How can we continue to develop our knowledge and protect our values? These are core questions in planning future education. Deutsche Bank has dedicated its cultural activities in 2001 to the theme of education under the motto: "The Way Ahead. Competition and the Cutting Edge".

Can talent and creativity be considered educational resources – as well as the desire to achieve and take responsibility? What importance will media literacy and literature have in the future? Johannes Rau, Kofi Annan, Peter Glotz, Margot Käßmann, Viviane Reding, Lothar Späth and other authors have contributed interesting opinions on these stimulating topics to our introductory publication on education. 

The discussion forum at the Tutzing Evangelical Academy in February 2001 introduced our year-long series on education. Christoph Schwöbel moderated the discussion between the Bavarian prime minister Edmund Stoiber and the prime minister of North-Rhine Westphalia, Wolfgang Clement.

The Alfred Herrhausen Society and the Goethe-Institute Inter Nationes in Boston co-hosted a conference at the Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies at Harvard University in September 2001. The conference theme "Re-Imagined Communities – National Identities in the New Europe" introduced our topic for 2002.