Standing
Working Group on Nonprofit-Organisations
(Arbeitskreis Nonprofit-Organisationen – AKNPO)
In Germany, third sector research is still only taking place at a small number of universities and universities for applied sciences as well as – sporadically – at a few non-profit or private research centres. What is more, the scant research, which does take place, occurs under the aegis of various scientific disciplines. As yet, there is no scientific forum capable and willing to pool the existing research activities. On account of this situation, the Standing Working Group on Nonprofit-Organisations was founded in 1996. It is the only network of its kind in the area of third sector research in Germany and has the overall objective to enable informal scientific exchange among researchers of different disciplines as well as between researchers and practitioners.
What does the Standing Working Group on Nonprofit-Organisations do?
Twice annually, usually in April and November, we meet in different cities
for a workshop lasting from Friday to Saturday afternoon. In these workshops
either current research projects are presented, including a co-presentation
of group members from a different scientific discipline. In addition, a presentation
on a specific third sector issue might be presented – both followed
by an interdisciplinary group discussion.
Two publications have grown out of the group, and more are in the planning.
Occasionally, the AKNPO organises workshops in cooperation with other scientific
groups like the German Society of Political Science or the NP-Institute of
the Vienna University.
Our objective is to create a platform for researchers scattered all over the
country: the network facilitates scientific exchange, mutual support, cooperation
if possible, and access to information.
Precondition to become a member is to be scientifically interested in questions
around third sector issues, to attend the workshops regularly, to prepare
the workshops by reading the papers made available beforehand, and willingness
to help organize a workshop.
The
workshops are announced on our homepage. For more information contact info
(at) aknpo.de