaders, intellectuals, and professional associations, and their capacity to bridge decision-makers and conflict-affected communities.
KURMANCÎ
14.04.26 – 14.07.26
Tuesdays, 12:00 CET
Exile, Activism and the University
This online course examines the role of universities as spaces of protection for human rights defenders in exile, focusing on how academic institutions can provide protection for activists. Today, authoritarianism is rising globally, and those who dare to contest authoritarian governments are often forced into exile. Traditional measures of human rights protection may not be sufficient. In this context, universities have the capacity to function as semi-safe spaces that offer resources, networks, and communities that allow human rights defenders to sustain their work.
ENGLISH
15.04.26 – 22.07.26
Wednesdays
10:00 CET
History Textbook Workshop
The History Textbook Workshop investigates the ways in which history textbooks reflect political, cultural, and ideological frameworks across different countries and contexts. We critically examine real examples of History Textbooks from different countries and periods of contemporary history and analyze how they shape historical narratives, influence identities, and convey political messages, while developing key skills in source criticism and comparative analysis.
ENGLISH
18.02.26 – 20.05.26
Wednesdays
16:00 – 18:00 CET
Performance Ethnography
Living the Historical Rupture
This course explores the question: What does it mean to live through historical rupture? We examine how historical events—such as wars and political crises—can disrupt communities and identities, creating gaps between past and present selves. Using biographical theatre as both method and medium, we focus on two forms: Playback Theatre, where stories are shared and transformed into live performances, and Documentary Theatre, which combines archival materials and personal narratives.
ENGLISH
17.04.26 – 31.07.26
Fridays, 17:00 CET
Violence, Gender and Resistance
in West Asia
This course examines gender-based violence in West Asia through feminist and queer perspectives, with a particular focus on physical, sexualized, economic, and psychological violence against women, children, and queer individuals. Special attention is paid to domestic violence, femicide, so-called “honour” killings, female genital mutilation, violence in conflict settings, and violence affecting displaced and migrant populations.
ENGLISH
17.04.26 – 17.07.26
Fridays, 14:00 CET
