Paderborn's centre for adult education has now been successfully active in the further education and training of adults for more than 50 years, offering a study programme which is accessible not only to the city itself, but also to neighbouring towns and communities such as Altenbeken, Bad Lippspringe, Borchen and Lichtenau. The 1,500 lectures and classes held every year are attended by approximately 25,000 students.

The courses on offer embrace a wide range of subjects, which can be loosely grouped together under the following broader themes: society (history, politics, law and finance, the environment, philosophy and theology, psychology, education, communications studies and media), culture and creativity (cultural and regional studies, history of art and music, literature and theatre, photography, music and dance, design, food and drink), and economics, careers and information technology (mathematics, the basics of data processing and its application, business management, science and technology).