Vale Professor Rita Sussmuth

Rita Süssmuth died on the 1^st of February 2026 at the age of 88 years.

She has been the President of the German Adult Education Association (DVV) from 1988 to 2015, and then because of all her achievements became the first Honorary President.

Prof. Süssmuth was an important, well known and highly respected person of public life in Germany. She served as a Federal Minister of Youth, Family, Women and Health, and almost for a decade she was the President of the German Parliament. A State Ceremony will celebrate her life and work.

Prof. Süssmuth was a strong advocate of community-based adult learning and education, especially of the German system of Volkshochschulen (folk high schools). She supported their inclusive and integrative functions for the local communities, rural and urban. She called for the acceptance of cultural diversity and saw the Volkshochschulen as instruments for democratic cohesion.

Her achievements are further expanded in the obituary written by Heribert Hinzen (attached).

Vale Prof Rita Süssmuth.docx

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