The Academy of World Religions of the Universität Hamburg specializes in dialogue-oriented conceptions of the major religions in the areas of theology and education. Islam plays an important role in this with respect to reform-oriented theological thinking and approaches to religious education.

The Academy is compiling an archive of academic sources for the study of Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Alevitism. Innovative theological and pedagogical approaches and reference to religions practised in Europe are the focus of an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and research. Dialogue plays a central role. The Academy of World Religions considers theologies and approaches to religious instruction alongside and in dialogue with each other, rather than as individual and separate doctrines. The research basis is the analysis of the respective concepts of each of the world religions in relation to those of other religions. Interreligious dialogue is thereby based on scientific principles. Key and fundamental issues of interreligious dialogue are studied, and reference is made to real problems arising in modern societies. Research outcomes offer a practical contribution to understanding our coexistence in multicultural and multireligious societies.