No prerequisites.
Time slot: Thursday, 12.03.2026, from 6 pm and intensive training week 30.03.-01.04.2026 as well as 23.04.-02.07., each Thursday from 6 pm
For the intensive training week permanent attendance at the course must be ensured. Online presence (39 learning units) and FHV presence (21 learning units).
Course language: German
Course occupancy: Minimum 9 persons / maximum 21 persons
Course costs: None
Sustainability: SDG 16 - promoting peaceful societies
FHV Future Skills: Focus on Academic Attitude and Social Skills: Promote Academic Creativity, Foster Criticial Thinking, Practice Self-reflection, Encourage Collaboration & Cooperation
Registration: From 15-25 November 2025 in A5 under ‘Course selection’. If a late booking is required, please contact sabine.frick@fhv.at
Traditional hierarchies, roles and authorities are disappearing, which is particularly noticeable in education, community work and employee management. There is a need to find new ways of dealing with authority. This course provides students with a practical introduction to the basic concepts and methods of the 'New Authority' according to Professor Dr Haim Omer. Based on the principles of non-violent resistance of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, the New Authority offers a contemporary self-image of authority that is based on relationships, solidarity, co-operation and non-violence instead of power and enforcement. Students learn the basic concepts of the attitude and methods of the New Authority and engage with them. The concept of the New Authority is implemented directly in a project of their own choice. Based on a simple project management structure, the students work in teams on real challenges and receive professional and methodological coaching and support. Students are given the opportunity to use the New Authority to exert a positive influence on their environment and experience the power of relationships and cooperation in practice.
The students know the basic terms of the concept and methods of the 'New Authority' and are able to implement these methods in their real life context (such as family, job, community, etc.) with ongoing self-reflection.
At the beginning of the intensive training week, students familiarise themselves with the basic concepts of New Authority (NA) and practise important elements using guided designs. A simple, pragmatic structure from project management is then introduced, which subsequently forms the basis for the practical projects carried out in learning groups. At the end of the intensive training week, all students have selected a task that they will work on in a small team. This task is worked on as a small project, and the content involves an intensive examination of the methods and attitude of the NA. The lecturers are very flexible and available for coaching (technical and methodological).
Project work with project presentation. The subject of the assessment is the project result and the well-founded reflection on the working process.
For further questions please contact martin.meusburger@fhv.at and ajang.rezayati@fhv.at.
Omer, Haim. The New Authority: Family, School, and Community. Cambridge University Press, 2011
Omer, Haim. Non-Violent Resistance: A New Approach to Violent and Self-destructive Children. Cambridge University Press, 2004
Fisher, Sarah. Connective Parenting: A guide to connecting with your child using the NVR Approach. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017
Impulse lectures, reflection and exercises during the intensive training week with subsequent project work on specific topics.