Delegation Visit to Norway and Poland for Universities of Education with the Focus on Heterogenity and Participation As a Basis for Democracy
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Delegation Visit to Norway and Poland for Universities of Education with the Focus on Heterogenity and Participation as a Basis for Democracy Oslo & Kristiansand, Norway · Cracow, Poland·September 29 – October 04, 2019 2 DISCOVER EXCELLENCE – MADE IN GERMANY Baden-Württemberg – The German Southwest ECONOMY Baden-Württemberg, with a population of about 10.9 million, is one of the most important economic centres in Europe. Moreover, its outstanding infrastructure makes it an ideal gateway to the markets of the European Union. At 511 billion Euros in 2018, its GDP is one of the highest in Europe, it is for example higher than Belgium, Sweden or Austria. In addition to internationally renowned global players such as Daimler, Bosch, SAP, GFT Technologies and Porsche, it is mainly small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of our economy. In 2018, the gross domestic product generated by Baden-Württemberg companies amounted to 511 billion euros, higher than Belgium, Sweden or Austria. RESEARCH, INNOVATION & HIGHER EDUCATION Baden-Württemberg is the EU’s top region for innovation. When it comes to its research expenditure, amounting to 5.6 per cent of GDP (2017), Baden- Württemberg also occupies a leading position in Europe. The innovativeness of business and industry is supplemented by a dense network of universities, research institutions and transfer agencies. Many leading German institutions such as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft or the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft have substantially more facilities in Baden-Württemberg than in any other state in Germany. Baden- Württemberg has an excellent and Germany’s most diverse landscape of higher education and research. There are more than 70 universities and over 100 non- university research institutions in the southwest. Teaching and research are conducted on the very highest level. Its outstanding academic performance is reflected in numerous rankings. Baden-Württemberg’s universities offer inter- nationally accredited degree programmes – with several hundreds being conducted in English. www.baden-wuerttemberg.de UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG 3 4 UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG The Universities of Education in Baden-Württemberg – Institutions Specializing in the Educational Sciences THE UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION – A FORWARD-LOOKING CONCEPT Baden-Württemberg is the only federal state in Germany which has a type of university that specializes in educational sciences: the six Universities of Education (in German: Pädagogische Hochschulen / PH) in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Ludwigsburg, Schwäbisch Gmünd and Weingarten. When in the other federal states of Germany teacher training was integrated into the universities in the 1970s and 1980s, Baden-Württemberg retained the Universities of Education, so that these were able to strengthen their profiles in educational, teaching and learning research. The courses that are offered at the Universities of Education aim to promote the academic professionalization of the whole range of educational professions. On the one hand, they are responsible for the academic qualifi cation of the teachers of tomorrow and in particular have become high-powered centres of teaching and research in the field of teaching pedagogy. On the other hand, they offer numerous Bachelor’s and Master’s courses in educational sciences, for example in areas of childhood pedagogy, cultural and health education, interculturality and multilingualism, German as a second and foreign language, media studies, educational leadership and environmental education. UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG 5 RESEARCH The Universities of Education are characterized by intensive activities in basic research and focus on educational science, and applied research that is related to education in a wide range of disciplines. This includes, for example, empirical teaching / learning research; institution-related educational research; classroom research, and research into professionalization. Research is carried out at the Universities of Education at a national and international level and in cooperation with other universities and research institutions. For this purpose, every year several million euros of external funding are raised by the Universities of Education. External funding sources are the German Research Foundation (DFG), the European Research Council (ERC) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) to name but a few. ADVANCEMENT OF YOUNG RESEARCHERS Universities of Education are entitled to grant degrees at both the doctoral and postdoctoral level. Therefore, they bear a great responsibility in the advancement of young researchers in the fi elds of educational science and teaching pedagogy. The relevant discipline-based, interdisciplinary and, in some cases, inter-university research seminars at the Universities of Education provide numerous doctoral students and young postdoctoral researchers with an out- standing environment for academic exchange. A special feature is the Graduate Academy called graph, which is shared by the six Universities of Education. Their annual summer and winter schools are in demand throughout the region and are furthermore popular with young researchers from universities further away. Students have the opportunity to “learn by doing research” and to participate in various research projects at an early stage. 6 UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG COURSES OF STUDY The courses of study offered at the Universities of Education promote profes- sionalization throughout the entire range of educational professions, thus providing the qualification for educational professions in all areas of society and for all age groups. The academic content is geared to the rigorous requirements of the subsequent fields of work. Here, questions of upbringing and education are closely linked with teaching pedagogy, subject science, and also everyday practice in schools. One of the core strengths of the Universities of Education lies in this interlinking of practice with in-depth subject knowledge. Practical experience is integrated in the course of studies from the first semester onwards. The courses of study offered range from studying for the teaching profession at primary schools, secondary schools (Level I), vocational schools, and special needs education. The Universities of Education are integrated in studies for the teaching profession at grammar schools by means of cooperation agreements with the universities. In the case of qualifi cation for the teaching profession in vocational schools – offered at fi ve Universities of Education in cooperation with the Universities of Applied Sciences – there is in each case a variety of different foci, for example Mechatronics, Automation Technology, Energy Technology or Production Technology. Studying special needs education, which is offered at two Universities of Education, is geared to the requirements of the upbringing and education of children, young people and young adults with a need for special education, counselling and support. This also includes learning about effective cooperation and inclusion processes. In addition, two Universities of Education offer the European teaching certifi cate for primary schools and three offer the European certifi cate for secondary schools (Level I). These are the only under- graduate courses of studies anywhere in Germany for bilingual teaching and learning, attracting students interested in the programme from all over the country. The course of studies qualifi es students to teach a subject bilingually, in English or French. In addition, the Universities of Education offer a comprehensive range of courses in educational science for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes dealing with out-of-school activities. In this area each University of Education has its own priorities and its own profile. UNIVERSITIES OF EDUCATION IN BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG 7 FURTHER EDUCATION All six Universities of Education offer an excellent range of advanced scientific education, in particular in the field of further and in-service training. Some of these are provided by the universities own institutes, associated academies or further training centres. These range from in-house further training to advanced courses of study where a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree can be obtained. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS All the Universities of Education cultivate intensive research and teaching contacts with numerous partner universities in Europe and around the world. There is a lively exchange between students and teachers, which is coordinated by the International Office of each university. The numerous established international research projects also include EU projects that are coordinated by the Universities of Education, or in which they participate as partners. Detailed information about the various Universities of Education can also be found at the shared Internet portal www.ph-bw.de 10 PARTICIPANTS Heidelberg University of Education Prof. Dr. Friedrich Gervé Phone +49 6221 477-247 Email [email protected] Web www.ph-heidelberg.de Director of the Institute for General Studies in Primary Education Personal Teacher for primary schools, Professor for general studies in primary profile: education and Head of Institute, Focal points in teacher education, research main focus and development: Didactics of general studies in primary education (integrating science and social studies) / Developing, testing and evaluation of teaching materials, especially in settings