BBIS STUDENTS IN CONVERSATION WITH OLAF SCHOLZ

What does it mean to be an active citizen in a changing world?

This question was at the heart of this year’s BBIS Foundation Role Model Talk, as BBIS welcomed former Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to campus for a conversation led by our Secondary students.

Mr Scholz, who served as Germany’s ninth Federal Chancellor from 2021 to 2025, joined students and members of the wider BBIS community to explore democracy, leadership and our shared responsibility for the future.

A CONVERSATION LED BY STUDENTS

Three BBIS students led the interview, asking thoughtful questions about what it means to participate actively in a democracy and how societies can find compromise when people fundamentally disagree.

The conversation explored the importance of listening to different perspectives, as well as some of the complex issues their generation will encounter in the years ahead. Topics ranged from climate-friendly economic growth and European security to artificial intelligence and the responsibilities that come with its development and use.

Students in the audience then had the opportunity to put their own questions to Mr Scholz. They asked about political disagreement, leadership, the role and voices of young people, and the lessons he took from his time as Federal Chancellor.

Throughout the discussion, students were encouraged to engage with different perspectives and consider the role they can play in shaping the communities of which they are part.

CITIZENSHIP BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Following the Role Model Talk, Mr Scholz joined us for a tour exploring the history of the BBIS campus before experiencing another part of everyday school life: lunch in our cafeteria with members of the BBIS community.

The visit reflected an important part of learning at BBIS. Our mission is to inspire responsible, compassionate global citizens who make a difference through inclusion, innovation and action. Opportunities to engage directly with people who have held significant responsibilities in public life give students the chance to ask questions, hear different perspectives and connect classroom learning with the wider world.

We are grateful to Mr Scholz for spending time with our students and community and for sharing his experiences and perspectives.

Our thanks also go to the BBIS Foundation for making this Role Model Talk possible, and especially to our three student interviewers for leading the conversation with confidence, curiosity and thoughtfulness, as well as to all the students who contributed their questions.

It was a memorable day of dialogue, citizenship and connection and a reminder of the value of asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully and taking an active interest in the world around us.